I should tell my parents I’m not going to robotics, that art club is what I want to do.
What if they find out I gave Ms. Miller the permission form they signed for robotics? Would they never trust me again?
But if I can’t convince them to let me go to art club, do I have another choice?
I hear the door to our apartment open.
“Miguelito!” Mami calls. “Time for lunch.”
I should be brave enough to tell my parents the truth instead of cowering behind my lies.
Mami’s footsteps get closer and closer. I take a deep breath and hold my head up high like Super Cat.
By the time she opens the door, my sketch pad is under the bed, and my homework is sprawled out on my desk. I’m no Super Cat.
CHAPTER 15 Lolo
I ’ve been on the lookout for that pesky orange cat. She hasn’t come back.
Good. She isn’t welcome here.
This morning Miguel wakes up with a big smile on his face. He reaches under his bed and pulls out a plastic bag. Before I get a chance to explore and see what’s inside it, he stuffs the bag into his backpack. Then he rushes to get dressed and out the door.
Mami has to call him back in to eat his breakfast.
When we get downstairs he kneels and holds my face with both hands. “Have a great day, Lolo!” he says. Then he waves to Papi and steps outside, bouncing as he crosses the street.
Miguel is happy, and I am too.
When Papi thanks me for keeping the mice away, I swish my tail and wrap it around his leg. When Mami refills my water bowl, I press my left cheek against her hand, guiding her to rub behind my ear. And when the quiet man shares a piece of his breakfast sandwich with me, I give him a quick lick on the fingertip. The quiet man smiles real big, just like Papi and Mami.
I close my eyes and roll onto my back for a nice nap, satisfied that I will never leave this marvelous new home of mine.
After a good long sleep, I open an eye and stretch, my paws almost reaching the stained drop ceiling. The sun is dancing high across the window of the bodega, so I know Miguel will be home soon.
I sit up and watch the street, waiting.
“Hola, Lolito,” Tío Diego says from his chair. “You had a good nap today.”
“Can I pet the kitty?” a little boy asks.
“Oh, no, Lolo is shy,” Tío Diego says. He puts some clinking coins in the child’s hands. “But here, buy yourself something sweet, mijo.”
A girl walks in. She has a bag on her back just like the one Miguel carried when he skipped off this morning.
“Hola, Tío Diego, Tía Paula.” The girl waves. “I came to help out today.”
“Gracias, Yesenia,” Mami says. “How was school?”
The girl follows Mami to the back of the store, talking and talking. When Papi sees her, he gives her a tight hug.
Where is Miguel?
I stare out the window and look all the way to the left, all the way to the right, and straight ahead as far as I can see. No Miguel.
Norberto, the baseball hat man, is walking over. Maybe he knows where Miguel is.
The door jingles open.
“Norberto!” Tío Diego shakes the other man’s hand. “I haven’t seen your sister in a few days. How is she?”
Why is Tío Diego asking about Norberto’s sister? Why doesn’t he wonder about Miguel? And why aren’t Mami and Papi worried? They’re acting like that girl, Yesenia, has taken Miguel’s place. They even bring her over and introduce her to me. And Tío Diego doesn’t stop her when she tries to pet me!
Did Miguel leave forever? Is that why he was so happy this morning, because he had planned to go away and never come back?
My heart sinks with the thought of never seeing my friend again. I slump into my box. It’s not as cozy without Miguel around.
Why didn’t he take me with him?
I watch Mami and Papi greet more customers, talking and laughing like they don’t care Miguel is gone.
