Going Home (17 page)

“Sure.” Wait till I tell Provi! I thought.

Outside I found my folks waiting for me. Uncle Tomás had a camera and began taking pictures of all of us. Lina was jumping up and down like she was on a trampoline or something. “Felita, I love you. You were so good.”

“Felita,” said Aunt Julia, “Uncle Mario and the boys couldn't make it. They had tickets for a big ball game and they took Carlito with them. But I'm here; it was just fabulous! Wait till I write your mother and tell her. She will be so proud of you.”

“What does my granddaughter want?” Abuelo Juan asked. “Just say the word. I'm so proud. Wasn't she something? And she painted all of that by herself.”

“Abuelo, I did have some help, you know,” I said. He was getting me so embarrassed, I was glad none of my friends were around.

“They seem to like you so much here, Felita,” said Aunt Julia. I wasn't going to mention the paint, or anything else that had happened. I was just happy our play was a big success and that we were all here together. I went off to find Provi and took Lina with me. Provi was with her parents, Diana, Raymond, Gino, and a whole bunch of other relatives. They introduced me around, but there were so many of them, I couldn't remember who was who. In fact the whole courtyard was so crowded with people that you could hardly move. They were eating and really enjoying themselves. The band played fast music and couples were dancing. Provi, Lina, Gino, and me took off to spend the money we had gotten from the grown-ups.

“Guess what?” I said, and then I told Provi about what had happened earlier with Danny.

“Wow. Did he really kiss you, Felita?”

“Right on the mouth.”

“Do you like him?”

“He is cute, but Vinny's my boyfriend. Vinny, remember?”

“Sure, but he's not here,” Provi said. “Let's see if we can find Danny and the others.” We searched around until we found Saida, Judy, Danny, and Julian. Then we hung out with them and bought all kinds of snacks and played games. Danny mostly stayed close to me. When he won the game where you knock over the wooden bottles, he gave me his prize. It was a small furry monkey.

“Here's something for you to remember me by, Felita,” he said.

Suddenly we heard Sister Pilar's voice over the loudspeaker, announcing that the carnival was over and it was time to clean up.

Before Danny went off, he spoke to me. “Will you write to me from New York?”

“All right.”

“Promise me you won't forget, Felita.”

When I promised, he reached over and put a piece of paper with his address in my hand, holding on for a long time.

“This here is for sure a huge mess,” Provi complained as we worked putting tons of garbage into big plastic bags. After a while things started looking orderly and clean again. Provi and me were just about the last ones left. Everyone had already said their good-byes. Now we were waiting for Provi's father to take us home. I looked up at the repaired panel and thought of all that had happened. “Provi, what do you think they'll do to Anita and the others?” I asked.

“Oh, listen, my mother is good friends with Gladys's mother, and I heard that they are all going to be punished by their parents. But the worst part is that they won't be able to be members of the youth center anymore. You see, Felita, there's nothing else to do around this area. I'm sure you know that by now.”

“True,” I agreed. “But I am kind of sorry for Ismael because he was nice at the end. He worked hard and I know he was proud of what we did. I just know it.”

“Yeah? You can be sorry, but remember he was in on it with them all along.”

“I guess you're right about him. But I'm glad that Anita, Marta, and Gladys got theirs. For them, I don't feel at all sorry.”

“Provi! Felita!” We heard Mr. Romero, Provi's father, calling us. “It's time to go. Come on!”

“Now I suppose all the sets have to come down,” I said.

“Maybe they'll save them,” said Provi.

“Maybe.” I took a last long look at the scenery before I turned and left with Provi.

Now that the play and carnival were over at Santa Teresa's, I had more time for myself, so I went with Tio to see his property.

“You are going to be surprised at all that's been done since you last were here,” said Tio. He showed me where the foundation for the house was and where the workmen were busy putting in the well. “I told my niece that we are going to have a little piece of paradise here,” he said to them.

