YOU’LL BE SAFE WITH ME
THREE DAYS LATER, at the Herreras’ kitchen table, Mila asked, “You’re coming with me today, right?” Daniela was with them, singing a song mostly made up of the word no. “Where?” Rick asked. “To Ms. Diamond’s house. You had fun last time, didn’t you? And you being in the car will make Abuelita drive so well we’ll be on time again. Daniela, try singing this instead—Meeee-laaaa, I loooove youuuu.” Daniela giggled and repeated, “Noooo-noooo, no nooooo noooo!” using the same tone and rhythm. “No must be a fun word to learn to say,” Rick observed. “And no, I wasn’t planning on coming today.” He still hadn’t come up with any new ideas on how to help Smotch, so his mood was not the best. “But look.” Mila had Abuelita’s phone and started swiping the screen. “Some of our signs are already up. Don’t they look amazing?” She showed him a series of smiling cupcakes, basketballs, and tigers lined up along a road median. Then she scrolled to a photo of a damaged -- -
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