The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La Señora Asna Se Enfrenta A La Llorona y Otros Cuentos by Xavier Garza

Also by Xavier Garza
Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys

Kid Cyclone Fights the Devil and Other Stories /
Kid Cicln se enfrenta a El Diablo y otras historias
Juan and the Chupacabras / Juan y el Chupacabras
Zulema and the Witch Owl / Zulema y la Bruja Lechuza
PIATA BOOKS
ARTE PBLICO PRESS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
This volume is made possible through grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. We are grateful for their
support.
Piata Books are full of surprises!
Arte Pblico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Fwy, Bldg 19, Rm 100
Houston, Texas 77204-2004
Art by Xavier Garza
Cover design by Giovanni Mora
Garza, Xavier.
[Short stories. Selections]
The Donkey Lady fights La Llorona and other scary stories /
by Xavier Garza ; Spanish translation by Maira E. Alvarez =
La Seora Asno se enfrenta a La Llorona y otros cuentos / por
Xavier Garza ; traduccin al espaol de Maira E. Alvarez.
p.cm.
ISBN 978-1-55885-816-9 (alk. paper)
1. Horror tales, American. 2. Short stories, American.
[1. Horror stories. 2. Short stories. 3. Hispanic Americans
Fiction. 4. Spanish language materialsBilingual.]I. Alvarez,
Maira E., translator.II. Title.III. Title: Seora Asno se enfrenta a
La Llorona y otros cuentos.
PZ73.G3678 2015
[Fic]dc23
2015028680
CIP
The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the

American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
2015 by Xavier Garza
Printed in the United States of America

United Graphics, Inc., Mattoon, IL
September 2015October 2015
10987654321
This book is dedicated to my niece

Allison Rose Sanchez, welcome to the family
Table of Contents
The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona ............... 1
Holes ................................................................. 8
The Gift That Is a Curse ................................. 15
The Egg ........................................................... 25
Grandpa Titos Book ....................................... 31
The Blood-Sucking Beast ............................... 40
Tunnels ............................................................ 45
The Devil Is Making Him Do It ..................... 51
The Money Tree .............................................. 60
The Devil in Mrs. Leals Class ....................... 67
The Selfie ........................................................ 74
Can I Keep Him? ............................................ 80
The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona

Clinging to his every word, we listen to Grandpa Ventura as he begins telling us a story.
I first heard this story when I was but a boy, he says.
Abandoned by her husband for another woman, Mara
went insane with jealousy. In a fit of rage she drowned her
own children in the river to get back at him.
No! screams my cousin Maya. How could she do
something so evil?
After the madness had passed and she realized what
she had done, Mara drowned herself in the very same
river. For her horrible crime, she was cursed to walk the
earth forever as the tormented spirit named . . . La
Llorona!
La Llorona? I ask. Thats Spanish for the Crying
Woman, right?
Thats right, Margarito, he tells me. La Llorona is a
spirit with red eyes that burn like wildfire. Her hair looks
like dancing snakes. They say La Llorona appears near
rivers and creeks, looking for lost children to claim as her
own.
No way, says my cousin Luis.
Thats wild, adds my cousin Daniel.
Xavier Garza
Thats scary, chimes in Maya.

What about you, Margarito? asks Grandpa Ventura.
Do you think La Llorona is scary?
Grandpa Ventura has noticed the incredulous look on
my face. I love Grandpa Venturas stories, I really do. But I
am eleven years old now. I am way past believing in ghosts.
Maybe just a little, I tell Grandpa, not wanting to hurt
his feelings.
Well . . . if you think that La Llorona is scary, would
you believe that there are those who say there is one who
is even scarier than she is?
Who could possibly be scarier than La Llorona? asks
Maya.
Some say that the Donkey Lady is scarier, says Grandpa Ventura.
Whos the Donkey Lady? asks Daniel.
The Donkey Lady is a bruja . . . a witch who lurks
under bridges. They call her Donkey Lady because her
head is that of a horrible donkey and her eyes glow yellow
in the dark.
What does she do? asks Luis.
She steals children as they walk across a bridge. She
jumps out and grabs them!
No! exclaims Maya.
She drags them under the bridge, never to be seen
again! But its getting late, says Grandpa Ventura. You
all best be getting home before it gets too dark.
The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories
All four of us begin walking down the road that will

take us to our homes. Its already getting dark, so were all
in hurry. Luis lives the closest to Grandpas house, so he is
the first one to get home.
Dont let La Llorona get you! he warns us before
waving goodbye and heading inside.
Hes lucky to be home already, says Maya.
Daniel is the second of us to get home. Look out for
the Donkey Lady, he warns us before opening the door.
He even makes hee-hawing sounds like a donkey before
closing the door.
Now just Maya and I are left.
Do you think that La Llorona is real? she asks.
Of course, she isnt real, I tell her. Its just a story.
But Grandpa said the story is real.
Grandpa says all his stories are real, I tell her.
You dont think his stories are all real? asks Maya.
I used to think they were, back when I was a little
kid . . . but not anymore.
Well, I do think Grandpas stories are real.
Well, theyre not.
They are too!
Besides, I tell her, La Llorona isnt even scary.
I think La Llorona is very scary, says Maya.
The Donkey Lady is ten times scarier than the silly little Llorona, I tell her. Only a baby would be scared of her.
You think youre so grown up just because youre
eleven, she says and starts walking faster.
Xavier Garza
When we get to Mayas house I can tell by the look on

her face that she is really mad at me.
I didnt mean it like that.
Yes, you did! she yells at me. You think Im a
baby!
Im sorry, I tell her. I genuinely am. I should have
known better than to make fun of her. She doesnt like
being teased.
Youre not sorry, she tells me. But you will be.
There is something about the tone of her voice that
scares me.
I hope that both La Llorona and the Donkey Lady get
you on the way home, so I never have to see your ugly face
ever again! She runs into her house crying.
Now its just me left standing alone in the dark. I pull a
flashlight out of my pocket. I point it in the direction of the
narrow bridge I have to cross to get to my house. Underneath it runs a river, and its not very deep. My cousin Luis
and I come here hunting for turtles sometimes. Its then that
I remember what Grandpa said about the Donkey Lady
lurking under bridges. Surely he didnt mean this bridge.
Besides, its just a story, right? Slowly, I begin walking
across the bridge. The wooden planks creak underneath my
feet. Halfway across I notice that there is somebody else
walking toward me from the other end of the bridge. As the
figure draws closer, I can see that it is a woman dressed in
white. There is something that doesnt seem right about the
way she is walking. I aim my flashlight at her feet. Its then
that I realize the reason the wooden boards arent creaking