“It will be something special, Don Jorge,” the foreman said. After Tio showed me every inch of what was being done, we walked over to the side of the mountain, which looked out over a wide view.

“I only wish Amanda, your abuelita, was here. She would have loved this.” For a moment I thought Tio was going to cry.

“I'll bet she is here, right now in spirit. Looking at us and smiling,” I said. I felt so sorry for Tio and wanted to comfort him; knowing that I was leaving him made it even worse.

“I want you to know that you and your brothers are very important to me. But I feel that you, Felita, even more than Johnny or Tito, are my very own child, and in a special way, my future.” I hugged Tio and we held onto each other.

“Tio, I'd like to take a little walk, is that all right?”

“Sure, I've got to check on a few things with the foreman.”

As I walked and breathed all the sweet smells of the morning air, I began to look at everything differently. Just knowing I was leaving and wouldn't be able to see these mountains every day and go for my walks with Provi made everything around me seem much more special. I knew I was going to miss my life here. For one thing I had gotten used to my peace and quiet and my privacy, none of which I had back home. Then there were my friends, especially Provi. I hated leaving her. She had been as good to me as Gigi. I also thought of Danny. Even though he wasn't as cute as Vinny, he was smart and liked me a lot. Plus he was a good artist and understood how I felt about art. I knew this by how well we worked together. Suddenly I felt really sad about leaving here.

I found a good place to sit down on the edge of a steep ridge. The sky was bright blue all the way to the horizon. Little butterflies danced about, then settled onto a bunch of tiny purple flowers. Abuelita used to say that butterflies bring good luck. I hadn't thought about my grandmother for a long time and then I remembered how angry I had been at her during my troubles with Anita at the center. Now I wanted Abuelita to know everything was all right. I got up and began looking for wildflowers. I picked as many different kinds as I could find. Soon I had a bouquet of orange, white, purple, bright yellow, red, and pink flowers. Then I added some green and purplish leaves. When I was satisfied, I tied my bouquet with a long strip of palm leaf. I stopped in front of a large flamboyan tree bursting with brilliant red blossoms, and there at the bottom, against its trunk, I set down my bouquet.

“Do you remember Abuelita, that after you went away forever, I promised if I came to Puerto Rico, I'd pick lots of wildflowers for you? Well, here they are. I love you very much, Abuelita.”

 

After Mass at Santa Teresa's on Sunday, I had a chance to talk with some of the kids before I said good-bye. It was definite that Anita, Marta, Gladys, and Ismael had been kicked out. Also their parents had to pay for all the extra paint and supplies that had to be purchased on account of what they did. But no one knew for sure how they were or how they were going to get punished by their parents. Saida promised to write me as soon as she found out anything. Danny said as soon as he heard from Ismael, he'd write to me too. I could see he was feeling bad about my leaving. Father called us all over to the church steps, then Sister Pilar spoke to me. “Felita,” she said in her gruff voice, “listen. I think I speak for everyone here, including Father and the young people, when I say we want you to return soon. Don't you forget your Puerto Rican family here on the Island once you return to the big city, you hear? You are one of us now and we want you back not just for the summer but for at least a year or two. After all, it's not always that we have such a talented artist amongst us.” With that she gave me a hug and then everyone started to say good-bye, wishing me luck and asking me to come back soon.

I tried not to cry as I walked away and looked over at where our sets had been. All that was left of our stage was the platform. I wanted to go back and ask them what they had done with everything, but instead I waved good-bye and followed Tia Maria and Tio Manuel to the car.

When we got back, Tia Maria started grumbling.

“There's lots to do and you only have two days left. I am not sending you to your mother with dirty clothes. I have washing and ironing, plus all your stuff to get packed. It never ends with you.” I guess I was getting used to her because I wasn't even angry. Most of what she said went in one ear and out the other. She actually had been pretty nice to me. Like the whole time I was working on the sets, and when all the trouble was happening, she never once got on my case. But more than anything I was beginning to understand that unless Tia Maria had something to complain about—anything—she wouldn't be happy.

