The Red Umbrella Read Online Free PDF Page A

businesses so that there wouldn’t be so much corruption. It was all for the benefit of the country, and everyone was expected to pitch in and help. What harm was there in that? Even if I didn’t agree with what had happened with Señor Betafil, so many smart people supported the revolution, they couldn’t all be wrong. “Not all of the CDR are bad. Tío Antonio joined—”
    Papá pushed back his chair. “Antonio joined the CDR? Who told you this?”
    My heart raced. I couldn’t tell him it was Ivette. Then they’d really dislike her family.
    Mamá spoke up. “It’s true. Antonio came by yesterday and told me. Lucía probably overheard us talking. And yes, I was surprised, too, but you know your brother would never do anything to hurt us.”
    “And Ivette wouldn’t hurt us, either. We’ve been friends forever, and you’ve known her parents for years.”
    “The revolution has changed people. It’s not just the soldiers we have to be worried about,” Papá said.
    “But he’s your brother. He’s the only family we have left.” Mamá placed her hand on Papá’s shoulder as she set down a platter of yellow rice.
    “No importa
. In fact, I think it’s better if you don’t talk so much with Ivette, either, Lucy.”
    “What?” I couldn’t believe what he was saying.“You’re not serious. She’s my best friend. Her mother only called because I said you wouldn’t let me go to the meetings. She was just trying to help.”
    “Humpf.” Papá pointed to the smoke starting to rise from the stove. “Sonia, I think the steaks are burning.”
    “¡Ay Dios!”
Mamá quickly pulled the sizzling pan away from the open flame.
    Papá turned to face me again, his face softer.
“Mi hija
, it’s not just Ivette’s mother. Her father came by the bank today to remind me of my duty to the revolution to report anything suspicious.”
    “So?” I shrugged.
    Papá paused. “You really don’t see it?” He shook his head. “Of course not, most of the people around here don’t see the problem, either. Everyone’s in love with all the fancy rhetoric.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “What he meant was that he wants me to spy on the bank employees and the customers. He even mentioned how much he’d hate to see anything happen to me or my new promotion.” Papá’s face started to turn red. “That it would be a shame if, because of a silly misunderstanding, I were classified as an anti-revolutionary and sent to prison like Betafil.” Papá stood and paced around the kitchen. “It was a threat. That good-for-nothing thinks he has power now. A year ago, he was nothing more than a lazy salesman in a shoe store, and today he wants to dictate my code of ethics. I’m telling you, this revolution is
una mentira
. It’s all a bunch of lies.”
    “Fernando, please. Someone might hear.” Mamá ran to close the kitchen window.
    “What? I can’t even speak my mind in my own house without worrying that a neighbor is listening. This is becoming absurd! Lucía, you will not go to those meetings and that’s final!” Papá slung open the back door. “Sonia, I need some fresh air. Go ahead and eat without me.” He stormed out, not even bothering to close the door behind him.
    My heart beat wildly, but I sat frozen in my chair. I’d never seen Papá so angry. I glanced over at Mamá, who stood by the sink picking imaginary crumbs from her apron. She then rolled back her shoulders and walked to the stove.
    “Close the door and call your brother to dinner,” she said in a quiet voice.
    I shut the door and walked to the living room looking for Frankie. As I stood by the large picture window in the front of the house, I caught a glimpse of Papá’s silhouette. He was crossing the street, and the light from the streetlamps elongated his shadow against the wide sidewalk. A quick movement, glimpsed out of the corner of my eye, made me look away from him. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was. Then it happened again a