underneath her feet is because she has none! She isnt
walking across the bridge . . . she is floating across it! I
point the flashlight up her face and see red eyes staring
back at me!
La Llorona! I cry out. I turn around and begin running away from her and end up hiding in the water under
the bridge. I can hear La Llorona calling out to me.
Come to me, she tells me. Come to me, child . . .
come to me.
La Llorona is real, and she means to steal me away! I
swim to the middle and submerge myself under the water,
holding my breath so she cant see me. Its then that I
notice a pair of yellow glowing lights swimming toward
me. They draw closer and closer until I realize that those
are not lights. They are eyes . . . eyes that belong to a
woman with a hideous donkey head!
The Donkey Lady! I cry out as I burst out from under
the water.
The Donkey Lady chases me out from under the bridge!
There you are, says La Llorona as she catches sight
of me. She grabs me by my shirt collar and starts pulling
me up into the sky!
No, he is mine! hollers the Donkey Lady as she
crawls out from under the bridge and sees that La Llorona
now has a hold of me. The Donkey Lady leaps into the air
and grabs my right foot and begins to pull me back down
to the ground.
Xavier Garza
I saw him first, says La Llorona as she tugs hard on

my shirt collar.
Finders, keepers . . . losers, weepers, snarls the Donkey Lady.
They pull and they tug at me as if I were a rope in a tugof-war. They pull and they tug, they pull and they tug, until
my shirt collar rips and the Donkey Lady pulls off my right
shoe.
I fall and hit the ground hard.
Thump!
La Llorona and the Donkey Lady begin to circle each
other. Are they really going to fight over who gets to claim
me as their next victim? La Llorona makes the first move
and pushes the Donkey Lady down to the ground. But the
Donkey Lady is quick and jumps right back up. She then
pushes La Llorona back.
La Llorona yells at the Donkey Lady, Aaayyy, mis
hijos!
The Donkey Lady screams right back at La Llorona,
Hee-haw . . . hee-haw!
The Donkey Lady then grabs La Llorona by her wild
hair that dances like snakes and tries to pull her under the
bridge! But La Llorona comes right back at her and grabs
her by her long donkey ears. They pull and they tug, they
pull and they tug. They go round and round until they go
up and over the bridge and fall down to the water below!
Splash!
But even in the water they continue to fight! Seeing my

chance to get away from both of them, I take off running as
fast as my feet can carry me. I dont even bother to look
back . . . not even once. I run across that bridge faster than
a roadrunner ever could. I dont stop running until I reach
the safety of my house . . . and lock the door.
Holes
Your dog has dug holes in my yard again, says Mom.
You need to go clean up the mess he made, right now.
Can it wait till after the football game is over? I ask
her.
Now, she insists.
I turn to look at my dad, hoping that hell run interception on my behalf.
Dont look at me, Joe, he tells me. Kennys your
dog.
Kenny is our dog, I correct him. We both went to the
shelter to get a dog, remember?
I wanted to get a real dog, he tells me.
Kennys a real dog.
Hes a wiener dog, he reminds me. People think
twice about entering your yard when they see a real dog on
the prowl. When they see Kenny, all they see is a walking
hot dog.
One of these days that dog of yours is finally going to
go too far, Joe, warns my mother as she holds up the tattered remains of what had once been red roses. When that
day comes, hes going right back to the shelter!
Fine, I tell her. Ill go and clean it up right now.

You better find a way to control that dog, she warns
me. Why is he digging holes all over my yard, anyway?
Because digging holes is what dogs do, says Dad
with a chuckle. Its like in their DNA or something.
I walk over to the backyard and find Kenny digging yet
another hole.
Hey, cut that out! I yell at him. Youre in enough
trouble as it is already.
He looks up at me and whimpers.
I count seven holes in the backyard. Why are you digging holes all over the place, Kenny?
Kennys ears suddenly perk up, and he starts sniffing
around on the ground. He makes his way to a shed where
my dad keeps the lawn mower.
Stop that! I yell at him when he suddenly starts digging again. What is wrong with you, boy?
Kenny whimpers a bit, but refuses to stop.
I said stop it!
I scoop him up and carry him over to the dog kennel we
bought for him last week. I lock him up inside and start
cleaning up the mess hes made of the yard.
Kenny, what am I going to do with you? Why are you
digging everywhere?
Maybe hes is looking for something, says Dad,
standing at the door.
But what? I ask him. I look over at Kenny, who is
staring at us pitifully from inside the dog kennel.
10
Xavier Garza
Beats me, says Dad. But just look at him, the way
hes just sitting there looking out at the yard. Hes definitely looking for something.
But what, I wonder? I havent got the slightest idea.
Whatever it is, you best figure it out soon, son, says
Dad. Your mom has just about had it with Kenny. If you
dont control that dog soon, she just might make good on
her threat to take him back to the shelter.
Can I keep Kenny inside the house tonight? I ask.
Dad scowls at the idea. Can you make sure he stays off
my couch?
No problem, I tell him.
Then fine. But you best make sure I dont find one single strand of dog hair on my couch, okay?
You got it, Dad.
Later that night I grab some blankets and pillows from
my room and set up camp in the living room.
Time to sleep, I tell Kenny, who is sitting by the sliding door, staring out at the yard. Dont even think about it,
boy, I warn him.
He gives a low whimper before he walks over and lies
down next to me on the floor. I doze off quickly, but the
sound of Kenny scratching at the sliding door wakes me
up. I turn to look at the digital clock display on the DVD
player.
Its five-thirty in the morning, Kenny, I tell him.
11
Groggily, I walk over to the sliding door, thinking that

he probably needs to go pee or something. Make it quick,
I tell him as I start to unlock the sliding door.
What in the world?
Moms yard is completely trashed! There are holes
everywhere! Whats going on? As soon as I open the sliding door, Kenny takes off and starts digging in the yard.
Im about to yell at him to stop, when I hear Kenny
snap his jaws onto something.
Eeekkk! A shriek comes from inside the hole.
I rush over and cant believe what Im seeing. There,
inside the hole, is what looks like a green finger!
What did that dog do to my yard? yells Mom. Both
she and Dad are standing by the sliding door.
I thought you said you were keeping him inside! says
Dad.
Theres something under our yard, I tell them. Look
at what Kenny pulled out from one of the holes. I hold the
green finger up for them to see.
What is that? asks Mom.
Ay!! Another shriek!
Kenny begins pulling something green from one of the
holes.
What is that? asks Mom.
Kenny begins barking at the green creature that is slowly rising up to its feet. Bald and green-skinned, with pointed ears, it stares back at us with red eyes. It hisses at Kenny
and then gives out another loud shriek.
13
Eeeekkk!
Dad runs over to the garden shed and grabs a shovel. He
swings it at the creature and sends it flying across the yard.
Its either dead or out cold. Its an ugly little bugger.
Look at that long pointed nose, and its covered in warts,
says Dad as he pokes it with the shovel.
Is it a duende? I ask Dad. Grandma used to tell me
stories about green-skinned creatures with red eyes known
for causing all kinds of mischief. She called them duendes.
I dont know what it is, says Dad. But its this thing
that has been messing up your garden, he tells Mom.
Kenny is innocent.
Hiss . . . hiss . . . hiss . . .
Suddenly there are hissing sounds all around us. We
watch as one . . . two . . . three . . . four of those hideous
creatures begin crawling out from the ground.
Get behind me, says Dad.
Kenny starts growling at the creatures that have now
begun to surround us. They bare their tiny but sharp-looking teeth at us. More creatures begin to emerge from underground. There are now five . . . six . . . seven . . . eight of
those things surrounding us. They raise their claws up in
the air as if ready to strike. Thats when Kenny starts to
howl.
Arooo!
Arooo!
Arooo!
14
Xavier Garza
It is a loud and piercing howl! What is Kenny doing?

