How Tía Lola Saved the Summer by Julia Álvarez Page A

whirlwind of phone calls, a previous visit by Víctor, and now this visit with his girls. “I just worry that everything is moving too fast for the kids. A divorce. Then their father getting engaged. And your girls, too. It’s a big change from New York City to Vermont. They’ve been through so much in the last few years.” Mami sighs as if she herself is out of breath with how many things have been happening. “I think we all need to slow down a little.”
    “But I don’t want to slow down.” Papa’s voice sounds so sad, as if Linda has just given him a death sentence. “Idon’t get it. I think the kids are doing great. Are you sure it’s not you who are having doubts?”
    “Not at all!” Linda says so vehemently that Victoria can’t help feeling relieved.
    Her father must be relieved, too. He reaches for Linda’s hand. “What’s this?” he asks, lifting her hand to the light. Linda is clutching the sword Tía Lola gave her as if for dear life.
    “I needed some help talking to you,” Linda admits, trying to laugh it off.
    “Please don’t worry,” Papa says. “I wouldn’t move up here if I didn’t think it was the best thing for everybody concerned. And I promise not to put any pressure on you. I’ll wait for as long as it takes you. Only one favorcito. ” A little favor.
    “What is it?” Mami sounds afraid to ask.
    “I want you to use your magic sword to slay the monster.”
    Essie and Juanita can’t help giggling. Victoria silences them with a look. But she has to admit that it is kind of funny to hear her rational lawyer papa talking about slaying monsters. It’s also funny to hear him telling someone else not to worry. Papa, the big worrier! Maybe there’s something in Vermont’s water that has brought about this marvelous change in her father.
    “So what monster is it you want me to kill?” Linda is asking.
    “The monster of making mistakes. After something doesn’t go well, we sometimes get scared of trying again.”Papa can be so wise sometimes. “You’re probably a little afraid to fall in love again. But you have to get past that monster. And the children will all follow your lead, I’m sure. In fact, they might even help you slay the monster if you ask for their help.”
    Essie’s shoulders are almost up to her ears as she struggles to control her giggles. She nudges the giggling Juanita, who nudges Cari. But Cari doesn’t think any of this is funny. She has been getting increasingly scared by all this talk of monsters. “I don’t get it,” she whispers in Victoria’s ear.
    “I’ll explain later,” Victoria whispers back.
    “Is it a real monster?”
    Victoria shakes her head. But her sister is still looking petrified, so Victoria sends her and the two gigglers on an errand before they ruin everything. “Go upstairs and get Tía Lola and Miguel. We need to have a summit meeting, pronto! ”
    “ Ay , Linda, I’m sorry,” Papa is apologizing. “I shouldn’t be hurrying you, much as I’d like to. Every heart has its very own clock. I’ll tell you what, think about it in the next couple of days. If you still feel the same way on Sunday, I will respect your decision. We’ll slow down, put the move to Vermont on hold for now. A year, two, as long as it takes. But”—Víctor grabs her hand with the sword in it—“I want you to give us a fighting chance.”
    Papa has taken the sword from her hand and is whipping it in the air.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Warming it up to slay that mistake monster,” he jokes.
    “You think this plastic sword will do the job, eh?” Mami sounds playful but also doubtful.
    “If not, I know where I can borrow a genuine samurai warrior sword.”
    They both burst out laughing. “Shhh,” Mami hushes them both. “The children are sleeping. Shhhhhhhh!”

    Oh yeah? The children are now all assembled in Juanita’s room for an emergency meeting. Victoria briefs Tía Lola and Miguel on the situation and adds the information about