The following day Provi and me spent the afternoon together hanging out, going for our walk, and rereading the letters I had gotten from Gigi and Vinny.

“Don't forget,” I told her, “you are coming to visit me real soon.” We began to talk about New York City again and about all the things we were going to do together. Up until now I had been unhappy about going home, but as we talked I began getting excited.

“I can't wait to visit all those places you talked about and meet Gigi and Vinny,” she said.

“You will have a great time, Provi. I can't wait to see them myself. Imagine, in just a few days I'll be home—on my block with my friends.”

“I'll miss you, Felita. Please write to me.”

“You know I will, Provi. I'll write to you and tell you everything that's going on with me.”

“Good, and I'll write back giving you all the news from here.” We both hugged and felt much better.

That night Diana and Raymond cooked a fabulous dinner. We all had a great time, eating, listening to music, and just talking.

“What time are you leaving tomorrow?” asked Diana.

“My uncle is picking me up in the afternoon,” I said. “I sure wish I could be here when your baby is born. Please write and tell me whether it's a boy or a girl, and please send pictures.”

“Will you remember me when you are in New York City, Felita?” asked Gino. I felt like I was leaving my own family. There was no way I would ever forget them.

“Of course I will,” I told them. “I'll remember all of you.”

 

It was my last day in Barrio Antulio. In the afternoon, after Tia Maria had packed all of my things and served us lunch, Tio Jorge and me sat in the back patio of our cottage. We were waiting for Uncle Tomás to pick me up. Tio was quiet. I could see he was feeling sad. I was feeling sad too. I had gotten used to being with Tio Jorge. Before, when I was younger, I mostly talked to my abuelita and never got to know him. But now I realized how much I loved Tio. He had been real good to me this summer. He had backed me up against Tia Maria, and never told me where I had to be or what I had to do, especially after our agreement. In fact I felt freer with Tio Jorge than I did at home with Mami and Papi.

“Tio,” I said, breaking the silence, “I hope you won't be too lonely without me.”

“Lonely, me? With all the work I have ahead of me? Building a house, getting the animals, and also working on my nature collection again. I'll have plenty to do, never you mind.”

“Tio, I had a great time here. I'm gonna miss my new friends, and”—I looked at him—“and I'm gonna miss you very much.”

He smiled, then reached out and held my hand. “You belong here, Felita, just like I do. This is your Island and your home. You must never forget that. No matter what anyone tells you. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” said Tio Jorge. “Now I think I hear Tomás's car. Let's get ready.”

As we were putting my suitcases in the car, Tia began crying and making such a fuss over me.

“We are gonna miss you,” said Tio Manuel, “it's been good for Maria to have a young one here to worry about and take care of.”

“Here you are,” said Tia Maria, pressing a set of rosary beads into my hand. “These are very old. They belonged to an aunt of mine. Use them during Mass and they will bring you luck.” I was surprised that she'd done this. I knew the beads were her favorite ones because she always took them to Sunday Mass. I thanked her and we kissed good-bye.

“When you return with the family, we can all be together in the new house,” said Tio Jorge, hugging me. “Tell them I'll be sending pictures so you can all see how the place is coming along.”

I had already said good-bye to the animals out back, but as I was about to get into the car I saw Yayo the rooster standing nearby, staring at me. “Good-bye, Yayo, and behave yourself for a change, you hear?” I waved and threw him a kiss and right away he starts coming toward me. But this time I knew what he was up to, so I just picked up my hand and he took off in the other direction.

Visiting Abuelo Juan and Abuela Angelina in San Juan took away some of the sadness I felt about leaving. There were always a lot of people coming in and out of their house. Lina and Carlito came by, and Aunt Iraida took us to the big shopping malls. Then I went to Aunt Julia's and swam at the beach. Everyone kept asking me how I liked staying in Tio's village. I told them all about Provi, about making the scenery for the play, and about my new friends. But I never mentioned the trouble I had. I didn't want to talk about it because really I wished it had never happened.