Read Online Before We Were Free by Julia Álvarez - Free Book Online

again—and again he has the lowest score so far. “This place is like a country club.”
    Both girls look at him as if he has sprouted wings.
    “Well, it is,” he adds defensively.
    “Samuel, dear,” Susie says, “that’s a
fantástico
idea!” She reaches over and smacks a kiss on her brother’s cheek, which he immediately wipes off, making his I’ve-got-an-anaconda-around-my-neck face.
    “My brother, the genius,” Susie declares, this time without sarcasm.
    At first, Susie’s parents are not keen on a big
quinceañera
party. “They wanted me to wait until I’m sixteen!” she complains to Lucinda and me. We’re practicing the twist in her room, listening to a guy called Chubby Checker on Susie’s portable record player. Sammy’s out at a Scouts’ meeting, so I’ve been invited to join them. Lucinda usually tells me to scram when she’s with one of her girlfriends. But recently, she’s being a lot nicer to me. Maybe she’s realizing I’m not just a stupid little sister but a potential friend. Well,
potential friend
is maybe stretching it!
    “ ‘Now, Susan Elizabeth,’ ” Susie says, imitating her parents, “ ‘you can have a big party for your sweet sixteen back in the States.’ Can you believe it?”
    “That’s terrible,” Lucinda says.
    I nod. “I didn’t have a party for my birthday, either,” I offer.
    “Poor kid,” Susie commiserates. “But guess what?” Her face is full of excitement. I know better than to take a guess.
    “I told my parents what you guys told me about fifteen being the big birthday here. They’re the ones always saying that in Rome you’re supposed to do what the Romans do. Anyway, they said yes! So, we’re going to twist, twist, twist all night.” She raises the volume on Chubby Checker and we twist in celebration.
    Susie’s party is planned for her birthday, February 27, which is perfect, as that’s our national independence day. “You’ll have free fireworks,” Lucinda notes.
    For the next two weeks, it’s as if someone is getting married in the compound. The Washburns hire two gardeners, who spiff up the grounds. The property begins to take on its old groomed look of a park. Paper lanterns are hung from tree to tree, and Tía Mimí’s lily pond is cleaned out so we can again see the coins we once threw in for good luck. The canasta group meets daily to make party favors and help with the invitations. The party will start with refreshments, followed by dancing—rock and roll on the record player for Susie’s friends and merengues and cha-chas by a live Dominican combo for her parents’ guests. Susie’s
quinceañera
has become a full-blown reception by the consul. But it can’t be helped, Mr. Washburn explains. In the touchy atmosphere of a country under embargo, you have to be careful not to step on any toes.
    In our own house, Lucinda tries on every one of her dressy dresses, Mami watching and commenting. They have an ongoing argument about necklines and bare shoulders. Finally, they settle on a strapless pale yellow gown, a hand-me-down from a glamorous aunt who used to be a beauty queen before she married and had kids. It has a narrow waist and a crinoline skirt that bells out like a ballerina’s tutu. Lucinda agrees to wear a shawl, not to be modest, but to hide the rash on her neck that won’t go away. “That shawl must not come off,” Mami keeps reminding Lucinda, who is disgusted enough to roll her eyes at me in the absence of a friend her own age.
    “As for you, young lady,” Mami says, turning to me, “I hope you know this is an exception.”
    Of course, I know that going to a night party where there will be boys is unusual for a girl who has not yet turned fifteen. But this is supposed to be a “family gathering,” hosted by our neighbors next door. I’m glad I haven’t told Mami about my feelings for Sam, or she would make me stay home, trying to fall asleep to Elvis Presley howling “You Ain’t Nothing but a Hound