How Tía Lola Saved the Summer (9 page)

“You
only
ate French fries?” Victoria has overheard Essie’s comment and is suddenly all attention, her forehead creased. She has been forgetting her responsibilities as the eldest, in charge of her little sister. “Oh, Cari, you know you have to eat a balanced meal.”

“But it’s the Fourth of July,” Cari explains.

“I guess you’re right.” Victoria smiles indulgently. “That shirt certainly looks like you got wounded in battle.”

This is what gives Juanita the idea to include the little girl in her plans. Cari can be a wounded soldier from the War of Independence with her bloody T-shirt and her sword, even though Juanita’s pretty sure that soldiers had guns back then. Juanita is glad for the company. She has been feeling increasing stage fright about getting the whole room’s attention just to herself. Meanwhile, Cari is thrilled to be part of Juanita’s surprise and suggests wearing a bloody ketchup bandage around her head and limping like Miguel does when he tries walking on his hurt foot.

Maybe it’s because the fireworks were canceled or because these guests had nowhere else to go this Fourth of July, or else they wouldn’t have been free to accept this last-minute invitation, but Juanita’s and Cari’s surprise is especially appreciated.

With a flare of trumpets (from a CD Mami has) and a clang of cymbals (from the pot and metal spoon Tía Lola is holding), a wounded Revolutionary War soldier comes down the stairs. She is wielding a sword to defend the home of the brave, or so she announces to the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Behind the soldier is a noble beast with a red bandanna, carrying a little American flag in his mouth. Then, straight from the harbor of New York City, Lady Liberty makes her entrance in her star hat and her white robe and a tablet on which are written the words of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” because they’re kind of hard to remember. In fact, for the longest time, Juanita thought the song was addressed to Miguel’s friend José, in New York City: “José, can you see …” But then Ms. Sweeney told her class the story, explaining what ramparts were and what a perilous fight was. Everyone had to write out the first verse, an assignment on which Juanita got an A for her beautiful penmanship.

Lady Liberty sings the national anthem, with the wounded soldier coming in for the parts she knows. One by one, folks start joining in. Colonel Charlebois, dressed as usual in his old army uniform, struggles to his feet and puts his hand on his heart. When they get to the bombs bursting
in air, Valentino lets out a series of explosive barks that makes the room roar with laughter.

Tía Lola enters from the kitchen with a cake decorated with candles and tiny American flags. Everyone now joins in singing “Happy Birthday” to the United States, including Tía Lola, who feels especially grateful to this great country for letting her stay with her family and all the new friends she has made.

“Make a wish!” Tía Lola reminds everybody, before Colonel Charlebois does the honors and blows out the candles.

Juanita closes her eyes. Earlier today, there were a zillion wishes she would have made. But right now she can’t think of anything else that would make this a more special day! The only thing missing is Papi, but he called up just a little while ago to say that he and Carmen and Abuelito and Abuelita are coming this weekend to see them and also watch Miguel’s baseball game.

It’s dark by the time the last guest leaves. As Juanita and her family stand in the front yard waving goodbye, one little light, then another, and another, then more and more, twinkle in the darkness. “They’re fireflies!” Juanita explains because none of the Swords have actually ever seen them.

Well, Essie claims she saw some the night they were out on the treasure hunt. But she thought she was seeing stars like when you spin yourself around too many times and almost pass out.

“Why are they lighting up like that?” Cari wants to know.

“Mother Nature is giving us her especial fireworks,” Tía Lola tells the little girl.

Juanita can’t help smiling. She got her fireworks after all! Back inside, she collects her costume and cleans off her sword, still muddy from the garden, to take up to her room. When Tía Lola notices the blank blade, she offers Juanita her marker, as she did with Cari.

“What for?” Juanita doesn’t need her name on a sword to feel special anymore.

Six
wednesday

Victorious Vicky

Victoria lies in bed, enjoying a rare treat. In the next bed, Cari is still fast asleep. As soon as she wakes, it’ll be Victoria’s responsibility to help her little sister dress, accompany her downstairs, and get her to eat some breakfast, including going through the daily struggle about the need for milk for calcium for her growing bones. What a relief just to lie in bed daydreaming, not worrying about anyone or anything!

But then a little worry cloud sails into Victoria’s head. How on earth is she going to get out of Tía Lola’s summer camp outing today? They’re all supposed to drive over to Fort Ticonderoga, a military museum, where there’s going to be a Revolutionary War reenactment. It was her father’s
idea, the big history fan. Papa is so excited and thinks this is such a special treat. Honestly! Why would anyone want to go watch grown men dressed in costumes shoot at each other with noisy muskets? She’ll be bored to tears.