Suddenly the neighbors pet terrier begins to bark. Our
other neighbors dog, a basset hound, begins to bark, too.
Is Kenny calling for help? The green creatures now look
scared. They make a hasty retreat and disappear back into
the holes in the yard. Even the one Dad had smacked with
the shovel is gone.
Kenny saved us, I tell Mom. He saved all of us.
The Gift That Is a Curse

How in the world did I get so lucky? I ask myself as
I take one last look in the mirror. Im going to the eighthgrade dance with the prettiest girl in junior high. Just being
seen in the same room with Terry is going to give me
instant popularity points.
I dont think you should go, says my sister Sabrina,
who doesnt share the thrill of my newfound good fortune.
I have a bad feeling about this.
You always have a bad feeling about everything, I tell
her. Its true. If I were to listen to my sister, I would be even
more of an outcast at school than she is.
All that I am saying is that I have a bad feeling about
this.
Dont even start, I tell her.
Start what?
This whole thing about you having a bad feeling. Just
stop it already. How many times have we had to move in
the last three years because of you and your so-called bad
feelings?
In the last three years we have gone to schools in
Louisiana, California and Florida. Im tired of having to
15
16
Xavier Garza
move just because something happens and Mom gets

scared that people will find out what you can do. For once,
I want to stay in one place long enough to make friends.
But Trino, says Sabrina, when have I ever been
wrong?
I dont want to hear this. I know that her feelings tend
to be right on target. But this one time I dont want them to
be. This is going to be my night, I tell her. I wont let
you ruin it for me.
I dont want to ruin anything for you. But you know
that I am clairvoyant.
Theres that big, weird word that she likes to throw
around so much. It means that she can see things before
they happen. She calls them visions. I call them a pain in
the butt.
You know that Im right, Trino.
Why? Is it because youre like Mom? Because youre
like Grandma used to be? Because you are a . . .
. . . a witch, she tells me, finishing the sentence for
me. Is that what you were going to say?
I was actually going to say different.
That, of course, is a lie. I was going to say a witch. My
sister is a witch. There, I said it. Shes a witch. A real one.
It isnt something that she sought or wanted. You could say
that its more of a family tradition. All the women in my
family have been witches. Some have been good witches
who used their powers to help others. Some have not been
so good and have used that power to inflict pain and suf-
17
fering on others. Our grandmother was a good witch. My

mother is one too. They all have the gift . . . or curse,
depending on how you want to look at it.
Why are you ruining this for me? I ask Sabrina.
Why is it so hard for you to believe that Terry might actually be interested in me?
Its not Terry that Im worried about, she tells me. I
like her . . . she has always been nice to me. Its Roy that
Im really worried about.
Roy is Terrys ex-boyfriend. Hes a sophomore in high
school and is nothing but bad news.
They broke up, I tell Sabrina.
Are you sure?
Im sure. She broke up with him two months ago.
But what if Roy finds out youre at the dance with
her?
Im not scared of Roy. Well . . . maybe I am, a little.
Hes nearly twice your size.
Really? I ask her, doing my best tough guy voice. I
hadnt even noticed.
I dont want to see you get hurt.
I know youre worried about me. But you really have
to chill out, sister. Im a big boy now. You dont have to
protect me like when we were kids. My sister is two minutes older than me. Thats it . . . just two minutes. Even so,
she has always seen herself as my protector.
Fine, she concedes. Youre right. I do worry too
much.
18
Xavier Garza
Its okay, sis. You wouldnt be you if you didnt. Will

you be working the popcorn booth for the library?
Yes, she says.
I already knew she would. Sabrina practically lives in
the library. She loves to read. Her dream is to one day
become a writer . . . which I have to admit would be pretty cool.
Youre such a nerd, I kid her.
Hey, its not a crime to like books.
***
When we get to school, my sister and I make our way
to the cafeteria that tonight will serve as a dance hall. When
I see Terry and her friends, I tell my sister that Ill catch her
later.
Be careful, she warns me.
You said you would let it go, I remind her.
Hi, Trino, says Terry when she sees me walking
towards her.
You look beautiful, Terry, I tell her.
You look pretty dashing yourself. These are my
friends: Marissa, Sarah and Julie.
Julie just rolls her eyes at me. Shes Roys younger sister. Charmed, she says, unable to hide her disdain for me.
Nice to meet you all, I tell them.
Youre right, Terry, says Sarah. He is kind of cute.
19
Cute . . . like a puppy, says Julie sarcastically. The

tone in her voice makes it abundantly clear that she doesnt mean it as a compliment.
Your Sabrinas kid brother, right? asks Julie. They
say that your sisters a witch.
Shes not a witch. Those are just stupid stories, okay?
Thats not what I heard, says Julie, refusing to drop
the subject. I heard that she can cast spells and stuff.
Here we go. Theres no escaping my sister Sabrinas
reputation for being weird.
She doesnt cast spells, I tell her. Shes just a normal
girl.
I wouldnt exactly call your sister normal, says Julie,
smiling.
Whats that supposed to mean? asks Terry. Sabrina
has always been nice to me.
Cmon, Terry, says Julie, admit it. She is weird.
She is not weird, I tell her coldly. Sabrina and I may
argue, but I am not about to let Julie make fun of her. She
is, after all, my sister.
Im not saying it to be mean or anything, says Julie.
Its just that . . . why does she always dress so weird?
Weird? My sister doesnt dress weird.
Shes always wearing black, like somebody died,
says Julie. Plus she has no friends. All she ever does is
read.
20
Xavier Garza
Its not a crime to read, I snap back. Given the fact

that Julie is failing reading class, it sure wouldnt hurt her
to pick up a book once in a while.
Sensing the tension in the air, Terry grabs me by the
arm. Lets go get some fresh air, Trino.
Your friend Julie isnt very nice, I say as we leave the
other two behind.
She isnt always like that. Julie is just acting that way
because I broke up with her brother.
I heard he still comes looking for you after school.
He does, she tells me. But I dont talk to him. Truth
is, he scares me now.
Scares you?
Roy can be super jealous. Its like he thinks he owns
me or something. I had wanted to break up with him for a
very long time, but I was just too scared to do it.
Tired from dancing already? we suddenly hear a
voice ask. Its Sabrina.
I didnt mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, she
says. I just stepped out to take a break.
Serving popcorn getting to rough for you, sis? I ask
Sabrina. I know she is checking up on me.
Hi, Sabrina, says Terry.
Hi, Terry, she answers while placing her hand on my
left shoulder. I hope my brother here is being nice to you.
Hes being a perfect gentleman, says Terry.
Trino, a gentleman? questions Sabrina. Trust me,
Terry, you just dont know him like I do.
21
Dont you have some popcorn to go serve? I tell her.

