Page 78 of Sombra
“And the pharmacy?” Her shaking hands betray her nerves.
“Yes, amor. That too.”
“Tavo, Tavo! Check it out! ¡Qué coño!”
Antonio trumpets from down the hallway at a volume level that could be heard over the fanaticvuvuzela-loving crowd of afútbolgame.
While the lack of sleep last night was worth it, after yet another shower, I’m stilltrying to wake up. I’ve spent the last half hour in the kitchen nursing my third coffee and waiting for Kim to finish getting ready to go to class.
Guillermo comes racing in, and I almost don’t recognize him. Instead of his usual long, straight hair in a ponytail—like a miniature Jason Momoa or a dark-haired David Beckham—he’s now cut it all off. It’s shaved on the sides and long on topand he looks—
“Ludicrous.” Antonio crows, skidding in behind him. “Can you believe this guy? Who is he trying to kid?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It looks fine to me.”
“He thinks he’s some sort of fashion model. He’s gonna be internet-famous, he thinks.”
Guillermo’s kicking at the floor, his hands gripped into fists.
“I think he will be famous, ‘cause he looks great.Leave him alone, Antonio. You’re being mean.”
My youngest brother shoots me a grateful look. “Yeah? You like the cut, Gustavo?”
“Yeah. You’ve cleaned up. It’s good.”
“Gracias,” he says. With the way he says it, he tells me how much he looks up to me, and how much he seeks my approval. I’ll give it to him, but he doesn’t need my approval any more than Kim needs the approvalof her parents.
Speaking of which, she walks in, wearing dark jeans, a ruffly pink shirt, and her colorful dyed hair. She pulls at her hair and pats it back behind her ear.
Everyone stares.
“Guess I’m not the only one to change my hair,” Guillermo mutters in Spanish.
“Good morning,” she says, tentatively.
Antonio walks over to her and extends his hand to pather head. I want to chop it off. Maybe I’m wrong about him. “This, Kim, is incredible. When did you do this?”
“Dani did it. Do you like it?”
“I do,” he says, with a wide grin.
“Antonio,” I call in Spanish, my voice sharp. “Stay away from her, or I’ll castrate you like a bull.”
He bursts out laughing. “Jealous much?”
“I’ve told you before—”
And this timeGuillermo’s the one looking at me in support. Normally he’s the little rat, but the positions have switched. “Back off, Antonio,” he says in Spanish. Then he turns to Kim. “I like your color, it looks good.”
“Guess we both needed a change,” she says shyly.
“¿Lista?” I ask, getting up from the table and grabbing my keys and wallet.
“Yes, I’m ready.” Kim walks over to me, andI open the door of the kitchen for her.
Who should be standing there? Sonia and my mother.
Sonia’s eyes light up when she sees me, then narrow to slits upon seeing Kim. Kim picks at her lips and looks between me and Sonia. My mother’s expression is one of being repulsed by Kim’s hair color and angry with me. But thankfully, Guillermo distracts them.
