Free How Tía Lola Saved the Summer by Julia Álvarez

not only cancel the outing, but stick around insisting Victoria stay in bed. Any chance of seeing Owen today would evaporate. The best policy, as her father is always telling her, is honesty.
    But Victoria has such a hard time telling people stuff they don’t want to hear and seeing them be upset with her or unhappy with themselves. She can’t bear it! If only shecould get rid of that part of herself! Be free to be her fun, exciting, perky, selfish self! She punches her pillow a bunch of times, then buries her face in it, stifling her screams (otherwise she’ll wake up Cari): I hate being the responsible, thoughtful, helpful, polite one! Oh, Owen, Owen, Owen, please save me, oh save me from this cruel destiny of being the oldest!

    One flight down, Tía Lola is cooking breakfast. Today it’s a Dominican treat, mangú , a dish made of mashed plantains, with a special fried cheese Rudy is kind enough to order from his Boston supplier. A hearty breakfast for people going to watch a bloody battle or play baseball.
    But as she is finishing up the dish, Tía Lola distinctly feels a little sword jabbing at her heart. One of her campers is experiencing trouble. Who can it be? Probably Miguel. He has been growing impatient with how slowly his ankle is healing. Tía Lola turns off the stove, dries her hands on her apron, and heads upstairs.
    As she reaches the second floor, the guest room door opens. The oldest of Víctor’s girls, the lovely Victoria, is tiptoeing out. She gives a little jump when she sees she is not alone.
    “Sorry,” Tía Lola mouths. She would continue her trek upstairs to check on Miguel, but something desperate in the girl’s face makes her stop. She gestures for Victoria to come up to her attic room. For a moment, Victoria looks unsure, but then with a sigh of relief, she nods.

    Working as a team, Victoria and Tía Lola manage to talk Mami and Víctor and the three girls into going to Fort Ticonderoga without them.
    At first, Essie keeps changing her mind. Miguel’s ankle is still swollen. She would love to substitute for a second day, but she’d also love to watch a real-life battle. “I’ve heard it’s like a show in Disney World,” her older sister remarks. That clinches it.
    As for Tía Lola staying behind: “I’d love a quiet day working in my garden.” It’s so rare that Tía Lola asks for something, no one thinks to talk her out of it.
    “How did you do that?” Victoria whispers. Tía Lola shrugs like she doesn’t know what big thing she just did. “Tell everyone what you wanted without apologizing?” Victoria elaborates.
    “I just told everyone what I wanted without apologizing,” Tía Lola laughs. Like it’s that simple. “Now you try it.”
    But Victoria isn’t so sure she can withstand her father’s persistence. “Are you certain you want to stay, Victoria?” he keeps asking. Each time, she can feel her certainty eroding. “It’ll be a chance to see our country’s history in action.”
    Papa, pleeeeeeease!!! Victoria feels like shouting. I have ZERO interest in watching any history except my own in action!!!
    Tía Lola steps in. “Victoria’ll keep me company and help me take care of our patient.”
    Of course Papa has to bring up some hurdles. “Butneither of you can carry Miguel. And Rudy can’t do it either. Remember, he’s not a young man. Come to think of it …” Oh no! Papa himself is reconsidering. Unless Tía Lola and Victoria think of something quick, the whole outing will be canceled.
    “Owen can carry him,” Victoria blurts out, an edge of desperation in her voice.
    Mami has also been pushing for Victoria to come along. But just this moment, Mami must see something she didn’t see before. Victoria is blushing at the mere mention of Dean’s tall, handsome fourteen-year-old brother.
    “Víctor, I actually will feel a lot better leaving Miguel in Victoria’s hands,” Mami says, looping her arm through his and escorting him out to the van.
    As