The Cartel by A. K. Alexander Page B

that she could use the money for Alex, to buy the things that he deserved. She saved the money each month, only taking out what she needed for her child. She put away the rest for him, hoping that someday, she would be able to send him to college. However, there was a part of her that didn’t feel right about taking the money. Yes the man was Alex’s father, but Marta could not help feeling that by taking that money she was almost as much of a liar as Antonio was. She knew there would come a day when Antonio would want to see his son and the money would then become an issue.
     
    She and Elisa worked busily in the cove of a kitchen making tamales. Marta sighed.
     
    Elisa stopped stuffing the masa with pork and looked at her. “What is it?”
     
    “What do you mean?” she asked.
     
    “Why such a heavy sigh. Why are you troubled?”
     
    "I was thinking again about Alex’s father, and I wish I didn't feel guilty about using Antonio's money.”
     
    "Guilty. Ha. I think you're stupid. You should take all that money and move into a nice place. Get out of this dump. He owes you so much more than five-hundred dollars a month. That money though could get you into a small house, Marta. You should do it."
     
    "And where am I supposed to tell Alex the money came from?"
     
    "Tell him the truth. He deserves to know, Marta. He needs to know he has a father." Elisa scooped out seasoned meat into the masa and handed it to Marta who rolled it and tied a husk around it.
     
    Marta shook her head. "I can’t do that. I've told him since he was very little that his father was a hero, who died trying to save people in a building that crumbled during an earthquake."
     
    "That's very creative of you, Marta." Elisa smiled. “I didn’t know you had that in you.” She winked.
     
    "Please. Leave me alone about this."
     
    "Leave you alone about this? Then stop talking about him and thinking about him. Consider the money a gift. Treat is like it is. I've only heard this story a million times. Either use his money or quit complaining."
     
    Marta sighed and gave her friend a dirty look. They didn’t speak for a few minutes as they went through the repetitive motions of making the tamales, which they would take down to Olivera Street and sell .
     
    "You still love him, don't you? You wouldn’t think about him, talk about him and have these guilt feelings if you didn’t."
     
    "Stupid I know" Marta whispered. Elisa walked around the counter and embraced her. Marta wiped away her tears, and let out a little laugh. “If something should ever happen to me, I would like you to hold the money for Alex in a savings account and give it to him when he is old enough and wise enough to handle it.”
     
    “Why would you say something like that?” Elisa pulled away from her. “Nothing is ever going to happen to you.”
     
    “I have to think about these things, even so. I have to make certain that Alejandro is provided for. I’m his mother and I, I mean we are all he has. No matter what I still may feel for his father, he has no right to my son and if something ever happens to me, I do not want Antonio near him.”
     
    “Ridiculous. You’re talking crazy words.”
     
    Marta stopped set her tamale down and took her purse from the kitchen counter, pulling out an envelope, handing it over to Elisa. “This is the paperwork and information you would need. Promise me that you’ll do this if needed.”
     
    Elisa stood her jaw dropped. “I don’t understand.”
     
    “Take it.” Marta shoved the envelope at her.
     
    “Of course I would do anything for you. You know that. We’re not only friends, you and I. We are sisters.”
     
    "Thank you.” Marta kissed her cheek and then looked at her watch. “It's time for me to get ready to meet Alex."
     
    "My goodness. I didn’t realize it was so late.” Elisa wiped her hands on her apron. “Hector!" Elisa yelled to the little boy tossing a ball around in the street. He came running in,