Page 136 of Something in Between

“I don’t know,” Dad jokes. “It looks good all wrinkled.”

“We’ll iron it,” Mom says.

“What are you going to wear underneath it?” Lola Cherry says. Before I can answer, Lola is already talking again. “I remember this one girl. Lilibeth Bautista. She didn’t wear anything. She was painted with words. She let all her favorite boys write their name in yellow paint anywhere they wanted.”

I burst out laughing. Mom’s horrified. “My daughter isnotgoing to do that. Stop putting images inside her head, Lola Cherry.” She turns to me, looking me up and down. “You hear me? No boys are painting your treasure.”

“Why not?” Lola says. “Nobody will know except for Jasmine.”

“I don’t want to see Royce’s name anywhere either. You hear me?” my mom says.

I start laughing even harder at that. “No way!” Then I imagine what Royce would think if he did see his name written on my skin under my gown. It could be pretty sexy, put a smile back on his face.Thanks, Lola Cherry.

Dad doesn’t say anything until now. He pouts. “My graduation was never that exciting...”

Lola starts laughing. “See? Your father understands.”

“Anyway, enough about that. I need a new dress.”

“All right. But no funny business,” Dad says. “Mom will take you to buy one this week.”

I give him a big hug, because no matter what, no matter how old I get, I’m still Daddy’s favorite.

Suddenly, Lola whacks Dad in the leg with her cane.

He yelps and curses in Ilocano. “What was that for?”

“I want your attention,” she says.

“You could have just asked!” he says, rubbing his leg.

“I have an idea,” she says.

Dad looks very agitated. “I can see that. More like I canfeelit.”

Mom and I giggle. I hope I get to do whatever I want when I’m older just because I can get away with it.

“That’s why you hit me?” Dad says. “No.”

Lola swings her cane again.

This time Dad gets up. “I’m going to take that from you. It’s not a weapon.”

“I know,” Lola says. “It’s an attention getter. Jasmine says that Royce’s dad called that judge and the visas were granted.”

“Yeah, we heard that before,” says Dad.

“Call him again. You can’t just sit around and wait! You need to remind people to do their jobs!”

“We have been calling, but there’s no news.”

“Call him again! Call until there is news.”

“She’s right,” I say. “Let’s keep calling.”

“Fine,” says Dad. “What can it hurt?”

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