Food, Mothers, and Vampires - Oh My!

Summer 2021, Week 5

Sunday midday

Phone Call

Lara Torres | Mother of Lost Souls

Lara danced around the kitchen, that was the only way to describe it. The stove top was filled with various pots and pans, the steam rising and filling the kitchen with its delicious fumes. Over on the countertop, she was chopping up more vegetables. She would go back and forth, stirring here, tasting there, adding spices where needed.   As she cooked, her mind wandered to Luna and she had a thought to call the girl. She went to her purse and grabbed her headset, putting it on her ear she hit the button to turn it on. "Google, call Muñequita."  

Storyteller

"Calling Muñequita mobile."  

Lara Torres | Mother of Lost Souls

As the phone rang, she went back to cooking and waited.  

Luna

"Hello?" she answers, sounding unsure of who to expect since she didn't recognize the number. She had only gotten the phone recently but already gave the number to a few people since then, so there were a number of possibilities. She knew it had to be someone in town though, based on the number.  

Lara Torres | Mother of Lost Souls

"Ay, my Muñequita! So good to hear your little voice in my ears once more. How have you been? Have you tried more tacos? And if so, do your Mamá a favor and do not tell her if they were from Taco Bell."  

Luna

She pauses for a second after Lara finishes, a single thought taking hold of her for the moment. Mamá she repeats the word in her mind Mom she affirms the translation. She doesn't remember her mom personally, but she has heard many stories about her from Alexia. Because of this she finds herself with mixed feelings; Lara already seems to want her to think of Lara as a mother figure, but can Luna truly bring herself to essentially replace the memory of her mom?   "I got my sister to make some the other day, I think she's hooked." she says cheerily, trying to push the other feeling away to deal with later. "That or she just really likes how cost effective they can be." she jokingly throws in the idea.  

Lara Torres | Mother of Lost Souls

"Sí, es verdad. Many things can go in a taco. Fabulous things. I'm cooking now. It's what made me think of you, Muñequita. I want to find some time for us to cook again. I planned to bring you over this weekend, but I had much to do. I'm hosting a party in town every Friday. It takes many preparations."   She stopped to taste her sauce. "Mmmmmm. Dios mio that's good." Putting the spoon down, she turned off the heat and then leaned against the counter, grabbing the edge of it on either side of her. "Luna, would you like to go to my party? Some people dress up like vampires, some people just dress up to feel good. We dance, we talk, we meet others of our likeness. I know you're young, but I'd like you to meet mi familia and I want them to meet you. You are very special to me."  

Luna

"Vampires?" she questioningly repeated the word, pausing for a moment in surprise before asking "What kind of vampires?" She had been told a few times that she'd be a good person to do an Irina cosplay, what with her naturally blue hair and red eyes, but she never really had a reason to try. She seemed excited at the idea, yet tentative.  

Lara Torres | Mother of Lost Souls

"Any kind you can imagine, hija. Whatever flavor of vampire you enjoy. There are many in the lexicon of stories, no? Have fun with it. We welcome all! So, you will come?"  

Luna

"I'd like to but I shouldn't, I need to get ready for something I'm doing tomorrow and I'll need most of today to get it done. But thank you for the offer!" She sounds genuinely disappointed that she can't go but the thank you is as cheery as ever.  

Lara Torres | Mother of Lost Souls

"Suit yourself, hija! There will always be food and a safe haven here for you. I will send you my address as well as the club's. Find me if ever you need anything. And I do mean anything." She didn't sound ominous, as much as that statement very well could have, but more inviting. Like having a conversation with the neighborhood mom that all of the kids love and would come to when they couldn't go to their own parents. "Hasta pronto, m'ija." And with that, she flicked the end button on her phone and immediately sent over the addresses to Luna as promised.