An Afternoon in La Plaza del Mercado

The Spanish market

The pandemic was finally winding down. Restrictions were easing up. And it was the first time we had been to la Plaza del Mercado since it all started. Nana was happy as she picked through the avocados looking for the perfect ones. She found two and handed them to the fruit and veggie stand owner. He put them in a plastic bag and told her it was six dollars which made her grumble as she dug deep in her coin purse.

“Six dollars for two avocados? Wow. That’s expensive. ¿Por que?” My dad started haggling. But the man relented quickly and went down to five.

Nana agreed to five and asked my dad and me for a dollar. She didn’t want to break a twenty. My dad pulled a wad of folded napkins out of his pants pocket, “I think I left my wallet in the car.” He looked at me.

“No worries.” I held up my debit card.

“Nah.” He dismissed me with a wave of the hand. “That’s not going to work here. You need cash.” He pulled some loose change out of his pocket and handed it to Nana. She pulled four singles from her coin purse and gave it all to the fruit and veggie guy who would not stop talking about how fresh his produce was. And how prices were going up all over.

My dad was already at the next kiosk admiring the passion fruit and calling Nana over so she could see. Another fruit and veggie guy stood by, holding a black plastic bag open as Nana picked out four passion fruit. She asked him how much and reached into her homemade shopping bag. Again, Nana dug deep into her coin purse. This time she pulled out the twenty she had not wanted to break before.

“I’m going to keep the seeds and plant them.” She whispered to me. One hand covering her mouth, so there was no risk of anybody else hearing her. She grabbed onto my arm and pinched the inside of it lightly. She had been doing the same thing since I was a kid.

We crossed over to another kiosk. The plump mangoes caught my eye. Nana asked me if I wanted one and handed me a dollar bill. I tried to refuse, but she wouldn’t hear it. I picked the brightest mango and gave the man the dollar. My dad and Nana were already at the next kiosk. I rushed to catch up, and for a split second, I felt like I was a kid again running behind my…

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