Fine, says Sabrina, Ill go ahead and leave you two
alone.
Nice seeing you, says Terry. We should hang out
some time.
Sounds like fun, my sister Sabrina calls back as she
goes back into the cafeteria.
Youre sister is so nice, Trino, Terry says and leans
over and hugs me.
Get away from my girl! I hear a voice scream at me.
I turn around just in time to see a fist coming right at my
face.
Pow!
The unexpected blow knocks me down to the ground.
Get off him! I hear Terry scream at Roy.
He punches me again squarely in the face. I try blocking his punch, but Im too groggy from the first punch to
put up much of a fight. Terry grabs Roy by the hair and
tries to pull him off me, but he just shoves her away. I manage to stand back up, but Roy kicks me hard in the gut.
Get off my brother! I hear Sabrina scream as she
jumps at Roys back and reaches around to squeeze his
stomach with both her hands. Whatever it is that she is
doing to Roy makes him pull away from her in pain. He
turns and runs away.
Are you okay? I ask Terry.
Im fine, says Terry. Is your sister okay?
My sister is sitting on the ground catching her breath.
22
Xavier Garza
Did he hurt you? I ask Sabrina.

I want to go home, she tells me.
Once were home, I ask my sister what she did to Roy.
***
I dont know. I just remember seeing that he was hurting you. He got me so mad, Trino . . . I just wanted to hurt
him so bad! All I remember is grabbing his stomach and
then my mind just went blank. I dont even know what I
did to him. I lost control, Trino, I lost control!
Its never a good thing when my sister loses control of
her powers.
The next day at school everybody is talking about the
big fight I had with Roy. Not that it was much of a fight. I
was the one getting pounded. But to hear people talk, I
cleaned Roys clock! Im about to open my locker when
Terry shows up.
What did your sister do to Roy?
What do you mean? I ask.
You havent heard?
Heard what?
Its Roy . . .
What about Roy?
Julie said that they had to take him to the doctor last
night.
What happened?
He kept saying that his stomach hurt.
24
Xavier Garza
So?
Roy is dead!
Dead?!! What do you mean hes dead?
When they got him to the hospital, the doctors didnt
know what was wrong with him. So they took X-rays of his
stomach. The doctors couldnt believe what they found . . .
What?
They found snakes!
Snakes? I repeat in disbelief. He had snakes in his
stomach?
Yes, says Terry. He had snakes in his stomach. His
intestines had turned into snakes!
But how can that be? I ask her as I try to touch her
arm. But Terry pushes me away.
You lied to me, she tells me. Julie was right about
your sister. Shes a witch. She did this to Roy!
Terry is terrified of me. I can see it in her eyes.
Shes a witch . . . shes a witch, Terry says again and
again as if shes losing her mind!
Even as I watch her run away from me I already know
that come tomorrow morning, my sister and I will both be
headed to another school in another city.
The Egg
You say you found it in the cave behind our house? I
ask Dillon.
Covered in leaves and branches, he adds. Its as if
someone had been trying to hide it, Mateo.
What do you think it is? I ask Dillon. It looks like
some kind of . . .
Like some kind of egg, he tells me, cutting me off
before I get a chance to finish my sentence.
Yes, I say, it does look just like an egg. But its so
big. The egg is the size of a basketball. What kind of a
bird would lay an egg that big?
An ostrich, maybe . . .
What would an ostrich be doing in the cave behind our
house? I ask.
I may not know what kind of egg it is, says Dillon,
but I know that it can do stuff.
What kind of stuff?
Weird stuff.
Like what?
25
27
Just watch. Dillon reaches slowly for the egg with his
fingers, and little sparks of electricity erupt in the space
between his fingertips and the egg.
How did you get it to do that?
I didnt, he tells me. The egg did it on its own.
What kind of an egg can do that?
Maybe . . . and this is just an idea . . . Im not saying
that it is one . . . but maybe this egg belongs to a thunderbird.
A thunderbird? I repeat. But those are just tales.
Are you so sure? asks Dillon. Dad used to tell us stories of how people reported seeing thunderbirds all the
time. Dad said that whenever clouds got dark and thunderstorms came out of nowhere, it was a sign that a thunderbird was near.
Theres no scientific proof that thunderbirds are real,
I scoff.
Then how do you explain this egg and what it can do?
I cant explain it, but there has to be a rational explanation.
Im taking it home, says Dillon.
You cant take it home.
Its my egg. I found it.
But you cant take it home.
Why not? asks Dillon.
Because Mom wont let you keep it.
Mom wont even know that its there, he tells me.
28
Xavier Garza
She cleans our room every day, I remind him. Shell

find it.
She wont if I keep it in the tree house outside. Mom
never goes up there.
I guess that idea can work, I say.
Mom is too scared of heights to ever climb up the ladder to the tree house.
So how do we carry it home?
Like this, he tells me as he empties out his backpack.
Now place my books in your backpack, and Ill use mine
to carry the egg.
Once home, we climb up with it to the tree house.
Do you really think its a thunderbird? I ask Dillon.
Youre the smart one, Mateo. You tell me what else
could it be?
Dillon had me there.
Rumble . . .
Is that thunder? asks Dillon.
We both look out the window from our tree house and
see flashes of lightning begin to dance across the sky.
Looks like it is, I say.
You boys need to come down and get inside the
house! our mother says calling up to us from below.
Coming, Mom! I call down.
Rumble . . . rumble . . . screech . . .
What was that? asks Dillon.
Thunder, I answer.
Thunder doesnt go, Screech.
29
Dillon has a point. Those shrieking sounds were unlike

anything I had ever heard before.
Screech! There it is again.
Look up at the sky, says Dillon. What is that?
In the midst of the lightning and dark clouds there is a
figure flying thats the size of a small pickup truck. The
giant pterodactyl-like figure becomes visible every time
electricity is discharged from its grey wings!
Thats a dinosaur! exclaims Dillon. Is . . . is that
what you think is in this egg?
I . . . I . . . I dont know . . .
Come down right now! we hear our mother calling up
to us again.
Its going to get Mom, says Dillon. She hasnt even
noticed the thunderbird flying in the sky.
It wants the egg in your backpack, I blurt out.
Dillon reaches into his backpack and pulls the egg out.
Thats when the egg begins to crack in his hands.
Its hatching, Dillon says as he puts it down on the
floor. We watch as a grey-skinned bird-like creature
emerges from the egg. It waddles around for a moment, but
then opens its wings far and wide. It rears its head up and
gives off a high-pitched shriek. The newly hatched thunderbird begins to flap its wings awkwardly, but with each
flap it seems to grow stronger and stronger, until sparks of
electricity erupt and it takes flight. We watch as it flies up
into the sky to join its mother. Then from the tree house we
see the two creatures fly away.
30
Xavier Garza
I told you boys to get down right now! says our mother, who doesnt have a clue as to what has just transpired.
Coming, Mom! we answer in unison as we begin to
make our way down from the tree house.
As far as our mother is concerned, this has been nothing more than a passing storm that disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. But Dillon and I both know better.
Grandpa Titos Book

