Nilda (31 page)

“Well, he's on his own,” Victor said. “You worry about Nilda; we can take care of ourselves.”

“Well,” said Aunt Rosario, “I worry anyway. I know Frankie will join the Air Force after this term. He already promised me he would finish this year. But Jimmy … I don't know what I can do for him.”

“Don't bother yourself about it, Titi Rosario,” Victor said.

“I can only do the best I can, but after all,” she said.

“Look,” said Paul, “you do the best you can, Aunt Rosario; like Victor says, worry about Nilda. But don't be so hard on Jimmy. Especially you, Victor. Man, it must be hard to come back after such a long time, and be sick, and now the family is split up. Maybe you are all jumping to conclusions and—”

“I was away, too,” interrupted Victor, “and I was lucky to get back at all and in one piece. It's not easy for anyone; he's not the only one with problems.”

“Man,” Paul said softly. “Victor, take it easy on him.”

“Like he took it easy on Mamá!” Victor shouted. Everyone stared at Paul and Victor and said nothing.

After a while, Willie said, “Hey, Lady Rosario? Where's my fresh coffee? I have to have something to drink with all them cookies I got.” He smiled and everyone laughed with relief.

“You're right,” said Aunt Rosario. “Victor? Tell me what time you coming back here, because we gotta talk to the landlord of the building.”

“As soon as I have the time schedule I'll let you know,” Victor said.

“We already pay for this month's rent,” Aunt Rosario said. “Nilda and Frankie only got a few weeks of school left, so I can take them out a little early, and meanwhile they can manage till then. Also, I got a moving company coming. You have to look for what you might need. Extra dishes, pots, linens, some of the things your mamá had, because I don't need that much extra. And you will be setting up house in Connecticut, so maybe you can bring your girl …”

Nilda suddenly felt very tired; she slowly left the kitchen, going to her room.

“Where you going, Nilda?” she heard Claudia calling.

“To my room; I feel very tired.”

“Can I come?”

“Sure, Claudia.”

“You know what, Nilda?” Claudia said as she walked with Nilda into her room. “My mother said she's gonna get us matching bedspreads and curtains when you come to live with us, just like sisters.”

“Really?” Nilda said. “That's nice.”

“Oh, look at all those nice drawings, Nilda,” Claudia said. “Maybe we can hang some of them up in our room, too.”

“You like them, Claudia?” Nilda asked.

“Oh, sure. I always wished I could draw like you, honest. You draw great,” Claudia said, smiling. “Can I see some more?”

“Oh,” Nilda said, “it's nothing really.”

“Sure it is. Let me see some more,” Claudia said.

“Well, if you really would like to see them, I got some older ones here,” Nilda said happily. “Let me show you.” Opening her
closet door, she pulled out a large box and, digging inside, took out a drawing pad. “Now, these drawings are ones that I made when I was a little kid; they're of a camp I went to once.” Holding up the pad excitedly, she pointed to the drawing on the page. “Here's the cabin where we all slept; there were eight of us. And that's the inside here; that's my bed, and,” Nilda turned the page, “here is a special trail in the woods. You see how it winds … well, that trail leads to a secret garden.”