I'm in Estrella's room chilling on the floor with Julian right in front of me. He's in red pajamas playing with a Rubix cube my Tia Gloria gave him before the Thanksgiving meal. I watch him struggle to put the colors back in order but he fails every time. Julian is the most patient in the whole family. If I were given that Rubix cube I would have been pissed at it before I even change the colors. I let him watch youtube tutorials on how to solve it and he's slowly learning.
I see the door swing open and Estrella walks in with fuzzy pants hanging right under her belly bump and an oversized shirt.
"Look! Baby bump!" She says pulling up her shirt to show me her round belly. The baby is growing hella fast! She was a lot smaller last week. Sometimes I wonder if she's carrying twins.
"Jesus, that baby is going to be huge!" I say and she laughs.
"I'm only 16 weeks. Little peanut still has to grow a lot more," she says rubbing her stomach.
"I read that he's not a little peanut anymore. He's the size of an avocado," I say holding out my palm to demonstrate the size.
"And what makes you think it's a he?" She asks pulling herself on the bed. She starts sniffling and I know she's going to go in depression mode soon because this pregnancy likes giving her nasal problems along with migraines. She lays on her back and pulls her shirt up to expose her belly.
"I don't know. I didn't even realize I said he. Maybe cuz I'm with Julian," I shrug.
Julian gets up and moves to Estrella and jumps on the side of the bed. He puts his hand on her belly and Estrella shifts.
"Aren't babies supposed to kick?" Julian asks.
"They are, but not yet. Peanut will start kicking in a few months," Estrella explains.
"I think it's going to be a boy," he says, confidently. Estrella and I laugh.
"And what if it's a girl?" I ask.
"Then Amari and I aren't going to have anyone to play with," he frowns. He grabs his Rubix cube and starts twisting the blocks until he's distracted enough that he won't listen. Estrella starts breathing heavily and I know her nose is going to die in a little while. We hear a knock on the door and I see my mom at the doorway.
"Oye, chicas, ya es hora para dormir," Hey, girls, it's time to go to bed. She says putting a small basket of laundry by the door.
"Tia Gloria left?" I ask.
"Ya hace cuando. Nomas estaba limpiando. Ya puse la comida en el refri para que no se haga malo," She's been gone. I was just cleaning. I put the leftovers in the fridge so it won't go bad. She moves closer to us.
"She didn't seem too excited to see my growing belly. Is she prejudice against fat people?" Estrella jokes and I laugh.
"Ya mero. No, nomas es que no pensó que esto iba a pasar, pero ya ni modo. Paso y ya va ser tia otra vez," Yeah right. No, it's because she didn't think this would happen, but it did. It happened and she's going to be an aunt again, she jokes and we laugh.
"Hablando de esto, me acordé que tiene sita Estrella con la partera el 7 de Diciembre," Speaking of, I just remembered that Estrella has an appointment with the midwife on December 7th. She says a matter of factly.
I turn to Estrella who is struggling to breathe. She nods and pushes herself up the bed.
"Mi pobre. Ahorita te ago un tea para que se te abre la nariz," My poor thing. I'll make you some tea so you're nose can open up. She gets off the bed.
"Thanks, mom," Estrella says reaching over her dresser to find her tissues.
"Oh, y Anastacia, hable con Norma y me dijo del viaje. Yo le dije que vamos hablar de eso pero que si quiero que vayas. Si quieres te puedo dar un poco de dinero para que lo pongas en el banco y estés salvando," Oh, and Anastacia, I talked to Norma and she mentioned the trip. I told her that we will talk about it, but I do want you to go. If you want I can give you some money so you can put it in the bank and start saving. She mentions.
"Mami, you don't have to do that. I already have some money put away for spending," I start.
"M'hija, no te preocupes. Todavía tengo poco dinero que me quedo de tu padre y lo puedes usar para esto. No te puedo pagar todo el viaje, pero si te doy un poquito. Podemos hablar más de esto cuando platique con Norma. Esta bien?" Honey, don't worry about it. I still have a little money left from your father that you can use. I can't pay for the whole trip, but I can give you what I can. We can talk more once I talk with Norma. Okay?
I look at her, shocked that she is willing to help. Why does she want me to go on this trip? Maybe because she wants me to have a great last few months of senior year and not worry too much about Estrela. I'll try.
"Thank you, Ma," I say and give her a hug. She hugs me back and I feel safe in her arms.
"De nada mija. Ya no se queden tan tarde. Hasta manaña, mijos," You're welcome, sweety. Don't stay up too late. Goodnight, kids. She goes around and kisses each of us on the cheek.
"Aye te traigo to tea, Strella," I'll go bring you your tea, Strella. She says while walking out of the room.
Estrella looks at me trying hard to smile.
"You get to go on your trip!" She exclaims right before going into a storm of sneezes. I laugh at how many sneezes she released in a minute.
"Shut up! You don't know the difficulties of being pregnant! I used to take breathing for granted, and now that's all I want to do," she complains and stuffs her nose in a tissue.
"Then I'm thankful," I say and smile at her. She pulls her tongue out at me and I giggle.
"I hope peanut doesn't come out like this. Always sick and fussy. I read that this is a common symptom in the second trimester, I was just hoping I wouldn't get it," she frowns.
"Eat a lot of fruit. I heard that helps," I suggest while getting up.
"I'll try. If not I'll just take an oxygen mask from someone," she jokes. I chuckle and turn and see Julian at Strella's legs twisting the Rubix cube and placing it on her belly. It's solved. Estrella and I stare at him with our eyes widen.
"I did it!" He says and jumps off the bed and runs to his room.
"Hey, take notes from your Tio. You better be that smart. You hear me?" Estrella talks to her belly and I laugh.
"Don't be too hard on him. He'll find a prodigy," I say, backing out of the room.
"You said 'he' again!" She exclaims.
"Sorry! Peanut!" I call out and exit the room.
"Night!" She yells from her bed.
"Night!" I call back. I enter my room and jump on my bed and lay on my back. I check my phone and it's only 11:14. I go on my message app and decide to play 8-Ball with Zamari until I fall asleep.
YOU ARE READING
Salted Wound
Teen FictionAnastacia Flores doesn't live a perfect life, but she pushes herself into her education to have a bright future and become a teacher. She is loved and supported by her family, her boyfriend, Luis, and her best friends. Zamari Sabian is a deviant wh...
