The Mammoth Book Of Vampire Stories Written By Women

Remedios laughed and smoothed back Jessica's hair. So large for a six-year-old — just a year younger than her youngest sister Dolores. Dolores was not in school, since the family could not afford to send her. Remedios had not seen Dolores in half a year and missed the baby of the family. She missed all of her family. Juan, and the twins Jose-Luis and Maria, and even her sister Esperanza, who she did not get along well with. And her grandmother, of course, who took care of all of them.

"Wash up," Mrs Richview was telling Robert, "and I don't want to keep saying that. Your father will be home any minute, and you know he likes to eat right away on Wednesdays so he can get to the homeowners meeting."

"I'm not hungry," the boy complained, as he did most nights.

"Well, then don't eat very much. You can have a snack later."

"But I want to go to the CD store with Brad."

"On a school night? I don't think so."

"But, Mom, his brother is driving us and you said last week"

"Oh, there's your father's car. Hurry up so we can eat."

"But I want to go with Brad. You said"

"God, Robert, stop reminding me of things I've said! Look, eat something, so we can have our weekly family dinner, then you can go"

And so it went with the Richviews, always busy, always going somewhere, living their lives so quickly, and so separately. So different than in Ecuador. Her family had spent most of their time together. And no one went out after dark the streets were just not safe. They said on the news that it was not safe in California. Remedios had only been to Los Angeles when the Richviews flew her here. She had never been to East Los Angeles, or to the Barrio. Still, she could not believe there were gangs like in de Quito: young boys, some no older than five years, roaming the streets and alleyways all night, carrying knives, ready to cut the throat of anyone they encountered to obtain food, or money to buy food No, California was nothing like home.

Remedios placed the bread and butter on the table as Mr Richview came through the door. Jess ran to him, and he lifted her high in his arms. Remedios looked on, wondering what that would feel like. Her own father had died when she was young, just after the birth of Dolores; perhaps he had lifted her that way, but she could not remember him being healthy and strong. Her grandmother said her father's death had caused her mother's death, because it was not long after when her mother became very very ill. Remedios could still remember the blood flowing from her, and how pale she became at the end, because of the pain. They had no money for a doctor. There was nothing to do but to watch her mother die slowly over the next two years. She was weak; it was God's will, her grandmother said.

Mr Richview headed for his small office at the back of the house, beside the garden. Remedios knew it was not a good time, but she had been trying to find him alone for a week, and there never did seem to be the right moment.

She stood in the doorway, watching him taking papers from his briefcase. "Mr Richview. May I speak with you a moment?"

He did not look up, and she wondered if her voice had been too low for him to hear her. But after another few heartbeats, he seemed to notice her standing there. "Yes? What is it?" He spoke with his "office" voice, the one she heard him speak with on the telephone when he was discussing the stock market.

"Mr Richview, I I would like to have a raise. Ten dollars a month."

He stared at her for a moment blankly, then went back to sorting through his papers, saying, "You've only been with us six months. We'll discuss it in another six months."

There was nothing to do but return to the kitchen and bring in the platter of meat.

The Richviews sat around the table, all talking at once. "This is very good, Remy," Mrs Richview said about the meat, and Remedios blushed. It was Mrs Richview who had taken to calling her Remy because the children could not easily pronounce her name. Now they all called her that. Remedios did not mind. She was just grateful to be working for such a good family.

Robert pecked at his food like a bird. Then, when the horn blared outside and Mr Richview snapped, "Tell him not to use the horn, it disturbs the neighbours," and Mrs Richview said, "When did people stop coming to the door?" Robert jumped up, grabbed his jacket from the coat tree by the door and left.

Mr Richview was the next to leave. He ate quickly, then went upstairs to change his clothes for the meeting with the other homeowers who lived in this area. Mrs Richview took Jess upstairs as well, to help her with her homework, and to " have a sauna. I've got my cell with me. Please tell any callers on the house phone I'll get back to them," she told Remedios. Mr Richview hurried out the door. And Remedios was left alone to clear away the partially eaten plates of food.