3 Breakfast

"Morning morning Room 459" is the chorus of people passing by greeting Honey and Little Bee. Their greeting mechanical. Heading to the lift at the end of the hallway, many people crowd inside. Honey picks up Little Bee facing the crowd with her back. People buzz with greetings around them followed by occasional gossip about some Zeroes who decided to contract together to higher floors or a Segundo who fell out of luck with a live-in mate. Some whisper about some cuatros who seem to never move down or out, but seem to change live-in mates. The majority discuss their work ahead cursing their long day while some scoff that at least they will not be in the fields. The lift descends extremely slow to El Tre. It panels clear displaying El Tre. Like an ant colony, the hall trickles in groups and lines of people in grey dresses. The chatter of people disperse as the lift opens and people get off hurriedly. Honey follows a group of people with four tick marks on the left breast of their long dresses. They follow the lines of people who line up along one end of the hall where small panels open up to reveal a tray with a tin cup of dark, thick liquid and a metal box. The four tick marks or cuatros slowly move to the center where the shortest lines are. Seemingly Honey finds herself there soon enough. She places Little Bee down while the panel scans her. The panel displays a set quantity counter and three choices of color containers. Choosing one of each, the panel dings opening with three tin mugs and a container of a different color. She takes the tray. Looking down at Little Bee, she warns, "hold onto me". He nods firmly. Whispers assault them: "How insolent?!" "What do you think she is going to do with so much food?!" "Probably stash it for the Morena" "Been only a mate for a year, she thinks she can take over everything" "It is because of her they move into cuatro"

"I heard the Morena will be arriving sooner than expected", someone whispers, yet what she says quickly spreads and the conversation turns. "What?! I haven't prepared enough!"

another rebuts, "At least you don't have a mate like mine! Every year demanding a token for her arrival!"

Others point out more exciting things, "You think she will have chocolate or how about that famous thing called rice!"

Someone responds, "So long as Morena remembers that lard!"

"Oh, yeah? what do you think lard is?"

"Hm? Who cares! Its tasty with the bread in the copper container!"

"Wouldn't it be great if we could find where the Morena gets her supply!"

"Stop joking! Death only awaits us beyond the city..."

"This tin probably hasn't been assigned to the fields"

The chatter fades as Honey and little bee board the lift to the fourth floor. With another ding, they are let out. Standing in front of her door, the door scans her, and the doors slide open. Setting their trays on the window sill, they sit down. A continuous bang makes them look up. On the next buildings window across from their room, a little boy, an year older than Little Bee, with a shaved head and dark brown eyes waves goofily holding a tin cup. "Zio!", Little Bee screams excitedly waving back. Honey holds up her hand, a formal greeting to the figure behind Zio. Looking up at the modem, Honey remembers Seth. "Little Bee, we have to get you ready for school".

Scurrying to the bed, Little Bee grabs the pillow: "Come on mommy!". "Hold up", Honey says taking back the pillow case. She unzips it and takes the blue towel. She wraps the blue towel using her grey towel. "This way we can keep the treasure safe" she responds to Little Bee's scrunched up face. Little Bee nods taking the towels once again and heading out. Honey chuckles. Heading in the opposite direction of the lift and rounding the corner, they head down the hallway where people are coming in and out of a large space. Passing the threshold, rows of lockers meet them. Opening their designated locker, Honey takes off her and Little Bee's shoes and places them inside. Passing through the communal bath they get to a small hallway with rows of small stalls. At the end of the the hallway, Seth with his towel draped over head looks in their direction and waves them over. He takes the towels and the clothes from them. "Hehe. With the short shower I took, you guys probably have over twenty minutes to shower", he smiles gleefully waiting to be praised. "Mhm. Thank you Seth," Honey coos leaning her face closer and pecking his lips. Seth beams. Honey and Little Bee begin undressing. They go into the stall while Seth picks up their clothes and bundles them with his towel. In the stall, a screen meets them with two buttons. Honey presses the red button. A panel opens with two packaged palm sized soap bars. Giving one to Little Bee, Honey instructs "make sure to clean your joints and elbows. I'll help you with your hair". "NO!" Little Bee exclaims, "I want to do it! You said I'm a big boy". "kk, kk, don't get frizzled up", she chuckles. A soft rain mist covers them as a steady rainfall drips over their heads from the ceiling.

Honey finishes her shower first. Looking down at Little Bee nervously, she says "let me help with your hair" attempting to take the soap bar from him. "Mommy no!" Little Bee wails and pushes her to the door. "Ah, wari wari", she says apologetically not before the door slams in her face. She sighs turning to Seth and taking the smaller towel. Taking the long dress and shorts, she dresses. "Guess he wants to grow up quickly", Seth comments. "Too fast, though," Honey sniffles. He takes the towel she is holding and dries her hair muffling her sobs in his chest. "That reminds me" she pauses, "don't think I don't know you went to get a TequilaMaria. You better stop drinking cuz he is growing up too fast". Se hold his collar in her fists and looks up at him sternly.

He holds back his rising laughter, but his eyes still twinkle under his messy fringe, "kk, its just the primos down at the maquiladora..."

"Nada de primos," Honey scolds. Just then the door of the stall opens with a bang and a teary eyed Little Bee steps out. Honey lets go and turns to Little Bee anxiously, "see, you should have let me wash your hair." Little bee cries "Mommy the water stung me!" She pats his head and ushers him back to the stall taking the last towel and the short dress and small shorts.

Having finished showering, they head back to their room and sit down by the window sill. Sitting around, they each take a mug. Taking the aluminum colored plastic container, she hands it to Little Bee. She takes the copper one along with the aluminum packed. Opening the copper one, she takes out two slices of bread slightly toasted but more stale. Opening the aluminum pack, she takes out dried meat. She splits these between her and Seth. "What do we say Little Bee?" Little Bee looks away from his box to respond, "Thank you for the meal". "That's my Little Bee", Honey coos ruffling his hair. On the side, Seth is almost finished eating. She looks at him dismayed. "What?!", he says with his mouth stuffed. Shaking her head, she turns to Little Bee who has begun to unwrap his meal. "Wow, ,you get fruit this time!" Honey claps and points to gummy shaped slices. "Ooh, and a bar!" she says pointing to a brown cube. Little Bee gleefully smiles and begins to eat as slice and sip of the black liquid. The black liquid dribbles down his mouth, "Mommy, I don't want coffee". "Little Bee, drink at least. It'll keep you awake", she soothes and cleans his little mouth with her sleeve. Seeing that she is serious, he hesitantly sips at his mug. "See ya amores," Seth stands up and pecks them before leaving. "Remember what we talked about", Honey calls out. Gulping down her meal, she claps and says "Lets get you to Mother 1003".