Diaspora Stories Award #3

ward #3 (Today): An Upgrade

There is nothing quite as satisfying as getting a text from a client just two hours before your scheduled visit that says:

“Jackie, I think you were SO right about our bathtub. I tried cleaning it with Clorox and just ended up with an allergic reaction. I’m going ahead with your recommendation and changing the caulk. Can you do this?”

First of all—did you catch that?
“You were SO right.”
Hell yeah, I was!

But it gets better.

That little message meant I got to make a detour—straight to the hardware store. One of my favorite places since I was four years old. Back in Puerto Rico, my dad used to take me to the Massó hardware stores. While he looked for materials, he’d hand me plastic tubing to play with. Those tubes were everything. Magical. Instruments, swords, toys, telescopes. Whatever I wanted them to be.

So yeah—this text wasn’t just about caulk. It was about memories, and my hands getting into something real.

Because here’s the truth: I love getting dirty. Real dirty. Not with dishes—but with tiles, caulk, adhesives, grit. It’s the kind of dirty that makes me feel truly feminine. I know, that might sound backwards to some, but to me? It’s power. It’s creativity. It’s legacy.

And as I’m kneeling by the tub, hands deep in the task, I can almost hear my dad’s voice in my ear:

“Te enseñé bien, Beba. Don’t mess this up.”

No, Papi. I won’t.
And I didn’t.

I did the job right. And when I was done, that client? She referred me to her neighbor. They need a new kitchen backsplash. Small job, but significant.

Because it means they’re finally taking me seriously.
As a builder. As a fixer. As a mujer who knows her way around more than just a mop.

About time.
808!!!

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