Trouble Follows

Ch. 13

Mercedes shut her book and climbed from her bed when she heard Mrs. Gonzales calling for her. She left her room and walked down the steps. "Yes, Mrs. Gonzales?"

Mrs. Gonzales held out a large white envelope. "It is your escuela!"

Mercedes took the envelope from her, excited. "No way! I can't believe this!"

"Open it! Open it!" Mrs. Gonzales clapped.

Mercedes ripped it open and tore the papers out to read them quickly. "We are pleased to inform you- class of 2016- welcome! Ah! I got in!"

Mrs. Gonzales jumped around with her. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you! Thank you! I have to call Lucy and Mikey and Noah and Marcy and everybody!"

She handed Mercedes another envelope and said, "This came for señorita Marcy."

Mercedes' eyes widened. "It's a big one, too! She had to have gotten in!"

"She will be home soon."

She was right. After her first class, Marcy came home until her last class. "Yes. We can wait to find out."

The doorbell rang and Mrs. Gonzales opened it. "Hola, señor Puck."

"What's up, Mrs. G?" He asked.

"No-No, I have the greatest news! Look at this!" Mercedes pulled him inside.

"Hey, baby." He snuck a kiss. "It's so nice to see you, too."

"Noah, just read the paper."

He set Raven down and took the papers from her. He looked them over. "Wow! Go, Mama! You got in!"

Mercedes danced in place. "Isn't it exciting?! I'm so happy!"

He kissed her again. "I'm happy for you."

"Have you gotten any acceptance letters yet?"

He sighed. "Nope."

"You'll get them." She was sure. My man is smart.

"Tia Me?" A tiny voice asked.

Mercedes looked down at Beth. "Yes, sweetheart?"

"Can I watch Little Einsteins?"

"Are you going to stay a little bit?" Mercedes asked Puck.

"We can." He shrugged. "I ain't got nothin to do."

"You can go watch Little Einsteins, honey." She told Beth. "Papa and I need to speak upstairs anyway."

"I can take señorita Raven to Marionette." Mrs. Gonzales offered.

"Thank you, Mrs. Gonzales." Mercedes smiled at her.

She picked up the car-seat and took Beth's hand. "Are you hungry?"

"Can I have a banana?" Beth asked as they disappeared.

"What we gotta talk about, Mama?" Puck leaned against the door.

Mercedes crooked her finger at him. "Upstairs. So no one will hear us screaming."

He made a face. "What I do now? Please don't scream at me."

She took his hand and led him upstairs. She closed the door behind them and pushed him onto the bed then climbed atop him.

"We're going to be doing a bunch of screaming, ain't we?" His eyes widened.

She lifted his shirt. "Oh yeah."

He grinned salaciously. "Bring it on, Mama. Bring it on."

W.O