The next morning, they set off to work together after breakfast. Catalina had packed them both some birria tacos for lunch because she didn’t want them to waste away.

Shane let out a sigh as they walked into the store. He pulled his olive-green polo shirt away from his sweaty chest as he was greeted by Sr. Fernandez, the owner, wearing his trademark short-sleeved white shirt, dress pants and shiny, black shoes.

He was sitting behind the counter, checking over some old receipts, and old orders in his large, red file that he kept ‘

“Shane, could you do stock checks today?” he asked, as he looked at the door, then back at him. “We got a customer already—”

“—No, Señor Fernandez, it’s me, Dani.”

Sr. Fernandez adjusted his glasses, then took a good look at him. “Oh yes, Dani. I haven’t seen you in years. How’s your Mama keeping?”

Dani shrugged. “Good, I suppose, last I checked.”

Sr. Fernandez smiled. “Does she still go to the markets?” Dani nodded. “Occasionally. She buys marigolds, and plenty of corn. And some tomatoes too.”

“That’s good to hear. How are you?”

Dani grinned as he watched Shane walk into the stockroom. “Great. I’m just takin’ each day as it comes with my small business venture. Enjoyin’ life.”

Sr. Fernandez nodded. “Good to hear. If you ever need any advice, we can always talk.”

Dani nodded. “Of course, thanks. So, I was gonna buy some coffees. Would you like one too?”

“Yes, please a black one. No milk. Just a medium cup.”

“Sure, I’m gonna ask what Shane wants. I’ll be back soon with your coffees.”

“He can drink it whilst he works. Thank you for doing this,” Sr. Fernandez said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp fiver, “You can keep the change.”

“Thank you,” Dani said with a grin, “I’ll be back soon.”

Sr. Fernandez went back to his books as Dani walked into the storeroom. Shane was sitting in the corner on a stool, writing something down in a book.

“Yo, what coffee d’ya want? I’m gonna go and get everyone some.”

Shane looked up at him. “I’ll have a single origin roast, cappuccino with coconut milk. Cinnamon sprinkled on top.”

Dani glared as Shane laughed. “Yo, what’s your actual order?”

“That’s it. Go to the café across the street, and order that. They have it all there. They also give you discounts this week if you order three or more coffees.”

Dani sighed and then nodded. “Fine, I won’t be long.”

Shane smiled as he watched Dani leave. He went back to sorting through the menagerie of stock surrounding him.

He let out a sigh as he walked over to the tomatoes and waded his way through them. His hands were submerged in a pool of red for the next twenty minutes, until the door swung open, and his coffee came back.

“Here, I got you a large one. You look like ya need it,” Dani said as he handed him it.

Shane took the cup and started to sip on it. “Yeah, thanks. You know what? Screw these tomatoes. There’s too many to care about.”

Dani laughed. “Well, it’s a part of your job.”

“Yeah, I know but it’s boring. I’m usually at the counter serving people. I rarely do stock taking.”

Dani looked around him. He saw endless boxes of assorted fruits, vegetables and homemade goods stacks up in towers.

“Does he even look at it himself?”

Shane shrugged. “It’s nice and quiet in here.”

“It’s like a big closet. You can’t hide in here forever, man.”

Shane sighed. “Yeah, I know. I’m gonna go out for a walk and report back about the tomatoes.”

Dani nodded as he began to walk out. “I need to give Señor Fernandez his coffee. You comin’?”

Shane nodded as he followed Dani. Several customers were staring at him. He smiled at a woman, who was shaking her head. She was wearing a dress, with a cardigan and looked in her early sixties. Her hair was back in a greying bun, and her face looked like it was melting with the overdone make-up.

“Hello, how can I help you?” Shane said.

“I don’t want your help,” the woman hissed.

Shane glared. “That’s not very nice.”

Dani nodded. “The guy’s just tryna get by. That’s all. He wants to help you.”

The woman shook her head. “Who are you to interfere?”

Dani shook his head. “I’m not. I’m just sayin’, Lady.”

She glared at Dani. “Do you mind?”

Dani set the coffee down, then stared at the woman. “It’s my business too. I’m his cousin. You either respect him, or you got me to deal with, understand?”

Sr. Fernandez rolled his eyes. “Daniel, enough.”

Dani shrugged. “I ain’t doin’ anything wrong.”

Shane rolled his eyes at the woman and at Dani. “I don’t think we should start an argument here. I work here, and this lady’s a customer.”

Dani gave the woman a sour look. “And a very rude one at that. She’s not even respectin’ you. Are you just gonna stand by and take it?”

Shane stepped toward and grunted. “Listen, I need money and I’ve got a job right now. I need to stay afloat. So, Lady, if you’d mind, just let me serve you. Keep all the prejudice crap out of it okay?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want you to serve me.”

He rolled his eyes. “What’s your problem? This is a fresh produce store, not a place to gossip about who you think I am, or for you to take your shit out on me.”

Sr. Fernandez gave Shane a stern look. “Go back inside the storeroom.”

He shook his head. “I belong out here and have every right to be out here like everyone else, doing my job normally. My personal life isn’t my work life. I won’t have some puta put me down.”

“Come on, Shane. Get back to work,” Sr. Fernandez said.

Shane looked back at him. “You can’t make me go back in there just ‘cause she doesn’t want to see me. You shouldn’t be ashamed of one of your best workers.”

“Look, I didn’t want all this drama to happen.”

“Then just fire me, or suspend me ‘til all this blows over,” Shane hissed, “I’m not taking crap from anyone over this. The choice is yours, Señor.”

Sr. Fernandez thought for a moment. “You’re suspended.”

Shane took off his polo shirt and sat it on the desk. He took his coffee and walked out with Dani. Sr. Fernandez and the lady weren’t impressed as they left.

The door slammed behind them as Dani laughed. “Holy shit, that was impressive.”

Shane looked at him. “I did what I had to do. No-one’s treating me differently because of some stupid incident that happened.”

Dani nodded. “No one would treat me different if they caught me havin’ sex with a girl in the bathroom.”

“Yeah, we should go back to Abuela’s and see how she is.”

Dani looked at him. “She’s good. We left her with the television, phone and some coffee, remember?”

Shane nodded. “I know, but we should check on her just in case she wants something. Or needs help.”

“She’ll call us if she does. She always calls me if she needs anything. Don’t worry about it, dude.”

“Okay, so then where are we going?”

Dani began to cross the dusty, dried up street. “To the park, for a bit. We’ve got all day to do nothin’, so relax.”

Shane let out a groan as they approached the park gates. The large palm tree in the middle of the green had made a large, shaded area. The metal park benches were glistening in the sun, and the play area was unused.

The walkway was covered in gravel, and some kids had tagged a nearby wall in some illegible gang code.

They sat down on the bench, looking across at the wall and the grassy football pitch in the distance. Dani stretched his arms behind the bench, then smiled.

“This is the life, Bro,” he said to Shane, who was inspecting his torso.

Shane nodded back. “It’s relaxing, yes. I hope it stays that way.”

Dani started to hum to himself as he let the sun’s rays absorb into his skin. Shane sat upright and watched as they were overshadowed.

Out of nowhere, two large men in their late twenties approached them.

A/N: Sorry I had to split this chapter into two parts. How are you enjoying it so far?