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Chapter 2
My cousin, who was always listening to her radio, had heard that the salsa
orchestra called El Gran Combo was going to be playing at Casa Blanca.
She called me immediately and asked if I could do her a favor. Since she
mentioned El Gran Combo I thought that maybe she wanted me to get her
tickets or something for the show. However, she only asked if I could take
some pictures with her camera. I didn’t have a choice since she gently
reminded me that she had gotten me that job. In truth I said yes hoping that
she would forget about it but unfortunately she didn’t. That night I arrived
at the club with my dear cousin’s camera, one of those cheap Kodak’s 110.
To make matters worse she had given me one of El Gran Combo’s records
so that every member would sign it.
I remember well that night since the place had never been more packed. All
the mothers were elegantly dressed and accompanied by their significant
others and there were floral arrangements everywhere. The tables were
decorated with white sheets, candles and small arrangements. The place
smelled like flowers and perfume, which gave me allergies. There were
only four of us waiting tables and every customer wanted to be served at
the same time. Unfortunately, some of the people there, including the
mothers, transformed into monsters after a few drinks. Only a fellow waiter
knows what it’s like to walk through a room packed with people carrying a
tray full of drinks.
Panic can instill if when you get to your table someone from another one
pulls you by the arm, the arm carrying the drinks, to tell you “Waiter
another beer!” To sum up, that night was hell. Women who had way much
to drink insisted on dancing with me. They didn’t want to hear about the
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