“One of these days, Lolo, the two of us will take off and see the world.”
CHAPTER 11 Lolo
I cock my head and perk up my ears as I watch Miguel. Did he just say he wants to leave this wonderful home with cushy beds and bowls full of food? Does he want to live like I did, panting all summer and shivering in the winter? No, I must have misunderstood.
Miguel pulls a giant book and pencils out from under his bed and shrugs on a puffy coat. My eyes open wide when he slides the window up and steps outside. I cry out and reach for him, clinging to the leg of his jeans.
“Don’t worry, Lolo. I’m not leaving you behind.” Miguel scoops me up in his arm and climbs out onto the fire escape. “This is the perfect drawing spot.”
I sit on Miguel’s lap and watch his pencil scratch the paper.
“I’m writing a comic book about you, Lolo. See, you’re Super Cat, and you travel all over New York City helping people in need. First, you’ll save little Mico from the evil clutches of Mr. and Mrs. Pinkeye, who have Mico locked up in an old abandoned building.”
Super Cat has a white spot on one eye and one black ear and one white one, just like me. And Mico’s curly hair and oversized hoodie remind me of Miguel. And—oh!—Mr. and Mrs. Pinkeye look like Papi and Mami! Except they’re frowning, something Miguel’s parents hardly ever do. But they did seem angry this evening.
Are they so mad that they want Miguel to leave home? Would they toss me out too?
I watch Miguel’s pencil as it draws Mico hugging Super Cat. In the next drawing, the two are walking together, smiles on their faces.
If Miguel goes away, I know he’ll take me with him. I want to be with Miguel, but I do not want to give up this great home. I must get Miguel to stay, to see that the two of us belong here and nowhere else.
I knead Miguel’s arm with my closed paws and beg him to come back inside.
Miguel looks at me. “What’s the matter, Lolo?”
“Come back home,” I say again, meowing louder this time. Like usual, though, Miguel doesn’t understand.
I hop onto the windowsill and face the room. When I look back, Miguel’s nose is back in his sketchbook. I call to him again, and finally, he gets it.
He closes his pad and looks at me. “What’s the matter, are you chilly or something?” Miguel follows me through the window and closes it behind him.
Now that we’re inside, I’ll distract Miguel by picking up one of his toys to play with together. I stroll over to the little metal dog in the corner and bump into it. The dog falls over with a clunk on the wooden floor.
“Lolo, you’re a genius!” Miguel smiles.
For the second time tonight, I don’t understand what my friend is thinking.
CHAPTER 12 Miguel
The summer before first grade, Mami took me to the Dominican Republic for the first (and only) time. It wasn’t a fun vacation or anything. We went for my grandmother’s funeral.
But I was just a little kid, and I never even knew Mami’s mother, so I was excited. I met my grandfather and a bunch of other relatives. Everyone was super sad at the funeral, but they also smiled and even laughed when they told stories about my grandmother.
Especially Abuelito.
“We met when we were your age,” he told me.
“Really?!” I said. “You had a girlfriend when you were six?!”
Abuelito laughed. “No, no, no, we were just friends at first. For many years, actually. We played baseball together, and she had a mean curveball. I could never hit it.” Abuelito picked up a chubby tan dog with floppy ears and petted her. “At least I still have Bella to keep me company.”
Bella followed me everywhere. “Can we get a dog, Mami, pleeeease?” I begged. “Bella loves me, see?”
My mother laughed. “That’s because you always have food in your pockets.”
That was true. But still, I loved that dog and she loved me too.
“Ay, Miguelito,” Abuelito said. “If I could, I’d let you take her home with you, but then I’d be too lonely.”
I nodded and gave him a hug. Abuelito did need Bella. He’d lost his best friend, and soon Mami and I would go back to New York, and he would be alone again. Mami asked him to come with us, but he said he couldn’t leave his farm alone.
“Jorge can take care of the farm,” Mami said.
Abuelito scoffed. “Jorge can barely take care of himself.”
“Ay, Papá,” Mami said. “Stop being so hard on him.”
“But, Mami,” I said, tugging her skirt. “You said Tío Jorge would drown in a glass of water. He can’t stay here alone if he can’t even drink water by himself.”
My mother’s face got all pinched up at that moment, and Abuelito laughed and laughed.
A few weeks after we got back to New York, a package arrived for me in the mail.
“Miguel, look, it’s from your abuelito.”
I ripped open the package—it was a wonderful robot dog!
