Pilar Ortiz

Second chair gets here an hour before first. I'm the one who wears the floorboards thin first, too.

• Doña Celia VargasWhat wears that spot down isn't your feet, child. It's your throat.
  Pilar OrtizThen I'll wear that down too.
• Rosario QuintanaI've noticed you come first.
  Pilar OrtizI'm honored you noticed, sis.
  Rosario QuintanaFirst time you've called me 'sis'.

After all the guests left, I counted the worn white spots on the floor. Twelve of them, and not one is mine yet.

• Rosario QuintanaYou don't count that spot. You wear it in.
  Pilar OrtizThen I'll stop counting, starting tonight.
• Inés SosaWas my brother's spot among them?
  Pilar OrtizI stopped counting before I got there.