nagging. Growing up in a typical
middle-class Hispanic home meant close family ties. She loved her family but
she also liked not living in the same town. At first, her parents didn’t want
her to leave for college. Since her aunt lived in Austin and Tony and his dad
were moving there, they agreed to let her leave.
“I’m fine, Mom. Did you highlight your hair?” She wanted to
change the subject quickly.
“Yes. Do you like the blonde color they used? Does it make
me look younger?” Her mom ran her fingers through her shoulder length hair.
“Now you sound like Aunt Sharon.”
Her mom gave her one of those stares.
“Sorry.” She had to think of how to take back what she said.
“It does make you look younger and the blonde makes your brown eyes lighter
too.” She knew her mom hated being compared to her sister. Even though her mom
was only a few years younger than Sharon, she felt like Sharon was always
competing with her.
“How is your Aunt Sharon? I haven’t talked to her in a few
weeks.”
“She’s doing fine. In fact, she’s headed to Europe for the
summer and asked me to stay at her place when I can.”
“Oh really, that will be good. It gives you a chance to get
out of that small dorm room. Do you think she’s staying with one of her
boyfriends?”
Natalie shrugged her shoulders. “When it comes to her, no
telling.”
“Please be careful and take care of her place. She has
really expensive furniture. So that means no parties!”
“I know, Mom. Besides, when have you known me to throw a
party?”
Her mom smiled. “Never.”
“Exactly. So where’s everyone at?”
“Your dad isn’t home from work yet and your grandmother’s
taking a nap—”
“Nat, you’re home.” Laura, Natalie’s little sister, came up from
behind, hugging her. Natalie turned around and greeted her with open arms.
“Hi Laura. Wow, you’ve really grown.” She placed her hand on
top of her sister’s head, measuring her height against her chest.
“Yep, I’m wearing a size eight now.”
“Before long, you’ll be wearing my clothes.” Natalie sang
out. “Which reminds me, I’ve got something for you.” She pointed to her bag.
Laura scurried over to one of Natalie’s bags and pulled out
a package of gummy bears. “Oh, my favorite. Thanks, Nat.”
“You’re welcome.”
A door slammed shut and a tall and lean guy walked into the
kitchen. “Man, I can smell the food all the way outside. I’m starving.”
“Ummm… a hello would be nice.” Natalie watched her brother
lean over the stove, stealing a piece of chicken out of the pan.
Gabriel popped the chicken in his mouth and turned around.
“Hey sis,” he said with a mouth full, “I didn’t even see you.”
“I see you haven’t forgotten how to ignore me.” Natalie put
her hands on her hips.
He walked over to her and picked her up in a tight bear hug.
He spun her around a few times.
Natalie squealed. “Put me down.”
“Dang, girl. What are you eating or should I say lifting?”
He let her go and she took a step back to gain her balance. She gave him a
brotherly punch on the forearm. “I’m not fat.”
He rubbed his arm. “Owww. I don’t mean you’re fat. I’m
talkin’ about your muscles. How much are you lifting? You’ve got some power
behind that fist of yours.”
Natalie snickered. “I don’t know. Maybe five to ten pounds
more than I used to. I think it’s the vitamins and protein I’ve been taking.”
He reached over and squeezed her right bicep. “Just keep it
up and you’ll have arms like mine.” He flexed his arms, showing off his lean
muscles. “I’ve been working out too, ya know.”
Natalie rolled her eyes and shook her head. Although only
fifteen, he was maturing fast and would pass her up before long.
“What vitamins are you taking?” Her mom turned around and
looked her up and down thoroughly.
“The ones I volunteered to test out. They are from the pharmaceutical
company I’m going to be
middle-class Hispanic home meant close family ties. She loved her family but
she also liked not living in the same town. At first, her parents didn’t want
her to leave for college. Since her aunt lived in Austin and Tony and his dad
were moving there, they agreed to let her leave.
“I’m fine, Mom. Did you highlight your hair?” She wanted to
change the subject quickly.
“Yes. Do you like the blonde color they used? Does it make
me look younger?” Her mom ran her fingers through her shoulder length hair.
“Now you sound like Aunt Sharon.”
Her mom gave her one of those stares.
“Sorry.” She had to think of how to take back what she said.
“It does make you look younger and the blonde makes your brown eyes lighter
too.” She knew her mom hated being compared to her sister. Even though her mom
was only a few years younger than Sharon, she felt like Sharon was always
competing with her.
“How is your Aunt Sharon? I haven’t talked to her in a few
weeks.”
“She’s doing fine. In fact, she’s headed to Europe for the
summer and asked me to stay at her place when I can.”
“Oh really, that will be good. It gives you a chance to get
out of that small dorm room. Do you think she’s staying with one of her
boyfriends?”
Natalie shrugged her shoulders. “When it comes to her, no
telling.”
“Please be careful and take care of her place. She has
really expensive furniture. So that means no parties!”
“I know, Mom. Besides, when have you known me to throw a
party?”
Her mom smiled. “Never.”
“Exactly. So where’s everyone at?”
“Your dad isn’t home from work yet and your grandmother’s
taking a nap—”
“Nat, you’re home.” Laura, Natalie’s little sister, came up from
behind, hugging her. Natalie turned around and greeted her with open arms.
“Hi Laura. Wow, you’ve really grown.” She placed her hand on
top of her sister’s head, measuring her height against her chest.
“Yep, I’m wearing a size eight now.”
“Before long, you’ll be wearing my clothes.” Natalie sang
out. “Which reminds me, I’ve got something for you.” She pointed to her bag.
Laura scurried over to one of Natalie’s bags and pulled out
a package of gummy bears. “Oh, my favorite. Thanks, Nat.”
“You’re welcome.”
A door slammed shut and a tall and lean guy walked into the
kitchen. “Man, I can smell the food all the way outside. I’m starving.”
“Ummm… a hello would be nice.” Natalie watched her brother
lean over the stove, stealing a piece of chicken out of the pan.
Gabriel popped the chicken in his mouth and turned around.
“Hey sis,” he said with a mouth full, “I didn’t even see you.”
“I see you haven’t forgotten how to ignore me.” Natalie put
her hands on her hips.
He walked over to her and picked her up in a tight bear hug.
He spun her around a few times.
Natalie squealed. “Put me down.”
“Dang, girl. What are you eating or should I say lifting?”
He let her go and she took a step back to gain her balance. She gave him a
brotherly punch on the forearm. “I’m not fat.”
He rubbed his arm. “Owww. I don’t mean you’re fat. I’m
talkin’ about your muscles. How much are you lifting? You’ve got some power
behind that fist of yours.”
Natalie snickered. “I don’t know. Maybe five to ten pounds
more than I used to. I think it’s the vitamins and protein I’ve been taking.”
He reached over and squeezed her right bicep. “Just keep it
up and you’ll have arms like mine.” He flexed his arms, showing off his lean
muscles. “I’ve been working out too, ya know.”
Natalie rolled her eyes and shook her head. Although only
fifteen, he was maturing fast and would pass her up before long.
“What vitamins are you taking?” Her mom turned around and
looked her up and down thoroughly.
“The ones I volunteered to test out. They are from the pharmaceutical
company I’m going to be
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