Read Lost in the City: Tree of Desire and Serafin for Free Online Page B

tightly.
    â€œI used to have pictures,” the woman said, “but I sold them. Or they disappeared . . . and I had a bureau, but it’s gone, too.”
    â€œI’m afraid,” Joaquín said.
    â€œCalm down, Joaquín.”
    â€œI have to peepee.”
    â€œSeñora,” Cristina asked very seriously, “may I use your bathroom?”
    â€œOf course, of course,” and she indicated the door.
    â€œMay I take the candle?”
    Three cats followed Cristina, meowing and rubbing against her legs. She thought, I can’t bear this, but then told herself she had to bear it and tried to think of something else. In the corner next to the bathroom door, there were empty cans and bottles, papers, and dry branches.
    â€œI don’t need to peepee,” Joaquín said when he looked into the bathroom.
    â€œCome on, Joaquín, or you’ll do it during the night,” and she made him go in.
    The first thing Cristina noticed was the absence of a shower. She thought, how awful, where does she bathe? There was only a dirty wash basin, a medicine cabinet with a broken mirror, and a toilet without a lid. She put the saucer with the candle on the basin and,looking up, caught part of her reflection in the mirror. She turned her head to see the rest of her face and felt dizzy. She blinked. What am I doing here, so alone, and with my brother?
    Joaquín tugged on her skirt.
    â€œI’m doing it.”
    She pushed down his pants and underwear and seated him on the toilet.
    â€œI have to go poopoo, too.”
    Cristina looked for some toilet paper, but could not find any. She went out to ask the woman, though she could only see her silhouette.
    â€œThere are some newspapers over there,” she said, pointing to the corner. Cristina went to get the candle and Joaquín shrieked.
    â€œIt’s dark!”
    â€œWait, honey.”
    The cats followed her, making her more nervous. She looked for the newspaper that was least dirty. The woman remained motionless in the chair, her aquiline profile silhouetted against the subdued light that came through the bare window. Joaquín was sobbing loudly in the bathroom.
    â€œI’m coming, Joaquín, I’m coming.”
    She tore off a piece of paper to clean the child. Then she pulled up his underwear and pants and they left the bathroom. Now the woman was seated with her chin resting on her chest, and Cristina supposed she was asleep. She put the candle beside her, saying “Thank you.”
    The cats were walking all around, and Joaquín held up his hand so they could not lick it.
    â€œSeñora, where are we going to sleep?”
    â€œHuh?” said the woman, shaking her head so that some wilted flowers fell on the table. “Ah, my little precious, my beautiful little cubs,” and she held out her hand to stroke Joaquín’s cheek, “I’m going to be like your Mamá, you’ll see, I’m going to take care of you, keep you in my heart. Come, come.”
    Cristina felt sick to her stomach when the woman pulled her over to embrace her and kiss her hair.
    â€œWould you like to sleep with me? Come, we’ll sleep together, all of us together, my little kittens, you and me.”
    She stood up, went to the bed, and lifted the bedspread.
    â€œCome on, get in here.”
    Cristina took off Joaquín’s sweater and shoes and put them with hers at the bottom of the bed (she thought that if she put them on the floor, the cats would eat them). When she got in under the bedspread, she felt the mattress spring in her back. Her purse hurt her side, but she didn’t dare take it off.
    When the woman got in bed and the cats got on top, she felt the urge to jump up and run to call her mother on the phone. But she thought anything was preferable, less painful, than going back to the same thing as all those nights past. Closing her eyes, she clenched her teeth. Joaquín fell asleep immediately,