Read Online The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico by Sarah McCoy - Free Book Online Page B

she whispered. I followed her aroundthe side of the house where an old mango tree stood, its branches low and wide.
    There was a hum, a whimper, then a scrape-scrape. We tiptoed under the branches until we saw: Delia against the tree’s trunk, her legs, long and shiny, around an invisible waist; her head separate from her body, thrown back and swallowed by darkness. She moved up and down, floating on the sea air. She was beautiful.
    “See!” hissed Teline.
    “How is she doing that?”
    “Carlos,” said Teline.
    Suddenly, Carlos’s form cut out of the black. The mountain lights reflected on his slick skin. Delia was not floating but pushed up by him. He pulled her forward. Her lips disappeared into his blackness and she moaned low and long.
    “Is he hurting her?” I asked.
    She shook her head. “She likes it. It feels good. Like this.” She leaned in to my neck, pressing her lips, sucking and then releasing. Goosebumps spread over my arms and legs, and I knew what Mamá and Papi felt when they lay together on the couch.
    “What else happens?” I asked.
    “Nada . He puts it inside her and they sit like that, kissing, until they stop.” She shrugged her shoulders.
    “Like the chickens,” I said.
    Teline nodded. “I heard Mami tell Delia that if shedoesn’t watch out, God will punish her with baby chicks clucking at her heels.”
    “No.” I imagined Delia laying an egg a day until Teline’s house was full of little Pepitos. What a nightmare! Then I remembered Mamá and Papi. My throat closed up and burned hot coals. Was the baby their punishment? I crossed myself.
    “Come on.” Teline turned back to the house.
    I started to follow, but in the dark, I couldn’t see the thick roots of the mango tree sticking out like giant shoelaces. I tripped and fell forward in the dirt. The root twisted my ankle. I yelped before I could stop myself. I tried to get up, but my ankle was pinched sideways.
    “Shhh!” Teline crouched low, hiding beside me.
    “Who’s there?” said Carlos. He walked toward us.
    The dirt against my face smelled like avocado skin. Carlos’s footsteps crunched the fallen mango leaves.
    “Run!” Teline yelled, but Delia caught her by the arm.
    Carlos pulled me up and squeezed my shoulders until I was sure they bruised. Teline squirmed and twisted against Delia but couldn’t get free.
    “What did you see?” Delia asked. Her voice was clipped.
    “I’ll tell Papá if you don’t let us go,” said Teline. She kicked at Delia’s shins.
    “You little brat!” Delia slapped her cheek. Teline stopped struggling and began to cry.
    “You tell anyone,” Carlos looked at me, his eyes like black holes, “I swear I’ll get you when everyone is asleep. They’ll think the Chupacabra ate you up.”
    My knees shook. The air stopped moving. I couldn’t even blink.
    Delia pulled Teline close and sniffed her mouth. “You stink of rum. Don’t think I don’t know. You tell Papá, and I’ll tell him you and little Verdi got drunk on coquito .”
    “We only had a few sips.” Teline’s mouth bubbled through the tears.
    “We won’t tell,” I said.
    “She’s the smart one,” said Carlos. He squeezed my shoulders again, and I bit my lip to hold back the sob.
    “Wipe your face before you go.” Delia let loose. Teline rubbed her arm over her eyes then ran fast, leaving me.
    “Smart girl, you remember what I said,” Carlos whispered into my ear. “Or it won’t be Santa Claus visiting. It’ll be the Chupacabra.”
    As soon as I felt the pressure release, I followed Teline in a sprint. Inside, the troubadours once again packed their instruments. The parranda moved on. I tried my best to brush the dirt stain from the front of my dress. Teline was lost somewhere in the crowd, hidden by song and story and Navidad feasting.
    “Your dress.” Mamá appeared behind me. She eyed the mud tracks.
    I gulped, happy to see her and afraid she knew all I’d seen. “I fell outside on the mango roots,”