Read Online Across the Great River by Irene Beltrán Hernández - Free Book Online Page B

man says, “He’s dead. He broke his neck when he fell down the stairs.”
    â€œHe deserves it!” snaps another.
    â€œWoman beater!” shouts the woman loudly. “He needed to die!”
    This seems to me like a dream, but I know it is not. For Mama still lays on the mattress and Anita lies in the corner where she has been shoved. She bleeds heavily from her mouth. A policeman plows through the growing crowd of people and he is followed by more police, who arrive and begin to clear the room of the lingering crowd.
    A man in a dark suit arrives and gives orders freely. I watch as he snaps open a black bag and then I realize that he is a doctor. “Doña Anita,” he says, “what have you gotten yourself into this time?” He kneels in front of her.
    â€œAnita saved us!” I yell.
    â€œSo, she has done another miracle, but this time she will have to pay a bit more for her work.” He holds a small bottle to her nose.
    Anita struggles with him, but when she hears his quiet commands, she settles back and accepts his aid.
    â€œAnita, we are fine,” I add, hoping to cheer her. She raises her hand in response and then goes limp.
    The doctor finishes her bandages and leaves her lying there. “We shall let her sleep this one out. It would be best.” He rises and goes over to Mama.
    I follow him and watch closely as he looks into her eyes, then down her mouth. Next he feels her ribs and it is then that he notices the small bandaid on her side. “Ah … this looks like the work of Doña Anita.” He removes the bandaid with a quick jerk, then looks up at me. “Is this not so?”
    I nod and he returns to his work.
    â€œWho is this woman?”
    â€œMy Mama.”
    â€œI see. Well, I will have to take them both to the hospital. The ambulance is waiting outside. Come with me, little girl, and bring the boy.”
    We wait near the door while men in white arrive carrying stretchers. They carry Mama out first, then return for Anita. I clutch Pablito’s hand. I do not know what to do, for everyone seems to be getting into cars and slamming doors.
    The doctor turns back to us. “You and the boy will have to go with Officer Gonzalez. I shall come see you later.”
    A strong hand touches my shoulder and leads me to a police car. Gonzalez puts us in the back seat and slams and locks the door. He goes to the front of the car and starts the engine. He is about to pull out onto the street when the doctor’s face appears outside the window.
    â€œThese policemen will not take us to jail will they?” I ask as I roll down the car window.
    â€œNo, just to a place where you can rest and wait for me to return.”
    â€œPlease help Mama and Anita.”
    â€œI will,” he says.
    I watch him enter the ambulance and close the door. As it speeds off, I cry on Pablito’s shoulder, but he wiggles away from me and pulls off the officer’s hat. If this is the greatest of all lands, why is everyone I love getting hurt? It is not so easy in this new land. I prefer the quiet life of the old village and the ranchito to all this confusion.
    The police car speeds onward, tossing us around as if we were balls and, in time, it comes to a screeching halt. I peek out the window and ask, “What is this place?”
    â€œThe Youth Center,” the officer replies.
    â€œI don’t like it!” I protest on seeing black bars on the windows.
    The officer lifts Pablito to his chest. Immediately Pablito pulls on his black mustache, which makes the officer laugh. He takes my hand and leads us into the faded brick building. “I’m sorry you don’t like it here, niña, but for right now it’s the best we can do.”
    We walk into a small yellow room where there is a desk in the center and on one of the walls there is a picture of a red-haired clown.
    â€œNell! Are you here?” he shouts. His voice echoes and bounces off