Surviving Santiago by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Author:Lyn Miller-Lachmann [Miller-Lachmann, Lyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780762456352
Publisher: Running Press

CHAPTER 16

Sunday, July 9: 43 days until I go home

Frankie picks me up after he’s done with church on Sunday. Although Papá has already left for a meeting about Tuesday’s demonstration, Tía Ileana demands specific details for our day—plus, she wants me home by eight for supper. Frankie tells her we’re going to McDonald’s and a double feature at the cinema.

On our way to the motorcycle parked at the corner, I ask Frankie, “Did you really go to church this morning?” He’s wearing jeans and a threadbare sweater—but then I notice a white button-down shirt and dark red tie under his sweater. They’re the kind of shirt and tie I see on the kids—both boys and girls—coming home from school in the afternoon.

“Yes. With Mamá and my sisters. My uncle, too.” He looks away. “Got to pray for my father.”

“Because he won’t go?” Papá doesn’t, either, even though he used to work for the Catholic human rights organization and the radio station broadcasts the Cardinal’s sermons. He says he doesn’t believe in God and people should work for justice on earth rather than wait for it in heaven. In my family, the only ones who attend church are my abuelos in Las Condes. And Evan goes to temple, the Jewish version of church that happens on Friday night or Saturday morning.

We arrive at the corner, and Frankie hands me a helmet. “He doesn’t go much, but now he’s really sick. Spitting up blood.”

“Does he have tuberculosis?” Like Sofia’s father?

“No, cirrhosis. Do you know what that is?”

I shake my head. Frankie adjusts the chin strap of my helmet. My insides go from zero kilometers to a hundred when his fingers brush my skin.

“It’s what happens after you drink for years. The liver turns to scar tissue, and blood can’t get through. So it comes out everywhere else.”

“I’m sorry. That must really hurt.” I envision Papá’s liver turning to a wad of useless collagen.

Frankie shrugs. “His choice, his consequences.”

“But you’re still praying for him.” I climb onto the seat and wait for Frankie.

“What else we can do?”

I expect Frankie to take me to McDonald’s like he told Tía Ileana, but we go straight to the apartment. He parks in a motorcycle space and helps me to the ground.

“What about lunch? And the movies?” And why is he spending the day with me if his father is dying?

“I have to be where my family can reach me,” he says. “But I have some surprises.”

Upstairs in the apartment, he takes a package of rolling papers from his back pocket. Then he shows me a well-stocked refrigerator and pantry. Good, because I’m broke.

“I brought the double feature, too. My uncle loaned me El Padrino and El Padrino II.”

I switch to English because it’s been two days since we practiced. “I love The Godfather.”

“Yeah. Lots of bang-bang.” He makes a gun with his thumb and index finger. Then he lifts me up and kisses me.

“Are you sure this is okay?” I ask as soon as my feet return to the floor.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.