“Isn’t this nice?” I say to Papi.
“Hmm? Sure, hijo.”
He doesn’t even look.
As I climb upstairs to our apartment and eat my oatmeal, I think about the art club form. I need my parents’ permission to stay after school on Tuesdays. If they would just look at my drawings and listen to my comic book ideas, they would know how important art club is. But they never do. Maybe they’ll sign the form if I’m extra helpful in the bodega.
I rush downstairs and get to work.
I pour water in the coffee machine, get eggs out of the fridge for the breakfast sandwiches Papi makes on the griddle, and go to the storeroom for extra sugar packets. When I hear a splat, fizz, and gurgle from the far aisle, I run over with the mop to clean up the spilled soda and put the WET FLOOR cones out so no one will trip and fall.
The door chimes jingle again, and I hear my best friend’s voice. “Hola, Señora Rosado.”
“Hola, Benny,” Mami says. “¿Cómo estás? How was your Christmas?”
“Bien, gracias.”
“Have you been keeping up with your schoolwork? You don’t want to fall behind during these two weeks.”
“Maaami!” I say. “It’s fifth grade. We’re for sure not missing anything.”
Mami shakes a finger at me. “I hope you’ve been reviewing your books lately.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I mumble. “Can Benny come with me to the animal clinic?”
“Why are you going to the animal clinic?” Benny asks.
“I got a cat! You want to see him?”
Mami chuckles. “Go on, you two, but come right back after. We’re busy today.”
I talk softly to Lolo while I put him in my backpack (which I wear in front to keep an eye on him) and zip it up just enough so he can’t fall out.
“He’s cute,” Benny says as we walk out the door.
“I know, right?”
“I got new video games. You want to bring Lolo to my house so we can play?”
“Nah, I should get back to the bodega after the vet.”
“Really?!” Benny stops and puts his hands on his chest, fake-heart-attack style. “Miguel Rosado actually wants to work at the very boring Blanca y Roja Bodega?!”
I laugh. Benny knows me well. “I was reading about cats last night, and they need time to get used to a new home. Also, if I help out more at the bodega, maybe my parents will let me join art club.”
“You didn’t ask them yet?”
I shake my head.
“Did you at least get the supplies you need?”
“I got boring math and science stuff for Christmas, but I had birthday money saved up so I bought the art supplies myself.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah,” I say. “But why are my parents so annoying?”
Benny shrugs. “It’s their job?”
We burst out laughing.
“Race you!” I take off, holding on tight to Lolo.
Benny runs ahead. I lose sight of him for a moment when he squeezes through a chattering crowd that’s meandering out of the subway station.
I swerve around a lady who rushes out of the Laundromat intent on ramming me with her shopping cart.
When I catch up to Benny, we bump shoulders and dart across the street.
Lolo feels warm against my chest. I’m sure he’s having fun too.
CHAPTER 5 Lolo
What is happening? Why are we racing out here in the cold?
I should have fought back when Miguel stuffed me into this scratchy bag. I should have run under a shelf or hidden behind Tío Diego’s chair.
