The Summer of El Pintor by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman

Author:Ofelia Dumas Lachtman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arte Público Press
Published: 2001-03-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Rob let out a deep breath and sat back wearily in the porch chair. Monica shook her head. Rob had filled in some empty places in the story, but it wasn’t complete yet. It was good to sit quietly. The peaceful moment didn’t last. Loud voices reached her from the studio. Monica jumped up. “Hey, what’s going on over there?” she called.

Rob rushed down the steps with Laurita and Monica close behind. Licha sat on the edge of one of the turquoise benches by El Pintor’s door, looking as if she was ready to run. Josie stood at the open door facing El Pintor. He ran his fingers through his thick white hair and shook his head slowly as he listened to Josie.

“Come on, old man,” she was saying, “of course you remember me. Don’t give me that gaff. Just pay up the forty bucks you owe me.”

“Hey, Josie!” Rob shouted. “What’s all that about?”

“None of your business,” Josie grumbled. “It’s between him and me.”

Licha popped off the bench and raced through the flowers to meet Rob. “It wasn’t my idea,” she said breathlessly. “I told her it wouldn’t work.”

“What wouldn’t work?”

Licha looked down at her toes. They were painted black and extended from a pair of garish red sandals. Monica, on the sidewalk with Laurita and only a yard away from Licha, had trouble hearing her as she replied in a voice that was barely above a whisper. “We—well, Josie figured if he couldn’t remember anything, he’d have to give her money if she told him he owed it to her.”

“Shut up!” Josie bellowed over her shoulder. “Don’t be such a chicken!”

Rob scowled as he swung around toward Josie. “I’ve heard of scams,” he growled, “but this is the lowest. Josie! Get away from that door now, this minute, immediately, or else I’ll move you myself.”

“Nobody tells me what to do,” Rosie yelled, throwing Rob an angry look.

Rob took a step toward the door and said, “Did you hear me, Josie? Go! Now!”

Josie took another look at him and, ignoring the flowers, trampled through them at a distance from Rob and then raced across the street. Licha elbowed by Monica and Laurita and flew after her.

At the door, El Pintor stood shaking his head, and then he caught sight of Monica. “Cristina,” he called, “those aren’t your friends, are they?”

Monica shook her head, and Laurita looked at her with a puzzled frown. “No,” Monica called to El Pintor and quickly whispered to Laurita, “He thinks I’m Cristina. I forgot to tell you.”

El Pintor stepped outside. “Well, that’s good,” he said. “They’re not right for you, Cristina. So where’s that little best friend of yours? What was she called? Lorie? Lorraine?”

Monica didn’t know what to say. She looked from Laurita to Rob and back again. It was Laurita who answered.

“She’s been gone for a while, Señor Mead,” she said, “but she’ll be back soon, I hope.”

Monica looked at her with gratitude and thought, I can’t keep this up too long.

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