Free Not Anything by Carmen Rodrigues Page B

hate.
    “But”—Mrs. Diaz places her hand on my forearm, and I wonder if she senses my self-loathing—“I wouldn’t give it up for the world. Thanks for asking. So we should call your dad. It’s nice to see a parent so concerned.”
    Danny hands me his cordless phone. I dial my number, hand it over to Mrs. Diaz, and say a little prayer that she won’t mention my father’s “rules.”
    “Hi, Mr. Shannon? This is Mrs. Diaz, Danny Diaz’s mother. Danny Diaz, uh-huh, that’s right, Susie is tutoring my son…. I’m fine, and how are you? Great.”
    I listen closely to the conversation, but try to appear unconcerned by looking around the room casually. Next to me, Danny starts to hum something, but I can barely hear him over the thump, thump, thump of my heart.
    “Oh, he’s doing wonderful. Mr. Murphy thinks he won’t need to be tutored after Christmas. Yes, well, the reason for my call is that the school library was closed today and that’s where Susie and Danny normally meet. Danny suggested that they come to our house to study. I just wanted to make sure that was okay with you. Yes, uh, okay. Yes, well, thank you. Would you like to talk to her? Yes, she’s right here. One moment…Susie?” Mrs. Diaz hands me the phone. “He’d like to speak to you.”
     
    after several white lies to my father, i join danny and his mom in the family room. I find them chatting and laughing, and the strange thing is that she’s completely into what he’s saying.
    They make a cute pair. At first, she seems too plain-looking to be his mom, but there are lots of similarities, too. They share the same oval face, defined cheekbones, and angular chins. And there’s something else, too. There’s something about the way she looks at me, like I could confide in her. It’s the same look that Danny gives me, too.
    Above them, a picture of Danny’s father hangs on the wall. He’s handsome like Danny, with the same curly hair and penny-colored eyes. I wonder how this handsome man got together with such a plain, little woman. But maybe it’s like Danny said—maybe we’re all the same person on the inside? Maybe that’s what his dad saw in his mom? Maybe he saw her from the inside out?
    I clear my throat to let them know I’m standing there. Their smiles invite me to join in, but I listen quietly. They continue to talk in front of me, and it makes me feel like I’m part of a family. I rarely feel that way, except when I’m with Marisol and her mom.
    “Thanks for calling my dad, Mrs. Diaz,” I say after a few minutes.
    “Oh, you’re welcome. Danny says that you’re pretty much done studying for the day, so we were thinking that maybe you could stay for dinner.”
    My heart leaps at the invitation, but my gut tells me to take it slow. Just the thought of asking Dalia to pass the salt makes me queasy, and I start to doubt if Danny even wants me to stay. What if his mother is just being polite? I look at his face. His expression is vague.
    “Oh, I’d like to, but,” I repeat my earlier excuse, “I’ve got this thing—this project, and I have to be home by six.”
    “Oh, yeah,” Danny says. “I completely forgot.”
    “Oh.” Mrs. Diaz sounds disappointed. “Well, maybe another time? I know Danny’s father would love to meet you.”
    Danny’s father would love to meet me? My stomach flip-flops.
    “I know!” Mrs. Diaz says with a smile. “We have plans for this weekend, but why don’t you have dinner with us next Sunday?”
    “Um…” Again, my heart jumps at the invitation. Again, I’m filled with doubt. “I don’t know—”
    “Oh,” Danny laughs, “here she goes again.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” Mrs. Diaz asks.
    “Mom, Susie doesn’t like going places. I practically had to drag her here to study.”
    I smile shyly because it’s true.
    “Okay,” I say reluctantly. “Next Sunday will be fine.”
    “Good. We’ll have dinner at seven p.m.,” Mrs. Diaz says decisively. “You can