Page 65 of Pride High 2: Orange

“No!” Omar said before shooting a self-conscious glance at Silvia. “I mean, you don’t really have to. But it is nice to show people how much you love them. So uh… What do you want this year?”

“I already have everything,” Mamani said. Then she peered at the nearest window. “Although I wouldn’t mind a trip to Hawaii. I already feel the winter in my bones.” Her head pivoted toward Silvia. “The cold makes it difficult for me to walk. Especially outside, where I am likely to slip.”

Omar grimaced. “So the only thing on your Christmas list is an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii?”

“It’s either that or skis for my wheelchair,” Mamani replied.

Omar sighed. “Ireallyneed to find a job.”

“Your grandmother already has everything her heart desires,” Mamani said. “If you want to give me something, think before you act. That would make me happy.” She addressed Silvia again. “And please be careful when driving my grandson around. He can be distracting.”

“Because I’m so handsome?” Omar asked.

“Because of your mouth! Although the older you get, the more you remind me of your grandfather. In appearance. Not so much in maturity.”

“Thanks, Mamani,” Omar said with an eyeroll. But he smiled again when she told them to have fun and left the entryway.

“I really like her,” Silvia said.

“She’s rad,” her boyfriend replied before his eyebrows shot up. “Hey, let’s go up to my room real quick. I wanna show you something.”

“Like I told you at the record store—” Silvia began.

“Notthat,” Omar said with a chuckle. “Although the offer stands. This is even better. Come on. I need to grab my jacket anyway.”

She followed him upstairs to his room, checking out his butt along the way, if only to test her attraction to him. The results were inconclusive. She’d noticed butts on guys before but never had much use for them. The excitement in his eyes as he chatted about something he’d recorded recently was much more endearing.

“I really hope you like it,” Omar said while fussing with the TV and VCR. He dragged the director-style canvas chairs close together, and after she sat in one, plopped down next to her. Then he pointed the remote. “This is my family history,” he said before pushing a button.

Mamani appeared on the screen, seated at the dining room table. Anthony was the interviewer. The sound of his voice failed to make her skin tingle, Silvia noted with relief. She set these thoughts aside to focus on the video. Soon she leaned forward, nodding when Omar asked if he should turn up the volume, even though she could hear it just fine. She was transfixed!

Anthony asked the same questions that she sometimes put to her mom and dad, but the answers were never so detailed. Silvia’s parents didn’t want her to worry about such things. Or they felt she couldn’t handle the details. Either way, Mamani’s testimony provided an insight into how they must have felt before choosing to leave Mexico for a new life. Silvia made a strangling noise when the screen faded to black, not wanting the video to end.

“What do you think?” Omar asked as he hit the stop button.

“I want to give Mamani a hug before we leave,” Silvia replied.

“She’d love that. What about the video?”

Silvia turned to face him so he could see the sincerity in her eyes. “It’s the best thing you’ve ever filmed.”

“Wow, really?”

She nodded. “I mean the content. You always make nice videos. But this one means something to me on a personal level.”

“Oh right,” Omar said. “Your parents must have a similar story, huh?”

“They do,” Silvia said before hesitating. “Are you proud of your grandparents?”

“Hell yeah!” Omar said, getting up to poke at the VCR. “I’ve always known that they’re from a different country, but I never really thought about what that meant. Like how they had to say goodbye to everyone and give up everything they knew—even the language they spoke—just to come here.”

“And what if your grandpa hadn’t gotten the scholarship?” Her mouth felt dry but she forced herself to press on. “What if Mamani and Ashraf had decided to come here anyway, even though they didn’t have permission?”

“Like if they had stowed away on a ship or something?” Omar asked. His face was scrunched-up as he stood and turned around. Then he grinned. “That would be even cooler!”

“I’m serious,” Silvia stressed.

“So am I. They were in love! How freaking romantic would it be to run away together? Hey, were your parents crazy for each other before they came here? Did one of them get a scholarship or did they just hightail it across the border?” The grin slid off his face before he blinked. Then he looked at Silvia as if seeing her clearly for the first time. “Holy shit,” he breathed. “Isthatwhy?”