Read Online Illegal by Bettina Restrepo - Free Book Online Page B

wanted.
    This went on for days. We asked everyone about Papa. We opened every door to every business we could find.
    No work. No Papa. No nothing.
    To keep my legs moving down the sidewalk, I thought about the times Grandma would wash my hair before Mass.
    â€œGrandma, not so hard. I’m not that dirty.” My hairwas getting long. I wanted to cut it, but Grandma thought I looked prettier with braids. Besides, I could do much better with a quince crown if I had long hair to weave through it.
    â€œYou must be clean for Mass tomorrow,” said Grandma.
    Grandma made me promise to go to confession. She’s big on confession—sin and redemption. She would have made a good nun.
    I wonder how many prayers I’ll have to say to make this situation better? Or was I wasting my breath?
    Hunger tore me away from my thoughts. The aroma of food floated from a lime green metal building. The woman working inside wore a tank top. Her hair was in a ponytail, and swingy silver earrings danced along with the rhythm while she cut vegetables. I pulled Mama in her direction.
    I had a good feeling about her. “We’re looking for work.”
    Her face was kind. “My husband needs someone for our stand by the pool.” She looked at us the way you look at a lost dog. I didn’t really like pity, but my feet hurt so much. I prayed silently for a miracle. Please God, no more walking.
    â€œI’m Manuela. My husband and I have been running the stands here for eight years,” she said, running a wet rag over the counter. “I haven’t seen you around.”
    â€œWe just moved here,” I said quickly.
    Then, with a cock of her eyebrow she asked, “Do you have papers?”
    Mama dug into her purse and thrust them into the air. “Yes. We have papers.” It sounded so rehearsed.
    I came to the stand and looked up at the woman. She reached out her hand to me. The nails were short. She wore a silver ring on her middle finger that had red stones in it.
    Her liquid eyes grew as she looked at me. Suddenly I felt shy and nervous.
    I grasped her hand lightly. “You can trust us. We can work really hard. I’m Nora; this is my mother, Aurora.” My words felt new and grown-up.
    â€œWhich school are you going to in the fall? Have you ever had a job?”
    â€œNo…I mean yes. I worked in our orchard, and then I sold the fruit at the market.”
    Around Manuela’s neck hung a thin gold chain and locket. She touched it with her fingers. “Let me call my husband.”
    Mama held the papers to her chest. A broad gringripped her face. I stood tall and proud. Maybe this was our miracle.
    Manuela continued to nod as a smile spread across her face. Her earrings danced and twinkled in the rays of sunshine. “Yes, I know. Tessa would have been her age…No, I’m not getting attached. They seem like a nice pair…just meet them and you’ll see. She has eyes just like Abuela ,” whispered Manuela into the phone.
    I tried to look like I wasn’t listening, but I wanted to know the details. Who was Tessa?
    â€œDo you know where Quitman Park is? That’s where our other stand is located. My husband and I work both stands, but we want to open a restaurant. If you work with him, he’ll have time to get other things done. Can you go and see him?”
    â€œNo problem,” I said. “You won’t be sorry!”
    I wished I would have saved myself all of the walking and just looked in the park first for work.

C HAPTER 20
The Patron Saint of Liars
    Even though the afternoon sun scorched the pavement, it seemed like my feet could move faster. With the money from my new job, I could buy new shoes. Leather, instead of cheap plastic.
    At the park, we found the stand on the other side of the swimming pool. I hadn’t seen it the other night when we were exploring. Children were buying raspas and potato chips. How could we have walked for days and