Fools In Love by Ashley Herring Blake

Author:Ashley Herring Blake [Ashley Herring Blake and Rebecca Podos]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2021-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

It’s Sunday and Julián is having a discussion with Dad. From the kitchen window I can see Oscar hard at work mending the puppets from the archives. After the weekend shows, Sunday evenings are for taking care of the old puppets, making sure the delicate toys from previous years are preserved. We each take a project or two. It’s been a tradition ever since I can remember, except Julián has broken our custom again, and Dad isn’t pleased.

“The deposit is due this week,” Julián says. He holds out a copy of an application for a film institute.

“How is this going to help us?” Dad has a tiny hammer, nailing a new crossbar. “If you are attending this film course, who will be the showrunner?”

“I can handle both,” Julián says. “Will you please let me do this? It will add to the business. We need to be on camera more. We can’t keep doing the same thing.”

“The same thing has been working for us for generations,” Mom says.

“I, ummm—” I try to interrupt, to volunteer.

“Not now, Lili,” Mom says.

There’s no point. I grab my stuff and walk to the workshop.

When I open the door, I find Oscar hunched over the table, headphones on, engrossed in the task before him. I settle at the other end of the table. His brown curls practically cover his eyes. I press down on my bangs.

“Are things heating up out there? Can’t tell with these things on,” he says, pulling off his headphones.

“Yeah. They’ll sign him up for the film course, but it’s going to cost Julián a whole lot of sentences,” I say.

“Not sure Julián has enough words to ever convince Mr. Marin.”

It’s hard to ignore how much my father wishes Julián was more interested in the puppets. He just never has been, even as a little kid. He’s always wanted to do film, but as the only boy in the family it only makes sense Julián will eventually take over the family business.

“So, Lili, when are you going to talk to your dad?” Oscar asks as if he’s reading my thoughts. This has been our pattern in recent interactions. Oscar nudging me to confront Dad.

“I keep trying but no change. I guess they’re used to me being behind the stage, not in front like Julián.”

Oscar stops what he’s doing. “They are wrong.”

Of course, it’s easy for Oscar to say this. As much as he’s been around us all of our lives, he’s still not family. He can make these observations without the brunt of actions yielding devastating results. Case in point: There’s a family rumor about my great-grandmother Amelia and how one day as a ten-year-old kid she decided to lead puppet shows all on her own. She did this during her lunch break at school for free. When word got out about her lunchtime performances, her parents swiftly ended them and Amelia never once picked up a puppet, crushing her creativity for good.

“I just feel you deserve more. You are really talented,” he says, and I’m left scrambling to find the right words to respond to his kindness.

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