Until I Find Julian (16 page)

We follow him into the kitchen and can hardly wait as he fries up eggs for us.

“I'm ready to go home,” I say as we shovel in the food.

Angel and I smile at each other. “It's easier going south than north,” she says. “We belong there, after all.”

I want to tell Angel I'll miss her, but she knows.

After we eat, we memorize addresses. Her grandfather's place is hours away from mine. A small distance for travelers like us.

She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Now that I know where you live, look for me. You'll see me one day.”

“I will,” I say, and I really will. “I'll never forget you, Angel.”

She reaches out to hug me, not saying a word. I hug her too, Angel, my best friend.

The crossing and the desert are ahead of us, but I'm not afraid. And then I'll be taking the train with Felipe's friends.

Angel and I say a last goodbye in the car. Soon I'll go down Creek Road, the slow-moving water at my side, the trees over my head. I'll see my sky-blue house, and Julian's painting on every wall. The cat will come to greet me, its sharp claws on my legs.

I'll open the door. “Is anyone here?” I'll call, then they'll surround me, Mami and Abuelita, Lucas yelling “Mateo!” as I put the guitar in his hands.

We'll sit at the table and look at Julian's drawings. They'll all be crying. I suppose I'll be crying too, but the tears will be mostly happy.

I'll go into the bedroom I share with Lucas and put the sprig of pine on the table between us.

Later, I'll go to the factory. I'll tell Miguel how sorry I am about the car. I'll ask him to give me one more chance. “I'm a good worker now.” I think he'll say yes.

But there's one more thing. I'll write about what has happened, the north and the south, and Julian, and Angel.

Someday.

My eyes are closing as I listen to the sound of the motor and try to breathe in that close dark air. I'm almost asleep.

Dreaming, Mateo. That's it. I'm lost in dreams.

I see our house, which tilts against the creek; it's miles behind me, weeks behind me. I hear Abuelita's voice as she reads to me. My little brother, Lucas, dances around the kitchen. Beans simmer on the stove. Oh, and Mami's arms fold themselves around me….

Patricia Reilly Giff
is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include
The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song,
a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books
Lily's Crossing
and
Pictures of Hollis Woods.
Lily's Crossing
was also chosen as a
Boston Globe–Horn Book
Honor Book. Her most recent books are
Winter Sky, Gingersnap, R My Name Is Rachel, Storyteller, Wild Girl,
and
Eleven,
as well as the Zigzag Kids series. She lives in Connecticut.

Patricia Reilly Giff is available for select speaking engagements. To inquire about a possible appearance, please contact the Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau at
[email protected]
.