Chapter Thirty Four, Part One

Sophie’s new clothes arrived near the end of October, just as the days were starting to get too cold for what she had brought from Kentucky, and just in time for the girls at school to make snide remarks about her “Halloween costume.” She played it off well in their presence, but after school, riding Baltazar with Mateo, she alternated between fury and despair.

“What’s wrong with those girls? Do they really think everyone has to dress and act just like them? Why can’t they accept me how I am? I had lots of girl friends in Kentucky and none of them were like this.”

Mateo had no answers, but he tried to think of something useful to say. After all, she had given him a very stylish and expensive winter jacket, so answering her questions was the least he could do in return. “You’re different from them. It isn’t that they don’t like you, it’s just they don’t know how to react to anyone different, so they act mean.”

“That’s a stupid explanation.”

“Hey, I’m just telling you the truth.”

“I didn’t mean your explanation was stupid, just their reasons.” Sophie was sitting behind him on Baltazar, her arms wrapped around him to hold on, and she gave him a little squeeze. Since she couldn’t see his face, she didn’t realize the effect it had on him.

“I would never lie to you,” he said. “You can always count on me.”

“I know. Thank you.”

They arrived at the store and Sophie hopped off the donkey. “What do you think? Should we ask Norma for hot chocolate today?”

Mateo dismounted and looped Baltazar’s reins over a post by the loading dock. “Sounds good, but shouldn’t we wait until closer to Christmas? Chocolate is expensive. If we start asking now, your dad might run out, and then there wouldn’t be any more when we’re on vacation from school.”

Sophie had a feeling that wouldn’t be an issue, but she pretended to agree. “Hot apple cider, then.”

Mateo nodded enthusiastically and they trooped inside. But just as he was getting his cup, another gift from Sophie, who had told him she had a cabinet full of them at home, Norma came hurrying up to him with a list of deliveries to make. He suppressed a sigh and put the cup back on the shelf.

“Can’t it wait until he’s had a snack?” Sophie asked.

“No,” Mateo said, not giving Norma a chance to say no for him. “Deliveries come first.”

While he went to hitch Baltazar to the wagon, Sophie turned on Norma. “We were just going to warm up with a little cider. It wouldn’t have taken long.”

“I know he’s your friend,” Norma reminded her, “but he’s here to work.” She returned to the front of the store, leaving Sophie to sulk.

Sophie debated fetching the cider and heating some up for herself, but decided against it. Maybe Mateo would get done quickly and they could have some then. She looked around for something to do, but her father believed in keeping things all business at the store and hadn’t allowed her to bring any games or puzzles to occupy herself with when she was waiting for him to be ready to go home. It was expected, of course, that Sophie would work on her homework, but the last thing she wanted to do after being in school all day was more schoolwork.

She wished she could go home after school and ride Bandera like she used to in Kentucky and as she probably still could if she were up north at El Cid. Maybe if things hadn’t improved by Christmas she would suggest it. She would be sad to leave Mateo, but maybe he could come along. And if he couldn’t, she would write letters. It would be hard, but she would force herself to do it.

With a sigh, Sophie scanned the room again as if some interesting diversion might have appeared in the last few minutes. But no, the place was just as boring as ever, and her only options were to help out in the store or do her homework until her father was finished with whatever errands he was up to in town today. Well, Sophie had never been afraid of a little work, and it sure beat studying. She pushed open the door and went to find Norma.