The mother-in-law invited 20 people to eat, but only gave her daughter-in-law 100 pesos for the market. When he lifted the lid of the plate in front of everyone, the entire table fell silent when he saw what was inside…

Silence fell over the courtyard as if someone had turned off the world all at once.

The conversations that had filled the air just seconds ago disappeared. The spoons were suspended in the air. No one moved.

I was still standing by the table, holding the lid of the first course.

Inside there was not the banquet that everyone expected.

There was a small pile of white rice. Nothing more.

Nor meat.
Not even chicken.
Not even beans.

Just rice.

Next to it, on another plate, a bowl of clear soup with a few cilantro leaves floating around. And on the third tray, a mountain of warm tortillas.

That was all.

Twenty people looking at a meal that would barely be enough for five.