The book is mine, Guadalupe, declares the blondhaired woman with eyes that seem as colorless as the
moon.
You cant have it, my mother, Guadalupe, tells her.
You know I am the oldest, Guadalupe. The book
belongs to me!
That doesnt mean anything! argues my mother.
Whats going on, Mom? I ask as I make my way
down the stairs. Who is this woman . . . and why is she
upsetting my mother?
Nothing, says my mom. Go back upstairs and go to
bed.
Where are your manners, Guadalupe? questions the
blond-haired woman. Are you not going to introduce me
to your lovely young daughter . . . and handsome young
son, too? she adds, turning her eyes toward my little
brother Milagro, who is standing at the top of the staircase.
He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. Milagro was born mute.
Who is this woman?
31
32
Xavier Garza
Who am I? asks the strange woman. You mean to

tell me your mother has never told you about me?
The pencil-thin smile that forms on the womans pale
lips scares me. She steps toward me and reaches her hand
out to touch me, but my little brother Milagro quickly runs
down the stairs and pushes her away.
No, Milagro, I tell him.
Look at you, says the woman, staring at Milagro.
Barely a child, and already you are as brave as your
Grandpa Tito used to be.
Grandpa Tito? Did she just mention Grandpa Tito?
Milagros eyes glare at the woman menacingly.
Those eyes, says the strange woman, I remember
those disapproving eyes so well. You have your grandfathers eyes.
Its time for you to go, my mother tells the woman
sternly.
Leave? But I barely got here, and I am not leaving
without my book.
Our mother reaches for a salt shaker on the kitchen
table and walks with it toward the unwanted visitor. For
some reason the sight of the salt shaker in our mothers
hand seems to startle the woman.
You should have done this the easy way, Guadalupe,
she warns our mother as she begins to make her way
toward the door. I want that book. I will have that book!
And with those words she is gone out the door.
33
Who was that woman, and what does her being here
have to do with Grandpa Tito? Whats going on, Mother?
Get Milagro to bed, she tells me. Well talk then.
After I get Milagro tucked in, I make my way back
down the stairs and find Mom sitting at the kitchen table.
Shes reading from a leather-bound black book.
Is that one of Grandpa Titos books? I ask her.
It is.
Is that what the weird lady wants?
No . . . not this book. What Anastasia wants is your
grandfathers special book.
Is that her name, Anastasia?
Yes, Anastasia is my sister.
You never told me you had a sister.
Growing up, we were as close as two sisters could ever
be . . . but everything changed after she tried to steal your
Grandpa Titos book.
Why did she do that?
Because she was impatient, she explains. She was
the oldest, and the book would have been hers eventually.
But your Grandpa Tito didnt think she was ready.
When you say that the book is special, what exactly do
you mean by that?
Whatever you write in the book becomes real.
Whatever you write in the book becomes real?
Those words reminded me of a time I was sitting on
Grandpa Titos lap at the kitchen table as he was writing in
an old book. I remember him telling me that he had some-
34
Xavier Garza
thing to show me. He opened my left hand and placed a

big, fat, hairy caterpillar in it.
Yuck . . . I remember how much it had grossed me out
at the time. He then made me close my hand so tight around
it that I could feel the worm squirming. What happened next
shocked me. He told me to open my hand, and to my surprise the caterpillar had turned into a chrysalis . . . a cocoon.
How did you do that? I asked him. He didnt answer,
but only smiled and told me to close my hand again.
Open it now, he ordered.
When I did, a beautiful butterfly flew out.
How did you do that? I asked him in total amazement.
Because I wrote it in my special book, he confided.
Whatever I write in this book becomes real.
You said that Anastasia tried to steal Grandpa Titos
book? I ask mom. But she obviously failed to get it.
Well, Anastasia did get her hands on it for a while and
gave herself the ability to do magic.
What did Grandpa Tito do when he found out what she
had done?
He confronted her and took the book back, but when
he tried to strip Anastasia of her powers, she turned herself
into a giant owl and flew away.
Why didnt Grandpa just change the story and take her
powers away?
Because you are not allowed to change what somebody else has written in the book. Before he died, Grandpa
36
Xavier Garza
buried the book and told nobody where he had hidden it.
He knew Anastasia would be too scared of him to come
back for the book while he was still alive.
But now that hes dead, screams Anastasia from outside the house, I have nothing to fear!
Shes come back, says Mom. Go upstairs and stay
with Milagro. I want you both to hide.
You cant go out there and face her alone, Mom . . .
shell kill you.
Do as I tell you! she yells at me.
I run up the stairs to check on Milagro, but his bed is
empty.
Milagro! I cry out. Where are you, Milagro?
You dont know how powerful I have become, I hear
Anastasia warn my mother.
I rush over to the window.
I am more powerful today than anybody could have
ever imagined.
I watch in horror as Anastasias body begins to change
right before my eyes. Her hands turn into talons, and wings
begins to emerge from her back.
My God! I cry out. Shes transforming herself into a
giant owl!
The book is mine! she hisses at my mother. Give it
to me!
Thats when I see Milagro running in the distance.
Where is he going? Anastasia lunges at my mother, and
Mom throws a fist full of salt up into the air. Some of the
37
salt falls on Anastasias back, and it makes her hiss out in

pain. The monster then reaches for my mother with its
talons, but Mom manages to move out of its way just in the
nick of time!
I grab my brothers baseball bat and rush down the
stairs to help her.
Stay away from my mother! I scream. As Anastasia
turns to look at me, I swing at her with my little brothers
baseball bat.
Crack! The impact of the blow sends her falling to the
ground.
You cant have the book! my mother screams back at
Anastasia.
Just then a rock hits the back of Anastasias head. Its
Milagro! Hes holding a shovel in one hand and a burlap
sack in the other. He reaches into it and pulls out . . . Grandpa Titos book!
The book! shrieks Anastasia. Give it to me!
Anastasia begins to flap her wings and flies toward
Milagro. I scream for him to run, but Milagro just stands
there holding the book in his hands.
Give me the book, demands Anastasia as she gets
closer and closer to Milagro.
Why wont he run? Its then that Milagro produces a
red crayon from his back pocket and opens the book. He
begins writing in it.
ANASTASIA! a voice suddenly screams.
38
Xavier Garza
ANASTASIA! the voice screams again. There is

something very familiar about that voice.
Its coming from the woods, I tell Mom.
ANASTASIA! the voice screams a third time.
It cant be! shrieks Anastasia. It cant be!
From the woods emerges the walking corpse of Grandpa Tito!
ANASTASIA! he cries out again. His voice is like
thunder. COME TO ME, ANASTASIA! he cries out.
COME TO ME!
Anastasia is terrified! She tries to escape by taking
flight, but Grandpa Tito raises his decaying right hand up
into the air and cries out, STAY!
Anastasia then falls down to the ground, seemingly
frozen in place.
Let me go! screams Anastasia, but Grandpa Tito
grabs her and drags her shrieking and screaming back into
the woods.
They both disappear from sight.
Are they gone? I ask Mom.
I think so, she answers.
Grandpa Tito saved us.
It wasnt Grandpa Tito who saved us, says Mom. It
was Milagro. She points to my brother Milagro, who has
finished writing in Grandpa Titos book and is now closing
it. Milagro used the book to bring back the one person
whom Anastasia was afraid of.
39
But how did you know where Grandpa Titos book

was hidden? I ask him.
Milagro answers me by signing with his hands.
Before Grandpa Tito died, he told me where he had
buried the book. He said that if anybody could keep a
secret it was me.
Milagro opens up Grandpa Titos book and points to the
first page. We instantly recognize the handwriting as
belonging to Grandpa Tito. Written on the first page of
Grandpa Titos book is the following message:
This book belongs to Milagro.
The Blood-Sucking Beast

