Posted by strikeeagle on December 23, 2000 at 13:05:27:
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This weekend and last,I had a very interesting experience that perhaps gives glimpse into the hearts of las chicas. It gave me pause, and again put things in a different light. I'd not had occasion to visit AB in a couple of months, and I wanted to say 'hello' to a couple of chicas and wish them Feliz Navidad. As I walked back around towards the men's room, one of mi amigas spotted me, ran up and gave me a big hug. (her usual greeting) She asked me how I was doing and commented that she'd not seen me in some time. I told her that work had kept me busy and that I'd not been down in some time. (didn't tell her that it had only been three weeks) At this point, another chica came up to mi amiga and made some comment about 'gifts for the children' and how 'there are fourteen left on the list'. Both of las chicas glanced at me, and there was some question posed to mi amiga. She responded, and her amiga walked off. Karina (mi amiga) told me that each year las chicas take up a collection for a local 'orphanage'. The 'home' gives them a list of niños with names, sizes and needs, and las chicas each take one name for whom to shop. They usually get one outfit and a pair of shoes for the needy child. This year, for whatever reason, there were names still left over, and time was running short. I asked to see the list, and she led me back to a booth in the back of the club where a couple of chicas were pouring over a list and handing out small pieces of paper to otra chicas. Una chica showed me the list, and asked Karina if I was going to help. I responded that I was, and asked for a name. She asked me, ´niño o niña?' I told her that it was not matter to me. I ended up with a 11 year old boy with the name of Jorge. Mi amiga started to explain to me that the sizes on the slip of paper were different from US sizes, and I told her that I knew this. I then showed her a size conversion program that I have on my Pilot. She just smiled and hugged me. Then she told me that they needed to have everything back no later than the 22nd. "Esta no problema", I said. So last night, I went back to AB to deliver the gifts. I'd picked up a race car T-shirt, button up shirt, pants, shoes and socks, and a soccer ball for little Jorge. I'd packed the cloths in two gift boxes with ribbon bows and wrapped the soccer ball in paper with a stick-on bow. (you could clearly tell what that ball was even in the paper) The chica who seemed to be in charge of the whole effort was ALL smiles when I handed over the regalos. She took the little slip of paper and took a quick peek inside the boxes. She exclaimed that there were so many regalos! I told her that I wanted this to be una navidad especial para el niño. She got up and gave me a giant hug and a kiss. Then sat down acting a little embarassed. She said something to mi amiga that totally went beyond my Spanish comprehension. I looked at Karina with a puzzled look, and she waived me over to an open area near by. Karina told me that when she'd given me Jorge's name, her friend had expressed doubt that I'd be back with los regalos. And, to have me not only return, but make an effort to get the right sizes plus little extras had been a thrill. It seems that this chica was a little embarrassed about the hug and kiss, but was so grateful that a gringo guy would help out a Mexican child, that she just did it. I asked if they normally got help from clientes, and me amiga told me that it almost never happens. It seems that the locals don't have the money to spare (everything cost me about $40US) and the gringos don't want to 'waste' their party cash. She said that some gringos have even expressed doubt that the orphanage cause is real. As we were talking, another chica went to the table, and took the boxes away. I asked Karina where they were storing los regalos. She took me over by the chicas dressing room, and pulled the curtain back a little. There, in a side corner area was a pile of gift boxes with bows and cards, and I could see the boxes that I'd brought down. As the evening wore on, random chicas would come up to me and tell me that I had a corozón bonita. I spent some time with mi amiga and admonished her for saying anything to anyone. She told me that she had chicas coming up to her, asking who I was, and that she'd only said that I was a friend of hers. The chica grape vine at work. By the end of the evening, I must have had ten different chicas come up to me to comment or thank me, so I'm pretty sure that they cause is Very real. The whole point to this story is this. Here we have chicas who for the most part are working to provide for their families and children, but they are all willing to contribute to children who are even less fortunate than are their children. These girls are giving of their money and their time to help make the lives of others a little brighter. All of this going on in a 'hooker bar', with the cause being run by chicas that some refer to as whores. How incongruous a concept it may be to celebrate Christmas in this place we call La Zona in the ways that these chicas do live the Spirit of the Season. Yet, it proves to me once more that las chicas are are all very human. They are first and foremost ladies, and many of them have hearts and souls of gold.
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