Read Cubanita for Free Online Page B

you put on the refrigerator.”
    â€œThe Cuba Expo? Yeah, I put it there for you the other night.”
    â€œ ¿Sí? I hadn’t noticed it. Gracias por traérmelo . Maybe you can come with us this time.”
    â€œYeah, maybe. That’d be fun.” Don’t hold your breath.
    A silence falls between us. “ ¿Mi vida?”
    â€œYes, Mom?”
    â€œEh…se me olvido decirte que Robi llamó esta mañana.”
    â€œWhat?” I blurt, nearly slicing off my finger in the process.“Robi called me this morning? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    â€œBecause you were sleeping.”
    â€œWhat did he say?” We agreed not to speak for a while, or at least until I called him. First the e-mail, and now this. I said I needed time off, stubborn fool.
    â€œ Nada .” She shrugs.
    â€œ ¿Nada? Robi called to say nada ? So he just stayed quiet on the line?”
    She runs two cans of sweetened condensed milk under the can opener, then pulls the eggs out of a bowl of warm water. “ Mi vida , he didn’t call you. He called me. We talked about esto, lo otro. He just wanted to say hi.”
    This and that. Somehow I find it hard to believe Robi called to discuss this and that without an ulterior motive. He just wanted to see if I was home, picking my nose and thinking of him. And calling my mom, not me? I don’t know what he’s trying to do, but if he thinks for one minute that’ll make a difference in getting back together—
    â€œI told him to come tomorrow,” she announces with the crack of an egg.
    In my mind I hear a loud metal pang! and a scene flashes before me. Of Robi and Andrew, each outfitted with boxing trunks and gloves, dancing around each other, jabbing. Andrew with a split eyebrow. Robi, a bloody nose. Hanging on to the lower rope of the ring from the floor, I’m shouting, “Boys! Boys! Stop it! Please!”
    I put my gaping mouth to good use. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
    â€œ ¿Por qué? ” She uses her hand to speak but forgets that she’s holding a spatula. Drops of sweetened condensed milk go spattering against the cabinets.
    â€œWhat do you mean why? Why? Because you have no business inviting Robi here tomorrow!”
    â€œ Ay , Isa, please. Robi’s been coming to our house para el cuatro de julio hace dos años .”
    â€œHello? Earth to Mom? Robi and I broke up! He’s come to our barbecue the last two years because we were to-ge-ther. Robi and I are now broken up. Watch…” I mercifully put down the knife, then make an open and closed motion with my hands. “Broken up…together…broken up…together. Broken up! Got it?”
    My mother gives me that look. The one that suggests You’re being silly, you’re overreacting. You’re not really broken up with Robi, you’re only imagining it . “Isa, he may not even come. He said he’d try. I only did it to be nice, hija . He was nice to you. You can’t just dees-card someone like that.”
    You know…I’ve always considered myself a sane person, one who’s managed to handle my Cuban nutjob mother with grace, but enough is enough. This last month has completely done her in. Why is she so out-of-whack? What am I going to do? I already invited Andrew!
    â€œMami,” I say calmly, amazing myself, “I know exactly what you’re doing. You invited Robi so that I wouldn’t even think of inviting Andrew.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œMy fellow teasher ?”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œBut you’re too late. I already did. I invited both him and Susy, so if there’s a showdown here tomorrow, you’re the one who’s going to deal with it, not me, okay? I gotta pee.” Total lie; I just have to get out of here. It’s that suffocation thing again.
    â€œ Mi vida …”
    Mi vida , my ass.
    Â 
    Outside, my father shovels, then wipes his