DINING ROOM–DAY
DANIELA sits at the dining table with her hands holding a steaming mug of coffee. The steam hits her face as she waits impatiently for her sister, EMILIA, to arrive. The front door suddenly opens as DANIELA takes a sip.
DANIELA
In here, Emi! I’ve been waiting to hear what happened for hours. While I’m still alive, please!
EMILIA enters
EMILIA
[EMILIA is exasperated but excitement laces her tone] I practically ran home, you’re so dramatic! I can’t wait to tell you what I found, though! I’m so glad I listened to you. It was so exhilarating!
DANIELA
Did you do what I told you to? Down to every last detail?
EMILIA
Down to the last detail, I swear! [EMILIA sits across from her sister at the dining table as she catches her breath.] Okay so, I went into Tia Erica’s house while everyone was in the backyard and I ran into every room, and I mean every room, and I made a mess. I paid extra attention to Tia Erica and Tio Herman’s room. I pulled out every piece of clothing hanging in their closet or sitting in their drawers and threw them on the ground. I took photographs off the walls whenever I passed them in the halls and drew squiggles on Felix or Julia’s faces when I saw they were in the frame. Finally, I connected my phone to the Bluetooth speaker playing music outside and blasted Tia Erica’s least favorite song! The bass even made the second floor vibrate when I was upstairs!
DANIELA AND EMILIA burst into laughter.
DANIELA
There’s a reason you’re my favorite sibling. Did anyone not get annoyed?
EMILIA
Nope! Everyone was either covering their ears or shouting at Julia to turn the music down. I could see Tia Erica’s enraged face turning as red as a cherry from the upstairs window. Some of their guests even left shouting that their ears were going to bleed if they stayed any longer!
DANIELA
Well done, sis! That’s brilliant. Did you make sure to take pictures before disconnecting your phone?
EMILIA
Yes, of course.
DANIELA
You didn’t mess with anyone, right?
EMILIA
I didn’t touch anyone! Just the house. The glass in every frame was unblemished and uncracked and I used a dry erase marker so they could remove the marks with a wipe. And even though their clothes were scattered all over the floor, I made sure that they were clean enough to leave them there. When I snuck into the hallway, Tia Erica, Tio Herman, Julia, and Felix were clamoring up the stairs to see if anyone messed with their rooms after seeing the disarray downstairs. When I eventually left, they were all in their respective rooms sorting through the messes I made.
EMILIA crosses her arms over her chest, smug, and lets out a breath.
DANIELA
What did you do about Tio Herman’s car though? I told you to leave a sign on the windshield. You better not have scratched it.
EMILIA
I just left the sign! The family was too distracted to notice me doing it when they were in their rooms. And I left Baby Leon alone too. He was fast asleep in his crib, but I just had to make sure the music didn’t disturb him. I even snapped a picture. His little face is so cute, look!
EMILIA pulls her phone out of her pocket and quickly scrolls through her apps before finding the photo of Baby Leon. DANIELA humors her before putting a hand up.
DANIELA
Emi, you did exactly what I asked, and I can’t be grateful enough, honestly, but I still want you to do one more thing. What time is it?
EMILIA checks the time on her phone and clicks it off.
EMILIA
It’s just ten past twelve.
DANIELA
It’s been two hours since you left. We have to take advantage of the time from now until six because that’s when our parents get back. We can’t waste more time.
EMILIA
There’s still more? Well since you’re adding more work for me to do, I think I need to remind you of what you promised me. You still haven’t done it.
DANIELA
What? Why are you being moody now? You were excited two seconds ago!
EMILIA
I still want my trip to New York City. You swore you’d take me! It’s only a twenty-minute drive.
DANIELA
Before you’ve done everything I’ve told you? I don’t think so.
EMILIA
Come on, I’m begging you! I literally went above and beyond and didn’t miss a single instruction! And I did it without complaining! You swore you’d take me today or tomorrow.
DANIELA
Did you forget what I did for you last week?
EMILIA
[Gives a defeated huff] No.
DANIELA
It seems like you did! You’re talking like walking back two streets is too much work after I covered for you.
EMILIA
No, it isn’t!
DANIELA
You’re such a liar. I saved you from being grounded for three months because you decided to sneak out! You know that Mami was even going to take away your phone.
EMILIA
I know.
DANIELA
Do you? Then what did she say to you before I stepped in to save you?
EMILIA
She said that I was lucky I had school the next day because she would’ve made me clean the whole house if I didn’t.
DANIELA
Exactly. You know she doesn’t play about that stuff. She made me shovel the snow in the driveway two years ago because I let my grades slip just to hang out with my friends. I even helped you after you told her I was late for school three days ago, didn’t I?
EMILIA
Yes, Dani.
DANIELA
I love Mami, we both do, but she’s really strict and she’s scary when she’s lecturing and scolding us whenever we do something wrong. You should feel grateful that I stepped up the way I did. You had been worried just days before about sneaking out. You knew that you’d either be on laundry duty for a year or you’d have to pick up Papi’s shifts at the shop or be grounded for a decade. You were the one begging for my help and I gave it to you! Now you don’t want to pay up properly.
EMILIA
I will! You can stop now, I know!
DANIELA
You already said that, dummy. I’m just reminding you. Also remember that we both agreed to do this to Tia Erica and Tio Herman because they were making fun of our little brother, Dylan. That sign on their windshield doesn’t say “Don’t mess with the Herreras!” for no reason! So not only are we doing this for our brother’s honor, but you also owe me for freeing you from Mami’s punishment!
EMILIA
I already said thank you, Dani. I swear I’m not complaining!
DANIELA
Well, you were. So, if you keep it up, you can kiss that New York City trip goodbye.
EMILIA
No! I’m sorry, okay? I won’t say anything bad anymore and I’ll do the last thing. Dylan deserves us standing up for him anyway.
DANIELA
Okay. If you do it fast, we can even go tonight before Mami and Papi get back.
EMILIA
Really? [DANIELA nods] You’re the best! What do you need me to do?
DANIELA
[Leans in conspiratorially] Sneak back in and go into the bathroom by their dining room. The last time I was there, I saw Mami’s pearl necklace behind the mirror. Bring it back, but make sure no one sees you. That’ll teach Tia Erica to not mess with the people we care about again!
EMILIA
You got it, Dani.
EMILIA exits. DANIELA takes a sip of her now cold coffee and listens as the door slams shut again with a satisfied grin on her face. She loves it when justice is served.
Ashley Hernandez is a junior at Jose Marti STEM Academy located in Union City, NJ. Her love of literature began when she was in sixth grade and her teacher announced that their class would be reading Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Despite never truly understanding the appeal of books prior, Ashley was immediately drawn to the way Rick Riordan managed to immerse readers in his storytelling and create an exhilarating, vibrant adventure through words. From then on, she aspired to be able to produce her own works that would leave the same lasting impact on others.
