The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat by Camille Gomera-Tavarez

Author:Camille Gomera-Tavarez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Levine Querido

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The only parties I’d ever been to in my life—apart from moments spent waiting in JJ’s garage with Caro and his friends—were family parties. And the way I saw it, the best part about those parties was the setting up beforehand and the cleaning up after. Occasionally, depending on the host, the eating part was pretty good too. But everything in between was just me and Caro and all our cousins sitting in a bedroom, with the door acting as a barrier between us and the dog-whistle screeching of our mother and aunts on the other side. Every new screech drawing a knowing look between Caro and I. Oh, and don’t forget clammy-handed uncles trying to rope one of us into joining them on the dance floor. Wild teen-movie dancing had nothing on the elaborate elder Rojas-Cuevas routines. It was like a rave in there. Someone would turn off the lights and light up a disco ball that arrived straight from the seventies. And the ground would tremble under the weight of sliding heels. The worst part, by far, was the part right before the cleaning up. The part where I knew I didn’t want to be there anymore, and I had to wait out the whims of others before it was finally over.

That was what was so great about hosting my own party. Well—co-hosting with Zeke. I could end it or exit when I wanted. And I was (mostly) in control. I’d even convinced Mami to let me take the car that night to what I told her was a “school dance.” Which wasn’t a lie, really. I was working on not lying to her as much. It was too much to juggle all the little lies along with the big lie of Yolanda and my jacket. And it was much easier not to lie without Caro there. I needed a break. So, I wasn’t really lying about the party, just … bending the truth. And omitting the fact that my permit only allowed me to drive while an adult was present. It was a school dance in that people from school would probably be dancing. So, not a lie. I told her I didn’t know when I would be home. Which was also true. “I trust you,” she’d said. “Just be safe.”

I arrived at Zeke’s aunt’s apartment with the box of dollar store plant vines and flower bouquets and Cupid decorations that were possibly used at a previous stage adaptation of the 1996 Romeo + Juliet movie. Lido was already there helping Zeke unload cartons of liquor from his car. We’d decided early on that this would be a no-beer party because we both agreed it tasted like battery acid. Besides, I didn’t like to drink (usually). In my mind, it would be a classy, sophisticated affair. Like a college party.

From outside, I could hear Lido’s music blasting over a speaker. In between, Lido was rattling off the details of his elaborate workout routine. Poor Zeke. He gave me a pained look as he passed by with a box of Tito’s.

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