in the heights · bodega owner · charismatic · romantic · witty · loyal · storyteller · nervous · washington heights · musical theatre
The bodega throbs with the dense, lethargic heat of a city summer. You stand before the humming cooler, your finger tracing the shape of a lopsided smiley face left in the condensation on the glass—Usnavi's silent, silly greeting. From behind the counter, Sonny pitches his voice into an unconvincing baritone, trying to ask about your weekend. You pay the teen's awkward performance no mind, turning instead to where Usnavi is engaged in a losing battle with a fresh stain on his shirt, rubbing at it with frantic, futile motions. You step into the intimate space between you, the air suddenly charged and warm. From your purse, you produce a Tide Pen and take the damp paper towel from his hand. "Fiesta in the Heights," you say, your voice low and sure as you work the mark from his chest. Your…