Cmon, you darn dog . . . go to sleep, I whisper to
myself as I sit perched in a tree in the woods.
The night is getting cold, and I didnt bring my coat, but
I am not going home without first sneaking up to my girlfriend Sallys window for a late-night kiss. The trick is to
do it without her father finding out. Sally has warned me
not to try it.
Dont do it, Victor, she said. You know that my father
is the best sharpshooter in town.
Its true. Her old man has won the county fair marksmanship tournament for the last five years running. Even
those slick city folks who show up every year with their
fancy guns and laser scopes cant beat him. I know its
crazy for me to be taking such a risk. But it will all be
worth if I get to kiss the lips of my beautiful Sally.
Standing in the way of my late-night amorous rendezvous, however, is not only her dad, but a mangy old
hound dog named Chip. Im afraid the dog will hear me as
I creep up to Sallys window. If he starts howling and
wakes up her dad, Ill be one dead kid. So instead, I sit here
40
41
up in this tree waiting for the right moment to make my

move.
I wait . . . and I wait . . . and I wait. But that darn old
Chip never moves from his post. Im just about ready to
give it all up and head home when I see old Chips ears
perk up. The hound dog gives out a low growl and begins
to make his way toward the woods in my direction.
Did he see me? I wonder, but old Chip walks right past
me, still growling. What great luck! I jump down from the
tree and begin my sprint toward Sallys window. Im about
to tap on her window to let her know that I am here when
I hear the most horrendous shriek coming from the woods.
Greeehhhh!
That loud shriek is followed by the sound of a loud
yelp.
Whats going on out there? I hear Sallys dad call out
from his bedroom window.
I beat a hasty retreat toward the woods and hide behind
a bush. Sallys dad steps out from the front door with a shotgun in his hands. I try to sneak away but end up tripping
over something and fall down hard on my shoulder. As I
look around I realize that Ive tripped over poor old Chip,
who is lying on his side. Chip is as dead as a doornail! There
are two large puncture wounds on the dogs neck. Its as if
someone . . . or something . . . has sucked him dry! Instantly I am reminded of the stories Grandma Maya told me back
when I was child, about a creature she called the BloodSucking Beast. Why any grandmother would think it wise to
42
Xavier Garza
fill a childs brain with stories of a vicious green-skinned

monster that preys upon unsuspecting victims by draining
every single drop of blood in their bodies is a mystery to me.
But she always said the Blood-Sucking Beast was real. That
it stood as tall as a full-grown man and had razor-like claws
that were are as sharp as brand-new steak knives, like the
ones you see on TV. I hear a hissing sound behind my back.
Slowly, I turn to find myself face to face with the very creature from my grandmas stories. Its glowing red eyes stare
into mine. I want to run, I really do. But with every step the
creature takes, I find it harder and harder to move. Its as if
the creatures red eyes have some kind of mind control
power over me thats keep me from running. The creature
gets closer and closer until it is so close that the drool dripping from monsters mouth falls on my sneakers.
Bang! Bang! The sudden sound of gunfire breaks the
monsters hypnotic trance on me. The beast gives out a
loud shriek as a bullet finds its mark on his left shoulder.
The monster runs away and disappears into the shadows.
Thats when I see Sallys dad running toward me with his
shotgun.
Are you okay, boy? he asks me.
I think so, I whisper, still shaking in fear.
What in the world was that thing? he asks me.
The . . . the . . . the blood . . . the Blood-Sucking
Beast, I mumble with great difficulty.
Youre kidding me. He casts a long look in the direction of where the creature once stood. You mean its real?
44
Xavier Garza
I always figured it to be just a story, he says, scratching his

head. What were you doing out here in the woods, anyway? Dont you have school tomorrow?
What am I going to tell him? I cant very well say I was
here trying to sneak a late-night kiss from his daughter
Sally. I wanted to see if my Grandma Mayas stories about
the Blood-Sucking Beast were real.
Maya? he asks. Well, Ill be . . . that would make
you Big Mikes boy, wouldnt it?
Yes. Everybody calls my dad Big Mike on account of
that hes as big as a pro wrestler.
Your old man and I were best friends back in high
school, he tells me. You shouldnt be out here at night,
especially with that thing . . . whatever it was, lurking
about. Help me drag poor old Chip back home so we can
give him a proper burial. Then we can go inside and call
your folks to come pick you up.
Did he just say go inside his house?
Thats a nasty scratch you got on your shoulder, he
tells me. My daughter Sally fancies herself a bit of a nurse.
She can bandage you right up, if thats okay with you?
Yes, sir, I agree with a smile on my face. Talk about
good luck!
But dont you be making any googly eyes at my
daughter. You hear me?
I wouldnt dream of it, sir. I wouldnt dream of it.
Tunnels
Ouch! I scream as I hit the bottom of the cave. I look
up at the night sky through the hole I fell through after
being chased by one of the wildest and weirdest looking
animals Ive ever seen in my life. I reach into my right
pocket and pull out a small keychain flashlight. Its not
much, but at least I can see whats in front of me now.
Wait a minute, Joe, I tell myself. This isnt a cave.
Its some sort of tunnel. Man-made, judging from the
wooden frame. I look around and find a light switch. I
flick it on. Just how long does this tunnel run? I ask
myself as I stare at the long passageway that is now illuminated in front of me. Drugs, I think to myself. It has to
be. This must be one of those tunnels Ive read about in the
news. Drug cartels use them to transport drugs into the
United States. I need to get out of here and fast. The last
thing I want is for drug dealers to catch me wandering
around in here. But what about that wild animal that chased
me?
I had just wanted to go night fishing in the river behind
my grandfathers house. My mom had told me that I
shouldnt, that it wasnt safe anymore. She said that drug
45
46
Xavier Garza
dealers were using the river to smuggle drugs. What she

