Free Isabel's Texas Two-Step by Annie Bryant

thanyou” attitude, I picked up my plate and my glass and walked into the kitchen with my head held high. I heard Elena Maria say, “Guys, I’m going to get some more milk.”
    She marched into the kitchen after me and began scolding. “Why are you embarrassing me? I’m trying to give my friends an unforgettable time. It’s so obvious you need attention, just like a little baby.”
    I crossed my arms and frowned. “Well, if I’m such a baby, why am I the only one who gets her own room?”
    â€œWell, if you think you’re all grown-up, then here,” she said, handing me a camera. “Play photographer and document our fun times.” She left the kitchen skipping.
    Hello? Why was Elena acting so different? I promised myself that I would never change when I became a teenager.
    Enrique and Fidencia, the two cooks, whispered to each other. He took a mug from a cabinet and handed it to his wife, who ladled something that smelled sweet and familiar into it. Hot chocolate!
    â€œ Toma, ” he said, placing it before me. Drink it.
    â€œ Gracias , Enrique, Fidencia. Me gusta mucho el chocolate .” All the BSG were crazy about hot chocolate, including me.
    The two cooks were thrilled to hear me speak an entire sentence in Spanish. They peppered me with questions about school, my father, which boy was Elena Maria’s chambelan de honor , and whether I had a boyfriend.
    â€œI’m only twelve,” I said in my best Spanish accent. “I don’t have a real boyfriend yet.”
    Enrique said something I couldn’t make out for sure, but I know it was like, “Your mother will be fighting off boys with a broom.” I blushed hotly, which sent Fidencia into a fit of laughter, and me out of the kitchen.
    It was late in the day, but the sun was far from setting. I took in a breath, heard a bird chirp, and felt the warm sun on my arms. The older kids and my cousins (except Ricardo) were in the swimming pool, flirting and playing ball. Tony and Alfonso had invited some friends over too. A radio blasted hip-hop and rock and roll, but nobody cared or complained. Even though we were close to the city we were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by hills.
    I wondered what Ricardo was up to, even though I was still upset with him for our incident with the eagle statue the night before. My sister and her friends were busy, and every time I played paparazzi, which my sister had asked me to do, one of them would complain.
    â€œNo, Izzy. My hair’s not right,” Lauren said.
    â€œIzzy, seriously, please don’t take pictures of me at that angle,” Jill said. “It makes me look fat.” Jill looked like she weighed about ten pounds. I decided then and there that I would never be one of those girls who complains all the time about being fat, especially if I was skinny. It’s so annoying.
    At one point I asked Tony and his friends to bunch together, which they seemed happy to do, but Elena Maria scolded me. “Izzy, can’t you be like real paparazzi? Hide inthe bushes and shoot from there or something. You know, so we have candids.”
    Everybody found this incredibly funny. I did not. I walked away thinking, Take your own pictures, Elena Maria . Where was my sister? The one who cooked for me, who helped me with my hair, laughed with me. Where was that sister? I missed her.
    It was dark and cool inside the house. The doors to the living room were closed, thank goodness. Maybe nobody had discovered anything yet. I decided to go see my mother and went to her room, expecting to find her there, but it was empty. I ran into Mercedes, who was mopping.
    â€œ Dónde está mi mamá ?” I asked.
    â€œ En el balcón ,” she said, pointing upstairs.
    Sure enough, I found her on an ancient rocking chair, looking out at the horizon. I gave her a kiss on the cheek and then leaned over the railing and took in the beautiful view. A few