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When the comedor was in sight, Evelyn said again, “I’m hungry!”

This time, however, she laughed and rubbed her belly. She loved coming to the comedor once the walk was over.

Other children were already there, but Catarina saw that no one was eating yet. Hermana Amelia stood outside, wiping flour from her hands and talking with Samuel, one of her helpers. Hermana Amelia seemed worried, and they both kept looking down the road.

That is when she noticed the girls. “Hola, Caterina! Hola, Evelyn! We are making the pupusas** for you right now, but the water truck hasn’t come yet.”

There were no faucets, sinks, hoses, or drinking fountains at the comedor. All the water they needed to cook food, to drink and to clean up had to come by truck. Twice a week, a truck arrived carrying a large tank filled with water. But not this week.

Since the water truck had not come when it usually did, they had used up all the water they had gotten last time. Hermana Amelia and her workers were not able to prepare food or clean the tables. It was very hot, and everyone was sweaty, hungry and very, very thirsty.