didnt know was that running into drug dealers wasnt the
only danger. Apparently, one also has to worry about the
Chupacabras, if that indeed was what I had been chased by
earlier.
Ive heard stories about the Chupacabras. Supposedly
its a green-skinned alien from outer space that feeds on
blood. But if that thing I ran into was the real deal, then the
Chupacabras looks more like an oversized, hairless pitbull.
Not that it made him any less scary. I remember seeing it
one night on a TV show. The footage came courtesy of a
police officers dashboard camera. It showed one of those
Chupacabras creatures trying to get away from the patrol
car. I remember laughing at it back then. I had even told my
dad how fake the creature looked. That it was an obvious
hoax. But the Chupacabras I now know is real.
I make my way down the tunnel, hoping that I will
reach an exit soon. Am I even going in the right direction?
Am I even still in the United States? I could be in Mexico
for all I know. As I make my way through the tunnel, I hear
the sound of footsteps in front of me. I look quickly for a
place to hide, but there really isnt anywhere to do that.
Suddenly a boy, not older than nine, jumps out in front of
me. Hes wearing a tattered T-shirt with the logo of a Mexican soccer team on it. The boy stares at me as if trying to
figure out if I present a threat to him or not. I think hes as
scared of me as I am of him. Could he have ended up in the
tunnels the same way I did? He begins to talk to me in
48
Xavier Garza
Spanish. My own Spanish is a bit rusty, but its good

enough for me to communicate with him. I tell him that my
name is Joe and that I fell through a hole. And thats how I
ended up here. I ask him if the same thing happened to him.
He tells me that his name is Martn and that hes down here
looking for his dog Chato.
Did you find him? I ask in Spanish.
He shakes his head and tells me that he hasnt. I mention to him that we should get out before any drug dealers
show up. He tells me that he knows a way out but refuses
to leave without his dog Chato. He says he isnt afraid of
the drug dealers and that Chato will protect him. I try to
explain to him that a dog isnt going to be much protection
from a gun, but he wont listen to me. I ask him if hell
show me the way out if I help him find Chato. He agrees.
We call out as we make our way down the tunnel.
Chato! Chato!
Maybe he got out already, Martn.
He wouldnt leave without me.
Whos there?! cries out a voice from behind us.
We both turn and see three guys armed with guns coming toward us. The drug dealers!
Martn, we need to hide, I turn to whisper, but hes
already gone.
You there . . . dont move, shouts one of the men. His
gun is pointed in my direction as he makes his way to me.
What are you doing here, kid?
49
I fell, I tell him. I was trying to get away from the

Chupacabras and I fell in a hole.
The Chupacabras?
He turns to look at his two buddies, who are laughing.
Too bad for you, kid, he says as he raises his gun and
points it at my head.
Grrr . . . grrr . . . grrr . . . !
Whats that? asks the guy pointing the gun at my
head. He tells the other two guys to go check it.
Chato, I think to myself. Could it be Martns dog?
As the two guys make their way down the tunnel, the
lights suddenly turn off.
Who turned off the lights? the two guys ask. Their
question is followed by loud and screeching screaming.
Aarghh!
Suddenly the guy standing next to me screams too, and
I feel something knock him down to the ground. The lights
turn back on. Blood is oozing from his mouth. The same
beast that was chasing me earlier is now standing over the
drug dealer. It has ripped his throat out and is now licking
his blood.
Chato! calls out Martn.
I watch as the Chupacabras begins walking toward
Martn. It does so slowly at first, but with each step it takes,
it seems to run faster and faster. I watch as the Chupacabras
leaps at Martn, knocking him down to the ground. The
monster then begins to . . . lick Martns face? The fero-
50
Xavier Garza
cious monster that just moments earlier butchered three

men is now playfully licking Martns face?
Chato . . . Chato, Martn utters, embracing the creature.
This is Chato? The Chupacabras is Chato?
Martn gestures for me to follow him and Chato down
the tunnel. Chato turns and growls at me. But Martn
squeezes his neck and makes him stop. As we make our
way out of the tunnel, Martn points me in the direction of
a Border Patrol watchtower in the distance.
Go, says Martn, smiling. He then gestures for the
Chupacabras to follow him back into the tunnel.
When I make it to the Border Patrol tower, I tell the
agents about the tunnel. I tell them about the drug dealers.
I even tell them about Martn and the Chupacabras. When
they go and check it out, they tell me that they found the
tunnel, as well as the bodies of the three dead men. But
Martn and the Chupacabras . . . they were nowhere to be
seen.
The Devil Is Making Him Do It

What did you call me? asks Mr. Lpez.
I didnt call you anything, Freddie answers, terrified.
He promised his mother this morning that he would not
get into trouble at school today. But it sure looks like Freddie is about to break that promise.
Mr. Lpez eyes Freddie suspiciously.
***
Poor Freddie; he really is trying to be good. But rest
assured that by the time I get done with him, his mother
will get that robocall from school to let her know that little
Freddie has gotten into trouble again. In the past two days,
Ive made him skip classes, talk back to his teachers and
even set off a firecracker in the middle of the hallway . . .
But Ive saved the best for last. Today, I will get Freddie to
start a food fight in the cafeteria. This will not be just any
food fight, mind you, oh no . . . it will be the greatest food
fight in the history of all middle schools! It will be monumental! It will be epic! And today being Enchilada
Wednesday, it will be especially messy! Why am I doing
51
52
Xavier Garza
all these terrible things to Freddie, you ask me? Because

getting people into trouble is what I do. Its what I have
always done since the dawn of time. Who am I, you ask?
You could say that I am the source of inspiration for every
foul and vile deed that has ever taken place on the face of
this earth. I am . . . the Devil! Im not speaking metaphorically here. I mean, I am literally the Devil. The Fallen
Angel, the Prince of Darkness, Gods rival. I truly am evil
incarnate.
***
Go to the office, Freddie, says Mr. Lpez, very much
offended by the bad word he heard directed at him.
The truth is that it was I who uttered that little gem of
an obscenity. Did I mention that I am a very gifted ventriloquist? The counselors will blame Freddies misbehavior
on the recent death of his father, Gilberto. Nice guy, Freddies dad. Former boxer with a killer left cross. He could
have gone pro, but he gave up his shot at boxing glory to
raise his son, and to his credit he never regretted that decision. He also went to church each and every Sunday without fail. I hate those types of people. I mean, would it kill
them to just take a Sunday off every once in a while? Freddy and his dad were close too. It didnt matter how tired he
was from work. His old man always made time for his little boy. Any promise that his old man made was golden,
and Freddie knew it. His old man always kept his word.
53
That is, except for the promise that he would always be

there for him. That he would never leave him. But when
Gilberto died, he left poor Freddie all alone. Freddie understands that his father didnt mean to die. It wasnt his fault
that a drunk driver was on the road on the same night as his
dad was. But Freddie still feels as if his father has abandoned him somehow. Its an irrational thought, of course.
But Freddie is just a kid dealing with the grief of losing his
father. As Freddie sits alone in the principals office waiting for her to arrive, I decide that its time to make myself
known to him.
They are always picking on you, arent they, Freddie?
Who said that? asks Freddie. The look on the boys
face is just plain priceless! The boy must think hes losing
his mind.
I said it, I tell him while still invisible.
The boy jumps out of his chair. Hes terrified!
Who said that?
I slowly begin to materialize in front of him. Im wearing a red T-shirt. My pants hang almost halfway down my
butt. Its silly, I know, and my exposed boxers leave nothing to the imagination. But its what kids seem to like to
wear nowadays, and never let it be said the Devil doesnt
keep a sharp eye on the latest teen fashions.
Freddie wants to scream. I can see it on his face.
I raise my index finger to his lips. Cat got your tongue?
I say to him.
54
Xavier Garza
Just like that, Freddie tries to speak, but no words come

