Loteria by Mario Alberto Zambrano Read Free Book Online Page A

We looked like dogs ourselves with our noses out, sniffing and trying to find that horrible stink. It was the weirdest thing.
    Papi sat back down and grabbed the remote. Mom and Estrella went back to the kitchen and Estrella continued planning her Quinceañera . It was four years away, but already she was planning on becoming a young lady.

LA BOTA

    T here was one day people from church were supposed to come over for lunch. Mom had been cutting tomatoes and browning meat, making rice. I thought we were going to skip breakfast because of the small plates filled with diced onions and cilantro. “When are they coming?” I asked. She shrugged and said, “They’ll come when they come.” But she said it like if there was something she wasn’t telling me.
    “Is something wrong?” I asked.
    “No, I’m fine!” she said.
    “Then why are you wearing those shoes?” I said. “You wear those only when you dress up.”
    “We’re having company. Okay? Is that all right with you?”
    But company never came. The diced onions dried up and the meat got cold. We sat on the couch like if we were waiting for the dentist. When we got hungry we had Frosted Flakes even though there was food on the table, and then around three we had tacos while Mom started to clean. She kept walking in front of the television, picking up the junk mail lying around, while the three of us just sat there, not helping. She asked Papi to mow the lawn but he said he’d do it later.
    “Mom?” I said.
    “What?”
    “Te quiero.”
    She walked to the kitchen and kept cleaning, putting things away acting like she didn’t hear me, then grabbed her purse and said she’d forgotten to do a few rooms at Dr. Roberto’s house. She might as well do them, she said. Then she was gone. Papi stood up and watched her from the window get in her car and leave. He stood with his hands on his hips.
    “She didn’t change her shoes?” I said.
    “What?”
    “Her boots. She’s didn’t change her boots.”
    And he acted like he didn’t hear me.

EL CAZO

    J ulia says the same thing every time, about Papi and the family and needing to know more so they can help him. In a few days the district attorney will make a decision, so if there’s anything I want to tell them I should tell them now. “Luz? Do you feel like talking?”
    I walked away from her and came to my desk and flipped the top card to see what dicho I’d make up next.
    Write it down, mama. Échale ganas .
     
    Yesterday, a black dress was on the door when I woke up.
    I hadn’t fallen asleep until three because I stayed up writing. Usually by ten in the morning I’m either in the common room watching game shows or flipping through a book. Sometimes I watch Mexican films on Univision. Mom would’ve probably wanted me to read Spanish books, but I’ve never liked them. When I’ve tried to read one I get to the bottom of a page and don’t even know what I’m reading.
    Tencha said the funeral would be at La Iglesia de San Miguel, and afterward we’d go to the cemetery near Pasadena Mall. They’re taking Estrella back to Mexico to bury her there, and so going to the cemetery is just pretend. She had to call Buelo Fermín in Reynosa because she didn’t have enough money, and he told her that there was a spot for Estrella in Mexico, planned a long time ago. There’s a spot for me too.
    I didn’t like the dress she brought me. It had white lace with a thick glossy belt and was long enough to reach my feet. I left it on the bed and went to the bathroom and showered for a long time, so long it was the longest I’ve ever been in there. I pushed the shower head away from me and lathered myself with Ivory soap while steam fogged the mirror. I rubbed between my toes and under my armpits, everywhere I never usually clean, because I wanted to be clean. I had black jeans and a black shirt that had a touring schedule for a Selena concert on the back. But the front was solid black.
    “Uh-uh, mama,” Tencha said