Salsa Stories Read Online Free PDF Page B

crossing the border to go shopping. She thought that being all dressed up made her story more believable. As soon as she was in El Paso, she would get on a bus for the long ride to the city’s east side. Then she would get off the bus and walk the rest of the way to her final destination. Many other women lived all week in the houses where they worked. They would only return to their families on weekends. My mother was not one of them. She came home every evening to make dinner for us, to mend our clothing, and to check if I had done my homework. And I was glad to have her with me every night.
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    When it was time, Mama Rosa took me to school. And lucky me — to get there, we had to go by the market. In the distance I could see the vendors opening their stands and arranging their wares.
    â€œCan we stop and look at the piñatas — PLEASE — Mama Rosa?” I begged.
    â€œHow many times have you seen them?” Mama Rosa laughed. But of course, she let me go.
    Inside the dark market building we walked past the many stalls filled with fruits and vegetables, purses and handbags, and clothes. And then we came to the one I liked best — the big one that sold piñatas . Dozens ofthem in all shapes and sizes hung from the ceiling. There were donkeys and horses, cats and dogs, rabbits and fish, and even a silver star. Dazzled by the brilliant colors of the tissue paper that covered them, I stared at each one, hypnotized. Then I looked in the corner to make sure my favorite one was still there — the huge red bull with multicolored ribbons tied to its horns. Standing next to him I could look right into his deep black paper eyes. He was as tall as I was. I was sure he could hold more treats than any other piñata there!

    â€œLook!” I whispered to Mama Rosa. “The bull I want is still here.”
    â€œWe’ll see which one your Mami can buy,” Mama Rosa said with a wink. “But now we must get you to school. Mami doesn’t want you to be late.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” the vendor joked with me. “The piñatas will be waiting for you when you come back.”
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    In the classroom I told my best friend Pablo about my piñata . He was as excited as I was. And all day long, I raised my hand to answer the teacher’s questions, hoping to make the day go faster. But it went as slowly as ever.
    That afternoon at Mama Rosa’s I did my homework right away while I waited for Mami to return from herjob. I kept thinking about my piñata and what we could fill it with. In the barrio , when someone had a piñata , it was hung out on the street, and all the children were invited to share in the fun. I prayed the vendor would not sell my bull before we got there.
    When evening came, I sat on Mama Rosa’s wooden front steps lost in my daydreams. The shadow of the saguaro cactus on the side of her house grew longer and longer until it faded into the darkness. Where was Mami? I never stayed at my grandma’s this long. Would the market still be open after sunset? Behind me I heard Mama Rosa pacing in the kitchen. I was getting very hungry.
    Suddenly, Papá appeared.
    When he did not find us at home, he got worried and decided to come see if I was still at Mama Rosa’s. Inside the house I saw them whisper to each other. Mama Rosa looked anxious as she set the table. The three of us sat down and had some frijoles . We ate the beans in silence.
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    It was late at night when Mami finally arrived. We all rose to greet her as she walked in the door. She looked frazzled.
    â€œYou won’t believe the day I had!” she exclaimed.She was out of breath. “This morning they stopped me at the border. They held me for hours, asking all kinds of questions. They asked what was I going to buy … how much I was going to spend … what stores was I going to … I was so nervous, I couldn’t even answer. By the time they let me go, it