Page 33 of Sombra
“Tavo.¿Nos haces el favor de tocar la guitarra?”mi madre asks.
Kim gives a tiny squeak of delight. “The guitar? You’re going to play?”
“De acuerdo.” I walk quickly to my house and fetch my guitar. Kim’s interest makes me want to play the best I’ve ever played. While my family hears me play plenty, thisis the first time I get to play for her, and I want to make an impression. I want her to remember this night.
When I return, I sit to the side and begin to play the classical, complicated Spanish music I love. My fingers pluck and pull the nylon guitar strings, bringing the music to life. It always existed, it always exists, it’s just my job to bring it out now. So I sing, and I’m singingfor her. I play, and I’m playing for her.
I lose my soul in the singing as I always do, but this time it’s more. This time I’m showing her a part of myself I don’t show everyone. My family doesn’t see it.
But she does.
I’m floating on air. I’m so high my family and my responsibilities can’t reach me. The world has melted away for a moment, and I’m living in the now, showingthe music of my innermost self to this estadounidense.
When I come to, I catch Kim’s eye, rapt in my playing. My family claps, and Kim whispers, “You’re so good.”
I steeple my fingers and give her a cocky smile. “You have no idea.”
My mother’s sharp eye pierces me, but I don’t care. Kim yawns, and I say, “Let’s take you to your room.” She says goodnight to everyone and wego in the house. I leave my guitar inside the kitchen. When we get to Kim’s room, she steps in, but I stay at the door.
“God, I don’t want this night to end.” She whirls around in her room, her arms out. “It’s exactly what I wanted to experience. A new country. New people. New food. And it’s so beautiful!”
“Are you ready for bed?”
Bad question, Tavo.
Thankfully sheoverlooks it. “I’m not a bit tired. I think it’s the jet lag.”
Tentatively, I take a step in. Her clothes and things are everywhere. I avert my eyes in case her undergarments are out on top. I already have enough ideas, I don’t need to see anything else. “Do you want to talk?”
“Sure! Come in, come in.” She takes off her shoes and sits on the bed, her back to the wall, cuddling thepillow. “Sorry, I haven’t put everything away yet.”
I take the other end, my feet on the floor, trying not to get too close. “Take your time. There is no rush. How are you doing? Are you finding everything to your liking?”
“It’s incredible. I’m totally in love with Spain.” She giggles. “Tavo. Your voice. It’s magical. I could listen to you play all day. You have such pride and fire.It comes out in your singing.”
I don’t want to talk about my voice. I want to talk about her. “What it is that you love about Spain?”
“It’s just so rich. I’ve barely seen anything, but it’s so beautiful. The air is prettier. This house is amazing. It pulses with a history, you know?”
I can think of a lot of things that pulse.
Again, time to change the subject. “What’sit like in America?”
“It’s boring,” she says immediately.
I jerk my head back. “No way. I want to go to America so much.”
Her hand flies to her chest. “You do?”
“I do.”
That rabbit nose wrinkles. “Why?”
“I want to go surfing. I want to ride in a red convertible Ford Mustang.”
Kim scowls. “I’ve never done either of those things.”
“I want tosee the Grand Canyon and the Empire State Building. I want to go to Death Valley and Chicago and Texas.”
