Miguel’s

"Well, this is nice right?", Dad said.

"Definitely! It feels like such a long week after everything that happened.", Mom agreed.

"I'm just glad things had a happy ending.", I added.

"Oh, Ela. It's beginning to feel like having Nancy Drew for a sister.", Yasir said.

We all laughed. The waiter went to our table just then and got our orders. He didn't hand in the menu anymore as we already memorize everything on it by heart.

"We'll have the usual, Kevin.", dad said.

"So that's four tacos, 2 chocolate shakes, 1 vanilla, 1 caramel.", Kevin recited.

"Yes please.", dad confirmed.

I watched Kevin as he walked away. There was something different about him. He smiled at us when he took our order but the smile did not quite reach his eyes. He had a troubled look on his face. He looked like something was bothering him.

Miguel's Cafe has been around for a long time. It was frequented by our neighborhood. It has been a popular hangout for get togethers for many years now. The owner, Miguel, is a small, round man with a kind smile. He knows everyone that comes to his cafe. Most of the staff have been around for a long time too. Like Kevin - he has been there for as long as I can remember. That's why I immediately noticed that something was up with him that day. His usually warm smile looked a bit forced.

Kevin returned to our table with our orders. I got my tocos and took a bite hurriedly.

"Hungry, Ela?", mom asked me, looking amused.

"Starving!", I answered.

I took a sip of my vanilla shake. As I touched the glass, I was shocked to feel so much sadness and helplessness. I was feeling so dejected. As I felt this, in my mind I saw Miguel talking to Kevin sadly. Kevin had his head bowed. There was something going on. It looks like Kevin was being suspended until further notice, because something needed to be investigated in the back office. His thoughts went to his family. They don't have a big income and he and his wife did their best to make ends meet with their combined income. If he's not able to contribute, it will make things very difficult for them. He was most sad because he did not want Tyrone to ever feel any financial difficulties. He and his wife both work doubly hard so they can provide well and he's heartbroken that he might not be able to do for now. It was his last day of work for Miguel's temporarily. Until things are cleared up.

I let go of the glass. That explains why Kevin was looking so dejected. Poor Kevin. He's been with Miguel's for a long time. He has been serving us since I was a kid. I had a gut feeling whatever it was that he was being blamed for, he didn't do it. He was such a nice person and I know he cared for the cafe and Miguel himself and treated him like family.

I needed to learn more. I touched the glass again. It was my only chance to see everything that happened that day and I needed to grab it if I was to help Kevin. There was money involved. Missing money. Quite a huge amount and Kevin and one other staff member, were the only ones who has access to the key to where the cash was kept. The problem was that the other staff member was the nephew of Miguel. He hasn't been there long, but as they say, blood is thicker than water. So of course Miguel had to believe his nephew, Carlos that he was the innocent one and Kevin was the culprit. Because Miguel also cared about Kevin, he decided to keep things private in the meantime. He did not involve the authorities for now. He wanted to try to resolve this within the company first. He did not want to put Kevin in a bad situation especially since there was no hard proof that he was guilty. Still, Miguel's first course of action was to suspend Kevin. He felt like he didn't have a choice.

I felt Kevin's innocence as I touched the glass. I can feel his sadness, yes. But I can also feel his righteous indignation at being accused wrongly. So I know for certain that Kevin was not the culprit. Which means that Carlos was. The problem was how to prove it to Miguel.

As we walked home, I didn't join in the conversation. I was deep in my own thoughts, trying to figure out once again, how I can help a friend.

Mom noticed my silence and asked, "Everything alright, Ela?."

"Not really.", I answered. "I need to tell you guys something when we get home. Needs to be in private.", I added.

The three looked at each other knowingly.

"Uh-oh! Looks like we have a mystery in our hands again. Move over, Nancy Drew!", joked Yasir.