Illegal Read Free Page B

flamed. “Where. Is. The. Money?” she roared.
    I was gasping for breath from where the stick shift had gouged my stomach. Mama’s disappointmentswelled. I felt myself getting smaller and smaller. Heat filled the car like an oven.
    â€œThe fruit isn’t selling. The money is running out and where is your father?” she screamed.
    I yelled back, “It’s not my fault he’s gone!”
    Grandma yelled louder than both of us. “Please stop arguing!”
    I flung open the truck door. “If I knew how to fix this, I would.” The air ripped from my lungs.
    I slammed the door and watched the truck rumble away in a cloud of dust.
    I was worried about Papa. I had the empty feeling that he was gone from our lives forever. Why was Mama the only person allowed to be mad? And why did all of this seem to be my fault?
    I screamed over and over again, but the vulgar words provided no relief to my breaking heart.
    As I stumbled toward the orchard, I reached the first tree and threw up.

C HAPTER 6
La Voz
    I had to do something to fix us before we burst into flame and floated away like singed paper. I sat on the highest branch, staring at the moon until the night air gave me a chill.
    Go home, whispered the voice.
    â€œWho’s there?” I asked, but only the gentle creak of the trees answered me. I scratched at my ears and I almost lost my balance.
    No one answered me. The voice was inside my head. It felt like the same voice from the bank. Thesame voice rumbling from my stomach.
    The leaves shuddered as a crow tried to land and quickly took flight, seeing me in its roost.
    Another sound echoed through the trees. Mama’s voice was hoarse, like she had been crying. “Nora, come in!”
    I heard the fight continue between Grandma and Mama. “How could you say those things? What does a teenager know?” It was easy to hear Grandma roar from the house.
    From my tree, I saw Grandma stomping back and forth in front of the kitchen window. The more I heard the words, the more I couldn’t control the tears coming from my eyes. I wanted to be stronger than my silly tears.
    You know, it said again.
    â€œShe misses her father. She watches her crazy grandmother invent recipes to keep the fruit from rotting,” said Grandma.
    I leaned forward on the branch to get a better view of my grandmother pointing her index finger at Mama. “She doesn’t have to know everything. Let her be selfish for once. Let her want for candy, a whole family, and a quinceañera. She is changing into a woman as we speak.”
    Mama yelled back. “Don’t you think I know that? I see how the men in town look at her!”
    Mama opened the screen door. “Nora! Come inside. We need to talk. Nora!”
    I felt a shiver run down my spine. I could hear how she wanted to forgive me in her cracking voice.
    Grandma’s tone echoed angrily through the orchard like never before. “You don’t have to take your frustration out on her.”
    Mama’s voice stabbed back at Grandma. “How am I going to explain that Arturo might be gone for good? How am I going to explain to her that nothing is left?”
    Papa couldn’t be gone for good. I still had a scrap of hope. Something could be done. The ache in my heart made the voice stronger.
    Find him.
    Who was saying these things? Me? God?
    Grandma interrupted Mama. “Is this everything to you? Money?”
    I considered going back into the house, just so we could all stop screaming.
    â€œOf course it’s about money. How are we going to explain that this orchard and everything in it will soon be lost because we can’t pay the taxes?” said Mama.
    Grandma sighed. “Aurora, we need to pray. God can provide.”
    Believe.
    Mama stood in the light with her hand to her forehead. “I don’t know what to do anymore, and God isn’t helping. Just look at this place!”
    I knew what she meant. Cedula