It’s true that Victoria used to feel the same way about baseball. But now that Owen has explained to her all the intricacies of the game, she is a total fan. As she tried to tell him yesterday, if it hadn’t been for him … She was about to finish her sentence when she made the mistake of looking into his blue eyes. They had this soft, mesmerizing home-run glow to them.

Victoria doesn’t want to hurt her father’s feelings, but she really would prefer if Papa and Cari and Mami and Tía Lola and Juanita went by themselves. Hopefully, Miguel’s ankle will be cured, so that Essie will want to go, too. Victoria is pretty sure her sister won’t turn down the chance to watch an actual battle, given that she’s always starting them. Besides, it’ll be so annoying if Essie stays. Her sister is constantly pestering Owen with baseball questions, hogging all the attention. And Victoria has so much to talk to Owen about before she has to leave Vermont on Sunday.

She could try acting sick, but that might totally backfire on her. Her worrywart father would not only cancel the outing, but stick around insisting Victoria stay in bed. Any chance of seeing Owen today would evaporate. The best policy, as her father is always telling her, is honesty.

But Victoria has such a hard time telling people stuff they don’t want to hear and seeing them be upset with her or unhappy with themselves. She can’t bear it! If only she
could get rid of that part of herself! Be free to be her fun, exciting, perky, selfish self! She punches her pillow a bunch of times, then buries her face in it, stifling her screams (otherwise she’ll wake up Cari): I hate being the responsible, thoughtful, helpful, polite one! Oh, Owen, Owen, Owen, please save me, oh save me from this cruel destiny of being the oldest!

One flight down, Tía Lola is cooking breakfast. Today it’s a Dominican treat,
mangú
, a dish made of mashed plantains, with a special fried cheese Rudy is kind enough to order from his Boston supplier. A hearty breakfast for people going to watch a bloody battle or play baseball.

But as she is finishing up the dish, Tía Lola distinctly feels a little sword jabbing at her heart. One of her campers is experiencing trouble. Who can it be? Probably Miguel. He has been growing impatient with how slowly his ankle is healing. Tía Lola turns off the stove, dries her hands on her apron, and heads upstairs.

As she reaches the second floor, the guest room door opens. The oldest of Víctor’s girls, the lovely Victoria, is tiptoeing out. She gives a little jump when she sees she is not alone.

“Sorry,” Tía Lola mouths. She would continue her trek upstairs to check on Miguel, but something desperate in the girl’s face makes her stop. She gestures for Victoria to come up to her attic room. For a moment, Victoria looks unsure, but then with a sigh of relief, she nods.

Working as a team, Victoria and Tía Lola manage to talk Mami and Víctor and the three girls into going to Fort Ticonderoga without them.

At first, Essie keeps changing her mind. Miguel’s ankle is still swollen. She would love to substitute for a second day, but she’d also love to watch a real-life battle. “I’ve heard it’s like a show in Disney World,” her older sister remarks. That clinches it.

As for Tía Lola staying behind: “I’d love a quiet day working in my garden.” It’s so rare that Tía Lola asks for something, no one thinks to talk her out of it.

“How did you do that?” Victoria whispers. Tía Lola shrugs like she doesn’t know what big thing she just did. “Tell everyone what you wanted without apologizing?” Victoria elaborates.

“I just told everyone what I wanted without apologizing,” Tía Lola laughs. Like it’s that simple. “Now you try it.”

But Victoria isn’t so sure she can withstand her father’s persistence. “Are you certain you want to stay, Victoria?” he keeps asking. Each time, she can feel her certainty eroding. “It’ll be a chance to see our country’s history in action.”

Papa, pleeeeeeease!!! Victoria feels like shouting. I have ZERO interest in watching any history except my own in action!!!

Tía Lola steps in. “Victoria’ll keep me company and help me take care of our patient.”

Of course Papa has to bring up some hurdles. “But
neither of you can carry Miguel. And Rudy can’t do it either. Remember, he’s not a young man. Come to think of it …” Oh no! Papa himself is reconsidering. Unless Tía Lola and Victoria think of something quick, the whole outing will be canceled.

“Owen can carry him,” Victoria blurts out, an edge of desperation in her voice.

Mami has also been pushing for Victoria to come along. But just this moment, Mami must see something she didn’t see before. Victoria is blushing at the mere mention of Dean’s tall, handsome fourteen-year-old brother.

“Víctor, I actually will feel a lot better leaving Miguel in Victoria’s hands,” Mami says, looping her arm through his and escorting him out to the van.

As they drive off, Victoria could swear that Linda calls out, “Have a lovely time with Ow—I mean, Miguel.”