>>5963617>>5963625>>5963634You decide maybe it's best not to talk just because of your own sort of discomfort and just focus on enjoying the meal, a warm hearty stew with juicy pieces of roasted braised pork in a spicy broth, it's been a long while since you had a real homecooked meal.
"So, Mijo." Caesar's mom starts casually. "How did you get this job, Isabelle was telling me about?"
Caesar glares at his sister but she avoids the brunt of the damage by concerning herself with dunking a tortilla into the broth and keeping her eyes down.
"It's not a big deal, mama, I just pick up some fruit and go sell it. It's just for some extra money."
"Oh you 'pick it up'? Who from?"
"Pedro.." He says unconvincingly waving his spoon around. "From the Nature-Mart."
"Mhm.." She says quietly before folding her arms. "Are you stealing the fruit, mijo?"
He drops his spoon.
"Mama."
"Answer me."
Caesar looks to you with an exasperated expression.
"Don't look at him, answer me Caesar." She reiterates, her accent growing stronger.
He swings his head towards her, his eyes dull and evasive.
"I don't know. They fall off a truck and-"
His mother laughs once sharply.
"They fall of a truck? Quieres terminar como tu padre? Huh?"
"Mama, I need the money. Nobody is getting hurt it's fruit they are gonna throw out anyways!"
Bianca closes her fingers on one hand and looks to you. You look to Caesar. Isabelle looks to grab another tortilla.
"Maybe you'll listen to Officer Delucia, that even if you 'need money' you can't do this sort of thing, Mijo. What do you even need the money for?"
"Nothing.."
"Nothing? Mijo, you got hurt because you're out doing things you shouldn't be. I raised you better than this." She looks to you and gestures towards him.
"Tell him, tell him what's going to happen if he keeps this up."
You awkwardly swallow your soup and let out a spluttering cough, as you wipe at your mouth with a napkin you at least get a moment to consider your response to all this.
>"I actually, uh, have something that I am late for. Thank you for dinner but I should really be going." >"Mrs.Welles, as far as I'm concerned this is a family issue. I don't really think I should be weighing in here." >"Caesar, your mom is right. Any other cop who catches you with stolen property, even fruit, is gonna haul you in. It's too risky." >"Maybe you should cut him a little slack? He's only doing it to put money on your husband's books. His hearts in the right place he just needs to make better choices." >Write-In 