Noodle Helps Gabriel Say Goodbye by Caryn Rivadeneira & Priscilla Alpaugh

Author:Caryn Rivadeneira & Priscilla Alpaugh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Chair Press
Published: 2020-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

“My mom wants her to help me not feel mad about my abuelo dying,” Gabriel said. “She’s supposed to help me cry or something.”

Gabriel rolled his eyes at his mom.

“You and your sassy mouth,” Abuela said and she swatted the bottom of her apron at Gabriel. The smell of stew wafted toward me. I was mid-drool when Andrea said: “How about you walk Noodle inside for me and we can all talk about how Noodle can help? But I promise: she’s not here to make you cry.”

“Good,” Gabriel said. “I hate crying.”

“Me too,” Andrea whispered as she handed Gabriel her leash.

“But Noodle has lost people too,” Andrea said. “Her first boy was allergic to her. So they had to give her away. Her second boy—a grown-up grandpa—died. You two might have things to talk about.”

Gabriel shrugged.

“I guess,” he said. “But do I really get to walk her?” His face lit up.

“Sure do,” Andrea said. “Lead the way.”

Gabriel walked me up a sidewalk and through a door. “We’re on the third floor,” Gabriel said. “Wanna race me?”

“She won’t race while she’s in her vest,” Andrea said. “Hold on.”

Andrea reached down and unclipped my vest. I shook all my curly noodles out and took off up the stairs as Gabriel skipped two at a time. I’d never been in this building before—but the stairs were just like some of the dorms at school. Each staircase led to a small landing with a window and a quick turn and then another set of stairs. I beat Gabriel up the stairs—but it was close.

Andrea, Isabel, and Abuela were not even to the first landing, but Andrea’s voice came through loud and clear: “Sit,” she said. “Stay.”

I sat and stayed.

“Can I walk her into the apartment?” Gabriel asked.

“She needs to wait for me and the vest,” Andrea said. “We’ll be there in a sec.”

While we waited for everyone else, I stuck my nose in the air and took two sniffs.

“That’s cigar you smell,” Gabriel said. “My abuelo smoked one every night on the fire escape. Abuela hated it. She said it was bad for his health and made the apartment stink. But I liked the smell. I’m glad we can still smell it.”

Andrea, Isabel, and Abuela reached the top landing.

“I’m glad we can still smell it too, mi amor,” Abuela said. She gave Gabriel a hug. He shirked away.

“I can’t smell it without thinking of papi,” Isabel said.

“Smelling cigar is a better way to remember than visiting dumb old graveyards,” Gabriel said.

“Ay me madre,” Abuela said. She looked toward the ceiling and crossed herself again.

Isabel shook her head, turned the door handle, and led us into Gabriel’s apartment.

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