Carmen rolled over in her bed and placed her hand on her face. She squinted at the clock and groaned. She still had thirty minutes before she would be interrupted but she didn’t mind. She got up and washed her face. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she was still astonished at the differences. Her hair was shorter, her skin tanner, and her figure slightly fuller. She no longer dressed provocative, her wardrobe was more conservative. Three years made a lot of difference in her life and she was thankful for the person who made the changes. Carmen had bigger responsibilities now and she had to care for someone other than herself. She heard footsteps racing down her apartment hallway towards her room. She turned towards the noise and knelt down with her arms wide open. Her son ran full speed into her arms and she raised him into the air. She squeezed him gently and inhaled his scent. Her beautiful boy, her angel. Angel Morales was all Carmen lived for and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

 Carmen: Buenos días Papito (Good morning)

Angel: Buenos morning Mami (Good)

Carmen laughed. Angel was just learning how to talk. Since he was only two he sometimes got his words mixed up but Mercedes joked that her nieto was proficient in spanglish.

Carmen: usted hambriento mi amor (You hungry my love)

Angel: Si yum yum.

Carmen: Ok let’s yum yum.

She placed Angel on her hip and walked into the kitchen. She maneuvered around  making him some cereal and herself a Danish with a cup of coffee.  Angel played with her hair and hummed to himself. He had a brooding expression on his face like he was contemplating something major. His green eyes were focused entirely on a strand from Carmen’s hair.

Angel: Amarillo. (yellow)

He squealed and then buried his face in Carmen’s neck.

Carmen: Si papito es Amarillo (Yes its yellow)

Carmen had put gold streaks in her hair to have a change. When she came home the first time Angel didn’t like her new look. He said her hair looked funny but now she guessed he liked it.

Carmen: Time to eat guapo (handsome).