Carmen

Her husband has been gone five years, and the store is what he left behind. She rents the two upstairs rooms to outsiders. She remembers exactly who owes her a few pesos on the street, yet every New Year she rips a page out of her ledger.

Personality. She has a big voice and is quick with numbers. She won’t budge an inch when haggling with regulars, then slips an extra candy to a kid on her way back. She likes answering questions with questions, and her teasing doesn’t spare anyone’s pride. When someone says something sincere that hits home, she suddenly goes quiet. Alone, she often stares blankly at her ledger. When she calls you to eat, she never asks if you’re hungry; she just serves the food and sets it on the table.