Fifteen Candles by Veronica Chambers Page A

I can afford you guys.”
    â€œNo te preocupes,” Alicia said, her mind still reeling at the huge number Sarita had given. “Since you’re the first official client of Amigas Incorporated, we are going to do your quince completely for free. The only thing the budget will pay for are things we have to buy.”
    â€œFabulous!” Sarita said. “Let’s get this party started. Vamos a echar la casa por la ventana. ”
    Gaz burst out laughing. “That’s what I’m talking about,” he said, reaching across the table to give Sarita a high five.
    Alicia, Carmen, and Jamie looked confused.
    â€œTranslation, please,” Alicia finally said.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry,” Sarita said sweetly. “I assumed you spoke Spanish.”
    Alicia figured there was no real value in faking the funk. “I speak a little Spanish and a lot of Spanglish,” she said, sheepishly.
    â€œYo también,” Carmen said.
    Jamie was uncharacteristically silent.
    â€œSo, what was that thing you said?” Alicia asked.
    â€œVamos a echar la casa por la ventana?” Sarita said. “It means, ‘We’re going to throw the house out of the window.’”
    â€œAnd that means—?” Jamie asked.
    â€œIt’s Mexican for ‘the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire,’” Gaz said, winking at Sarita.
    â€œSo, what’s the plan for my quince ?” Sarita asked, getting back on topic.
    â€œWell, first and foremost,” Alicia said. “You need a theme. A theme is what makes a quince hot.”
    â€œOr not,” Jamie added.
    â€œAnd while Amigas is brand-new,” Alicia said, “rest assured, there is one kind of quince we don’t do….”
    â€œPrincess quinces !” Alicia, Carmen, and Jamie said in unison.
    â€œThat’s a shame,” Sarita said, feigning disappointment. “Because I…am nobody’s princess.”
    â€œWhat are you into?” Gaz asked, trying to stay on track.
    Sarita shrugged. “Well, I love reggaeton.”
    â€œThat’s music, not a theme,” Jamie said, reaching across the table for the pitcher of horchata that the waitress had left at their request.
    â€œAnd I love Cuban food,” Sarita said.
    â€œThat’s catering, not a theme,” Carmen said, passing around a plate of steaming hot sweet platanos that were fresh from the pan.
    â€œI’m starting to think that maybe being a princess isn’t so bad,” Sarita said.
    â€œNo, we can do better than princess,” Alicia said. “You’re really into environmentalism, right? We could do a green quince .”
    Everyone at the table made a slightly disgusted face.
    â€œI’m not a girl, so maybe my opinion doesn’t count,” Gaz said. “But something about a green quince makes me think about leprechauns and…”
    â€œGreen horchatas,” Jamie added.
    â€œAnd a green quince cake,” Carmen said, sticking her tongue out. “Yuck.”
    â€œY’all are being way too literal,” Alicia said.
    The waitress put down a huge platter of pressed sandwiches and for a moment, there was silence as everyone tucked in, their mouths full of ham, pickles, grainy mustard, and melted cheese.
    Finally Sarita spoke. “You know, the thing is that environmentalism is really just my gateway hobby.”
    â€œWhat’s that even mean?” Jamie asked.
    â€œIt means that I want to protect the ozone layer, because I need it to be there for me to break through it.”
    Carmen raised an eyebrow. “Please explain.”
    â€œI plan on studying rocket science so I can travel on a spaceship for NASA someday,” Sarita said matter-of-factly. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do with my life. I love everything about outer space.”
    Alicia smiled. “That’s pretty cool. I’m impressed.” She was busy writing in her