Across the Great River by Irene Beltrán Hernández Page A

mean?” questions Mama, who looks over at me.
    â€œMama,” I blurt out, “there was a strange man knocking at the door. I believe he is the man Papa paid the money to before we crossed the river. He frightens me.”
    â€œWhat did he want?” She turns to Anita for the answer.
    Anita hesitates, then looks at Mama closely. “Oh, I am sure it was nothing. Probably selling something. We did not answer the door.”
    â€œGood. Kata, you must never answer the door unless you know who it is. Understand?”
    â€œYes, Mama.” I look at Anita straight in the face and she winks back at me. Perhaps Anita knows best.After all, Mama is already biting her nails and twisting a lock of hair that has fallen forward.
    â€œCome. I have brought fresh cheese for us and pastry for the children.” Anita gently takes Mama’s arm. “And a bottle of home-made wine for us señoras.” She pulls the things from her basket and chuckles loudly. “I have also brought some eggs to sell at the market tomorrow.”
    â€œMama,” I shout, “can I go to the market with Anita?”
    Mama smiles, “We will all go, Kata. I have some shopping to do also.”
    The morning air is still crisp when we set out for the market. We walk at a slow pace so that Anita and Mama can keep up. Pablito and I peek into each shop window as we pass.
    The market is busy with stands filled with people selling corn, eggs, tacos and many things that grow on small ranchitos. Carts, wagons, horses, burros and trucks are almost as numerous as the people that mill around buying and selling.
    I grab on tightly to Anita’s skirt for fear that I will lose her in the crowd. Mama carries Pablito so that he will not be hurt by the many bags that people carry.
    Anita points to the water fountain that is in the center of the plaza. “We’ll find a spot there under the tree.”
    We push and pull our way over to the tree. Once there, the people make room for us as they greet Anita happily. “Good to see you, Doña Anita. Sit here nextto me,” says a woman who holds a baby nursing at her breast.
    â€œMany thanks, Doña Marta. How is the little one?” questions Anita as she lays out her blanket and eggs. “Kata, I birthed that baby. It was a fine birth, too,” chuckles Anita. “I wish you could have been there.”
    â€œHe’s a pretty baby, Anita,” I say, wishing I had been there, too.
    A man passes with candy-coated apples. Anita whistles for his attention and then calls him over. “Give me two apples for the children.” From her skirt pocket she pulls out her coin purse and pays the man. She hands me an apple, then one to Pablito.
    â€œI have never seen such sticky red apples,” I say as I kiss Anita on the cheek.
    We sit there eating our apples while Anita sells her eggs. Mama leaves to look for things she needs. By lunch time, Anita has sold all her eggs and she pulls out her purse and puts all her coins in it. Then she rises saying, “I will go find your mother. Stay here with Doña Marta until I return.”
    â€œYes, Anita,” I say.
    Soon they return, loaded with flour tortillas filled with minced barbecue meat. As we eat we sit and watch the men and women of the town tending to their business. I watch Mama, too, as she scans the crowds searching for Papa. Each time a tall man with a mustache walks by, she stiffens and rises to her knees to get a better glimpse. A heavy sigh escapes her lips and she sits down again to finish her lunch.
    I leave with Mama to buy some fabric. I hold tightly to her hand as she leads me through the rows of stands. Finally we arrive at the right stand and she begins checking through the bolts of fabric, searchingfor the right color and price. “Kata, we need to make you a new skirt. Come help me pick the color.”
    All the colors and bolts of fabric soon confuse me, so I look out into the crowd. I see