Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Author:Ernesto Cisneros
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Efrén felt a gentle nudge on his shoulder.

“Mijo. Mijo,” said Apá. “I’m sorry, but I need to take a quick shower.” He pointed to the dark circle on his armpit. “Can’t go to work all apestoso.”

Efrén stretched out his arms, remembering he was still in the bathtub. “Oh, hey, Apá. Sorry, I fell asleep reading.”

Apá laughed to himself. “I figured.” He bent down and wrapped his arms around Efrén. “Here, let me give you a hand.” Apá scooped Efrén out with little effort.

Apá’s strength surprised Efrén. “I can’t believe you can still do that.”

“Actually, I’m pretty surprised too,” said Apá, again laughing. “Someday, you will be too big for me to do that. But today is not that day. So come on, you need to get to bed. It’s too early for you to be up.”

“Okay, Apá.” Efrén tucked the library book under his arm, carefully bear-hugged his blanket and pillow, and headed to the living room area. Max was spread across the mattress, snoring just slightly, while Mía clung to her naked plush doll.

Rays of blue moonlight poked through the broken blinds. Efrén looked over at the empty mattress and shook his head. The sheets were still folded just like the night before. Efrén didn’t understand where Apá found the energy. Even after all the overtime trying to raise money to bring back Amá, he still found time to worry about them.

This was all he needed to see. If Apá can be this strong, why can’t I? Efrén wanted to solve his problems too. It was then that he decided to tell David everything. He still didn’t know what he was going to say. Or where to start for that matter. But he knew the words would come when the moment was right.

They had to. Their friendship was at stake.

Efrén wanted to get to his own school with enough time to find David, so he dropped off Max and Mía a little earlier than normal. The three of them arrived so early that they were first in the school breakfast line. Max had his heart set on some pan dulce and chocolate milk, Mía on silver dollar pancakes—the ones with maple syrup bits inside—that the school sometimes served. Sadly, both had to settle for generic brand Cheerios and slightly bruised bananas.

With the twins fed and the playground supervisor now watching over them, Efrén hurried to get to his school.

The entire main school entrance was empty this early. Most kids hung out in the cafeteria area, eating breakfast. Something he’d never done before. Not with Amá’s breakfast milagros taking place every morning. Check that. With the milagros Amá used to make.

Efrén walked over to the tables, wondering if his school was serving the same cereal breakfast as Max and Mía’s. He took a quick look at what the kids around him had on their plates. Nope. His school was serving the tiny pancakes Mía had wanted.

He was about to get in line when a tap on his shoulder startled him. It was Abraham, the school’s very own chisme machine.

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