Read Online Rogelia's House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood - Free Book Online Page B

itself. “Thank you so much, Rogelia,” she said appreciatively. “I don’t remember the last time anyone made me cocoa.” She took a sip. “Mmm. This is really good.” She reverently carried the cocoa in front of her as she trod carefully toward her bedroom.
    Fern lifted both palms and scrunched up her shoulders. “Whatcha gonna do? She’s just a little kooky,” she whispered to Xochitl before following Marina to her room.
    Xochitl hesitated. She looked down at the melting marshmallows.
    “Go on,” Nana urged Xochitl, patting her on the back.
    Xochitl nodded and walked down the hall. She felt twinges of nervousness again. Swimming was something she could do well, and it made her feel confident. But what would they do in Marina’s room? What would they talk about? Xochitl sighed as she walked into Marina’s bedroom with trepidation.
    Marina sat at her desk looking at her computer. Music came from the speakers. “Do you like Nickelback? They’re my favorite band. They have really good lyrics.”
    “I’ve never heard of them,” Xochitl admitted.
    “I’ll burn you a CD,” Marina said.
    “I don’t have a CD player,” Xochitl said. “I left it at home in Mexico.”
    “I’ve got one you can have.” Marina stood up and crossed the room to her closet. She dug something from under a pile of clothes. “Here you go.” Marina handed Xochitl an ancient boom box.
    Xochitl hesitated. “You don’t have to.”
    “It’s okay, she’s got
tons
of stuff,” Fern said.
    Xochitl accepted the CD player. “Thanks,” she mumbled. She wasn’t used to getting handouts. It felt really weird. She sat down on a hugely overstuffed pink beanbag chair.
    Fern sprawled out on Marina’s bed. “Hey, speaking of music, I heard Los Lobos is coming to town. Even if you can’t speak Spanish, Marina, you can still sing ‘La Bamba.’ Plus, it’ll be good for you to hear some Mexican
corridos.
Pilar said she’d order the tickets online. We’ll have to pay her back, of course.”
    “That sounds like fun,” Marina agreed. “Wanna come, Xochitl?”
    “I don’t think I can go to a concert,” Xochitl said. “My dad is really traditional about me going out without an adult.”
    “Pilar is an adult,” Fern said. “Most days.”
    “I don’t think he’d approve,” Xochitl said softly.
    “Well, maybe he’ll change his mind,” Fern said. “The concert isn’t for another month or so.”
    “Maybe,” Xochitl agreed. Inside, she knew it wasn’t going to happen no matter how many times she asked.
    Suddenly a girl with perfectly kept blond hair burst into the room. “Marina, where are my Lucky jeans? I know you wore them last.” She began rifling through the piles of clothes on the floor.
    Marina leaned over, pulled a pair of jeans from under the chair, and threw them at her. “You said I could wear them, Monica.”
    Marina’s sister caught the jeans in the air and inspected the rear of the pants. “Probably stretched them out with your fat ass.”
    “Get out of here,” Marina demanded.
    Monica closed the door in a huff.
    Marina sat back down, exasperated. “Sisters can be so annoying.”
    “Marina,”
Fern admonished.
    “Oh my gosh,” Marina said immediately, covering her mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
    Xochitl looked suspiciously from Marina to Fern.
I guess they know about Graciela.
Xochitl braced herself for the questions, willing herself not to vanish into the air. That would only bring about more questions, of course.
    “We heard about what happened to your sister,” Marina said.
    “The accident must have been so scary,” Fern said.
    Xochitl tried to respond, but she could only nod.
    “I heard you didn’t end up with any injuries,” Marina said, awestruck.
    “Your nana is a
curandera,
isn’t she?” Fern asked.
    Marina whipped her head around, staring in shock at Fern. Fern shrugged and lifted her hands, palms up, as if to say,
What? You want to know as bad as I do.
Marina bit her