Job haunting was getting very scary. Three weeks had passed since she came and the anxiety of finishing seven years of school only to face unemployment pressed heavily on Mora. There were moments back in school when she heard of such cases and how they often ended; in suicide! God forbid she was going to be one of those cases.
The initial idea was to work, save up-as she did, then use her savings to open a rehabilitation centre for addicts and junkies. To finance the place, she would take on freelance medical jobs for 'the rich and wealthy'. Later, she hoped to expand into a pharmacy and maybe even experiment toward a cure for cancer, if the disease hadn't already claimed her father by then
But life, as always, had a cruel way of laughing in people's faces.
She sighed, flipping hopelessly through the endless list of unsuitable jobs in Mexico on her tablet. Nothing fit.
Lupita walked in, holding a full hand of wrinkled laundry. Mora finally let her groan escape
"Huggghhhhh…..this is hopeless….!"
"Hahha" Lupita chuckled. Mora snapped her head up, narrowing her eyes. "You think this is funny?"
"You think this is funny"?
"No Mora, not you're situation. You!" she grinned sarcastically pulling a basket from under her bed.
"Excuse me!"
"Mora this is not about the profession, it's about the place. Mexico isn't exactly the land of opportunities for doctors. You knew that before coming home." She set the basket on the bed and began folding neatly.
"You knew my plans Lupe`"
"Yes, yes," Lupita rolled her eyes. "For the tenth time—we're grateful. But we don't need you to throw everything away for us."
Mora shifted closer, taking her sister's hands. "Listen, I didn't do this because of what you said that day. You're young, Lupita, and I know the sacrifices you've made—not just for me, but for Papa, for all of us. At your age, you weren't supposed to be raising a family."
"Yes, you were. And you did an incredible job. Look at me—I'm a doctor because of you, and you managed to hold off MariaRosé at the same time."
Lupita gazed as she sadly muttered 'if you could that holding off' under her breathe
Mora pressed on. "It's still ours. Mama, wherever she is, would be so proud of you. But it's not your responsibility anymore. I'm back now. It's my turn to take care of you. You deserve to live your life, chase your dreams, just like everyone else your age."
Lupita smiled faintly, touched but trying to hide it. She picked up another shirt to fold, shaking her head.
"Well, I heard…" she hissed, dragging the word out in that playful way she always did before gossiping.
Mora smiled. Typical Lupita. It had been too long since she'd seen this lighter side of her. Life had sucked the child out of her sister and left her with this uptight, sarcastic bunch of kill joy but that was about change. Mora promised herself that.
"And what exactly did the flies whisper?" Mora asked, mimicking her tone.
"Juana—"
"Juana? She's still around?"
"Chika, please… Some people will never leave this ranch. She's one of them. Anyway… rumour has it there's a rich family up in the hills looking for a nurse."
Mora raised an eyebrow. "And what is Juana doing with gossip about a nursing job?"
"Beats me. She's practically glued to that family. Won't let my customers eat in peace without stuffing their business into their nose. But then again—tell me a rich folk's business she hasn't meddled in."
Mora leaned back, thinking. From her experience, wealthy families already had their own doctors and nurses—doctors with big names, just as wealthy as the people they served. Landing a position like that would be life-changing. But getting it as a commoner? Almost impossible. Moreover, Mora didn't trust the source. Juana was the village gossip and gossips hardly know the full details. For all hell she knew they might need a maid not a nurse.
"A nurse, huh? I don't like or trust your source."
"Well, I thought I could help," Lupita muttered, dropping the last piece of folded clothing into the basket and heading for the door.
"Wait, do you know this family?" Mora called back.
Lupita smiled knowingly before turning. One thing she knew about her elder sister, she seized every opportunity she found. Doubt or no doubt, she was open minded. Sometimes she wished she could adopt those skills, maybe she could have gone a mile with her cooking talents and stopped making up excuses for herself.
"What do I know about rich folk? I just know they're rich. No one here but Juana knows about that family. Hell, I didn't even know they existed until she started talking about them. Moreover Mora, its bests you talk to Dad about it or better still Juana…."
"I don't want to bother him with talks about working odds jobs just to keep Maria and no, you know me and Juana don't do well in confined spaces"
Lupita gave her a knowing look. It wasn't about Papa. Mora was embarrassed. For someone with her qualifications, taking work like this felt beneath her. Lupita understood all too well—that's how she felt every day, trapped in the restaurant instead of pursuing her culinary dreams.
"Then don't meet her in a confined space," Lupita teased, lightening the mood.
"Haha, very funny. Where did you say this place was resident again"?
"Uphill Los Altos......…."
"So I guess it's a physical drop, then?"
"Sorry we don't 'messenger' here like you London girls," Lupita said, mocking a fake British accent.
Mora chuckled. "Puta!"
"Gringa!"
"Oh, so you've joined Papa now?"
"Joined him? Please. You can barely speak your mother tongue anymore—what does that make you?"
"Just get out."
"Whateverrrr. You'll do fine, Hermosa."
"And who says I'm even taking the job?"
"Oh, you're taking it," Lupita replied, more order than suggestion.
Mora sighed. "I just hope it's not one of the 'big people' Papa warned us about."
"Fuck them," Lupita said without hesitation. "Don't stress. You'll ace it, like always. Now I've got to run by the inn. Love you."
"Language! … Alright. Love you too. Catch you later."
Lupita disappeared, then popped her head back in a minute later, grinning.
"Oh, and Mora—about that speech earlier? My mates don't have lives!"
Mora blinked. What is wrong with this girl? She shook her head, laughing despite herself. That was the Lupita she remembered—annoying, unserious, and irreplaceable.
But she needed time to think. There was no time for all her shenanigans now. She grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it toward the doorway.
"Get out of here!"
Both sisters laughed