Read Online Going Home by Nicholasa Mohr - Free Book Online Page A

weren’t going to have a lesson today, or any lessons during Easter vacation either. Mami had decided there was too much shopping to do for Easter Sunday, and too much work to do at home during Easter week. When I told Vinny, I could see he was disappointed.
    â€œI’m gonna miss our lessons,” he said.
    â€œMe too. But we’ll be getting right back to work after vacation.”
    â€œThat’s right! I hope to see you outdoors, Felita.”
    â€œThat would be great. I know I’ll be coming out, probably every day.” We stopped in front of my building.
    â€œHave a nice Easter, Felita.”
    â€œMaybe I’ll see you in church on Easter Sunday, Vinny. Are you all coming to the Spanish Mass?”
    â€œYes, we’ll be there.”
    â€œSee you!”
    â€œSee you soon, Felita.” As Vinny waved and walked toward his building, I felt that Sunday couldn’t get here fast enough for me!

Chapter 5
    On Easter Sunday me and my whole family got dressed up in our new Easter outfits. We were heading toward St. Joseph’s Church to attend the twelve o’clock Mass because it was going to be read in Spanish. Most of the Catholics in our neighborhood go to St. Joseph’s. That’s where my brothers and I made our communion and confirmation. The streets were filled with people on their way to church in their brand-new clothes. Even Doña Josefina, who usually opens up her bodega for half a day on Sundays, had closed her store. She was all sharped up, wearing a big lavender hat with green and white flowers all over it. Just about all the shops on my street were closed, including the candy-and-stationery store where people buy their Sunday papers.
    I was praying that Vinny would be at church. I wanted him to see how good I looked. This year I had grown so much that we had to shop in the Junior Miss section. Mami had let me choose my own clothes without too much of a fuss, and this morning she’d even let me put on some pink lipstick and a little bit of eye shadow. I was wearing a real pretty off-white suit with a bright blue turtleneck blouse. I’d looked at myself in the mirror before we’d left and I liked what I saw .
    When we got to church, it was real crowded. I saw Consuela and her family, Gigi and Doris, Lydia, Vivian, and a whole bunch of other kids, but not Vinny. Papi led us toward the far side of the church, over to an empty pew. As we sat down I heard some little kids giggling. When I turned around, I saw Maritza, Julio, David, and baby Iris all waving at me. Vinny was sitting next to his parents and gave me a big smile.
    â€œHey, there’s Vinny,” Tito whispered.
    â€œI know.” My heart was beating so loud I could hardly hear what the priest was saying. After Mass I spoke to my parents. “Did you see the Davila family? Why don’t we go and say hello.” I was looking for any excuse to talk to Vinny.
    When we walked over to them, Mrs. Davila was all smiles in Johnny’s direction. “I know this young man very well. He’s a good and responsible brother who takes good care of his sister.” I wished she hadn’t said that, because right away Mami takes off on one of her speeches.
    â€œIndeed, Mrs. Davila. I want you to understand that our Felita is not allowed to run around wildly, as is the custom in this country.” I couldn’t wait for Mami to shut up. I felt so embarrassed that I wanted to fall right through the cracks in the sidewalk. But even though I felt like I was burning up inside, I tried to act real calm. When I looked at Vinny, he smiled so sweetly at me that I knew he was on my side. It made me feel a whole lot better.
    Later my parents took us all to a movie and then we had dinner out. That was a real treat because my folks had been saving every cent for our trip to Puerto Rico, and nowadays we never ate out.
    Â 
    The rest of our Easter vacation turned out to be just wonderful. Gigi