understand that, of course. It’s hard to speak more than one language.
By the time I head back to Elena’s house, it’s almost night and she’s cooking a special dinner. I hurry, thinking about what I’ll say to Angel.
She’s sitting on a bench in the sweet-smelling garden. I slide in next to her. “It’s time to go home,” I say.
She nods. “Home.” I can hear how much she wants it.
“You’ll see your grandfather. You’ll be able to go to school now. We’ll cross the border together.”
She stares at Elena’s flowers; then I hear the sound of her wonderful laugh. “You can’t cross the border alone? You can’t even do that by yourself ?”
I grin too. “I guess not.”
“I’ll have to do it, then. You’ll get lost by yourself.” She roots around in the bag from Sal and opens the cookies.
We talk through dinner. I tell Julian about Lucas and his music; I tell him that a cat hangs around and I might give her a name. I tell him about Miguel and that I’m determined to get my job back.
He talks about his painting. He wants the world to know about our country, and so every piece he does has something of us.
Later, I put my few things in a backpack, and then Julian and I walk to the forest in the dark. It’s windy tonight, and the sharp, piney smell is in the air. I breathe it in, watching the doe as she lies under the trees, almost covered. I think she might be having her fawn, but I won’t be here to see it. I won’t see the bobcat that hissed at me, or the groundhog that lumbers along the paths.
It’s really late now, and I’m tired. I run my fingers through the branches, feeling the soft green needles in my hands, and snap off a small twig to take home with me.
“Goodbye, forest,” I say aloud without thinking, and Julian rests his hand on my shoulder. The deer doesn’t move, and I back away, not wanting to disturb her.
At Elena’s house, I curl up on the couch.
Last time.
Julian calls Felipe to say that we’re coming, and then he and Elena put us on the bus to Samson, a long trip. When we get off, our water is gone, and most of Sal’s food and the lunch Elena packed for us. But Felipe is waiting for us at the station, and takes us home, ready to fill us with bacon and eggs. He grins at us. “You’re lucky. Friends of mine are driving south tomorrow and will take you with them. It will be an easier trip this time.”
We follow him into the kitchen and can hardly wait as he fries up eggs for us.
“I’m ready to go home,” I say as we shovel in the food.
Angel and I smile at each other. “It’s easier going south than north,” she says. “We belong there, after all.”
I want to tell Angel I’ll miss her, but she knows.
After we eat, we memorize addresses. Her grandfather’s place is hours away from mine. A small distance for travelers like us.
She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Now that I know where you live, look for me. You’ll see me one day.”
“I will,” I say, and I really will. “I’ll never forget you, Angel.”
She reaches out to hug me, not saying a word. I hug her too, Angel, my best friend.
The crossing and the desert are ahead of us, but I’m not afraid. And then I’ll be taking the train with Felipe’s friends.
—
Angel and I say a last goodbye in the car. Soon I’ll go down Creek Road, the slow-moving water at my side, the trees over my head. I’ll see my sky-blue house, and Julian’s painting on every wall. The cat will come to greet me, its sharp claws on my legs.
I’ll open the door. “Is anyone here?” I’ll call, then they’ll surround me, Mami and Abuelita, Lucas yelling “Mateo!” as I put the guitar in his hands.
We’ll sit at the table and look at Julian’s drawings. They’ll all be crying. I suppose I’ll be crying too, but the tears will be mostly happy.
I’ll go into the bedroom I share with Lucas and put the sprig of pine on the table between us.
Later, I’ll go to the factory. I’ll tell
By the time I head back to Elena’s house, it’s almost night and she’s cooking a special dinner. I hurry, thinking about what I’ll say to Angel.
She’s sitting on a bench in the sweet-smelling garden. I slide in next to her. “It’s time to go home,” I say.
She nods. “Home.” I can hear how much she wants it.
“You’ll see your grandfather. You’ll be able to go to school now. We’ll cross the border together.”
She stares at Elena’s flowers; then I hear the sound of her wonderful laugh. “You can’t cross the border alone? You can’t even do that by yourself ?”
I grin too. “I guess not.”
“I’ll have to do it, then. You’ll get lost by yourself.” She roots around in the bag from Sal and opens the cookies.
We talk through dinner. I tell Julian about Lucas and his music; I tell him that a cat hangs around and I might give her a name. I tell him about Miguel and that I’m determined to get my job back.
He talks about his painting. He wants the world to know about our country, and so every piece he does has something of us.
Later, I put my few things in a backpack, and then Julian and I walk to the forest in the dark. It’s windy tonight, and the sharp, piney smell is in the air. I breathe it in, watching the doe as she lies under the trees, almost covered. I think she might be having her fawn, but I won’t be here to see it. I won’t see the bobcat that hissed at me, or the groundhog that lumbers along the paths.
It’s really late now, and I’m tired. I run my fingers through the branches, feeling the soft green needles in my hands, and snap off a small twig to take home with me.
“Goodbye, forest,” I say aloud without thinking, and Julian rests his hand on my shoulder. The deer doesn’t move, and I back away, not wanting to disturb her.
At Elena’s house, I curl up on the couch.
Last time.
Julian calls Felipe to say that we’re coming, and then he and Elena put us on the bus to Samson, a long trip. When we get off, our water is gone, and most of Sal’s food and the lunch Elena packed for us. But Felipe is waiting for us at the station, and takes us home, ready to fill us with bacon and eggs. He grins at us. “You’re lucky. Friends of mine are driving south tomorrow and will take you with them. It will be an easier trip this time.”
We follow him into the kitchen and can hardly wait as he fries up eggs for us.
“I’m ready to go home,” I say as we shovel in the food.
Angel and I smile at each other. “It’s easier going south than north,” she says. “We belong there, after all.”
I want to tell Angel I’ll miss her, but she knows.
After we eat, we memorize addresses. Her grandfather’s place is hours away from mine. A small distance for travelers like us.
She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Now that I know where you live, look for me. You’ll see me one day.”
“I will,” I say, and I really will. “I’ll never forget you, Angel.”
She reaches out to hug me, not saying a word. I hug her too, Angel, my best friend.
The crossing and the desert are ahead of us, but I’m not afraid. And then I’ll be taking the train with Felipe’s friends.
—
Angel and I say a last goodbye in the car. Soon I’ll go down Creek Road, the slow-moving water at my side, the trees over my head. I’ll see my sky-blue house, and Julian’s painting on every wall. The cat will come to greet me, its sharp claws on my legs.
I’ll open the door. “Is anyone here?” I’ll call, then they’ll surround me, Mami and Abuelita, Lucas yelling “Mateo!” as I put the guitar in his hands.
We’ll sit at the table and look at Julian’s drawings. They’ll all be crying. I suppose I’ll be crying too, but the tears will be mostly happy.
I’ll go into the bedroom I share with Lucas and put the sprig of pine on the table between us.
Later, I’ll go to the factory. I’ll tell
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