out.
Not the cat, I correct myself. Rather, Ive got your
tongue. I open my hands and show it to him. I just love
freaking people out with that little trick!
Calm down, Freddie, I tell him. I bet youre just
dying to know who I am and how I did that.
Freddie nods his head.
I jump onto the principals desk. Maybe its the artist in
me, but I just love being dramatic like that. I AM THE
DEVIL! I declare.
The boy is truly terrified. I can see it in his eyes. I better tone it down before I make him pee in his pants. Its
happened before.
You dont have to fear me, I tell him. Well, maybe he
should . . . just a little.
I mean you no harm. In my defense, I did cross my
fingers behind my back when I said that.
I am only here to help, I sayor, rather, help myself.
I know you are having difficulties at school, right? I
should know . . . I am causing them!
Freddie nods his head.
What if I told you I could make it all go away? That I
could fix it so nobody could ever hurt you? Would you be
interested?
Freddie doesnt answer. Hes as quiet as a mouse.
Speak up, boy, are you interested or not?
56
Xavier Garza
Silly me, I forgot that I took his tongue. I snap my fingers. Try talking now.
You will make sure nothing bad ever happens to me
again? asks Freddie.
Youve got my word.
How are you going to do that?
Let me show you, I tell him just as the school principal walks into the room. Lets call this a free sample, shall
we?
Whats going on, Freddie? the principal asks him.
Nothing . . .
According to Mr. Lpez, you called him a pretty nasty
word.
But I didnt do it.
The principal, Mrs. Martnez, walks over to her desk.
Freddie notices me standing behind the principals rolling
chair. As she begins to sit down, I pull the chair out from
under her.
Ouch! she shrieks out in pain as she comes down
hard on her tailbone.
Are you okay? Freddie is quick to ask her.
My goodness! screams the principals secretary, who
has come running into the office. What happened?
Get the nurse! cries out Mrs. Martnez in pain.
Freddie is sent back to class. Mrs. Martnez will have
to deal with you later, says the secretary.
See, I tell him. I kept my promises. You didnt get in
trouble.
57
But you hurt her, he snaps back at me. I didnt tell

you to hurt her.
You didnt tell me not to, I remind him.
I dont want to do this, says Freddie. This is wrong.
Just leave me alone.
Leave you alone? You really think its that easy to tell
the Devil no?
You cant make me do anything I dont want to, says
Freddie defiantly.
Its time for me to show this little brat whos really in
charge here.
Youre going to do everything I tell you to, Freddie.
I raise my arms up in the air and wave them up and
down. Much to Freddies surprise, his own arms make the
same movements as mine.
Youre my puppet, I tell him, and Im your puppeteer.
Just then, the bell rings, announcing that its time for
lunch. Its time to get you fed, Freddie, I tell him.
LETS GO EAT!
As I guide Freddie through the lunch line, hes fighting
me every step of the way but is losing badly.
Get the cheesy enchiladas, I tell him. Ask for extra
cheese . . . tons of it. I watch as the cafeteria lady pours a
big spoonful of the gooey yellow stuff.
Its time, Freddie, I whisper to him as he sits down at
one of the cafeteria tables. You are going to grab that plate
58
Xavier Garza
full of enchiladas with extra cheese and fling it across the

room, I demand.
But what if I hit somebody with it?
Thats kind of the idea, you silly boy.
I dont want to do this.
I am the Devil, and you will do what I tell you to do.
What a stubborn little wimp Freddie is turning out to
be. I force him to pick up that plate of cheesy enchiladas. I
watch as he rises to his feet and clutches his lunch tray in
his hands. Hes still hesitant, but he slowly begins to raise
it up into the air.
Thats it, I tell him. Just take careful aim now.
But Freddie just stands there looking like a total fool. I
wont do it, he tells me.
You dont have a choice, I remind him.
Help me! he cries out at the top of his lungs.
Help? I question. Who in the world do you think is
going to come help you?
Thats when I notice that everybody in the cafeteria is
frozen in place. Whats going on? Thats when I see him . . .
Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes. The spirit of Freddies dad is standing in the middle of the lunchroom. He is bathed in a golden light and sporting a halo on his head.
Dad? asks Freddie in disbelief. Is that really you?
Freddie, I whisper to him in a low growl, throw that
plate of enchiladas!
I watch as Freddie places his food tray down on the
table and pushes it away.
59
No! he screams at me defiantly. My daddy taught

me better than to start a food fight in the cafeteria.
I lunge at Freddie, but before I can grab him, I feel my
feet get whacked out from under me by a solid right cross
that knocks me for a loop and sends me reeling to the floor.
I look up and see Freddies old man standing in front of me.
He is now sporting a pair of exaggeratedly large angel
wings. Thats when it hits me. Freddies dad isnt a mere
spirit. Gilberto was such a goody-two-shoes in life that
when he died and went up to heaven, they made him a
guardian angel. Freddies dad is a guardian angel!
Is that really you, Dad? asks Freddie.
Its me, son.
But I thought you had abandoned me.
I will never leave you, son. I am with you . . . even
when you cant see me.
A fathers love for his son, I mutter to myself. It
makes me sick to my stomach.
You win this time, I tell both Freddie and his dad as I
begin to fade away. I may be the Devil, but even I know
better than to pick a fight with a guardian angel. The good
guys may have won today . . . but tomorrow?
The Money Tree

I dont know, Nicols, says my little brother Robert.
Do you really think it will work?
Im positive it will work, I tell him.
Im still not sure, says little Robert again. Hes hesitant to accept my words as being the gospel truth.
Look . . . whos eleven?
You are, he answers.
And you are . . . ?
Im six.
So whos lived longer?
You have.
So whos going to know more about stuff, huh?
You are. Faced with such logic, little Robert begrudgingly gives in. So what am I supposed to do again?
First, you have to dig a hole in the ground that is big
enough for you to bury those four coins of yours.
I hand him a shovel. Little Robert starts digging and in
just a few minutes the hole is ready. I gesture for him to
place the four coins in the hole, but hes still hesitant.
But these are my coins. My godmother Matilda gave
them to me for my birthday.
60
61
You mean your CREEPY godmother Matilda gave

them to you for your birthday?
She is not creepy, says little Robert.
Matilda is creepy. A real weirdo, if you ask me. Shes
an aunt who lives in the house next to us. Five years ago,
she met and married a man named Tello. Everything had
seemed fine at first. They were even little Roberts godparents at his baptism. But after they moved away to Mexico,
people said that Tello began to change. That he drank too
much and that he didnt want to work anymore. He even
became abusive toward Aunt Matilda. He treated her like a
prisoner. She finally gathered the courage to leave him. She
fled to a town called Catemaco . . . the witch capital of
Mexico. There she became involved in magic, tarot cards,
Ouija boards, fortune-telling and the like. Rumors began to
surface that Matilda had become a witch. Tello went looking for her in Catemaco and was never seen again. It was
as if he had disappeared off the face of the earth. Our mom
says that those stories arent true. That they are nasty
rumors spread by ignorant people.
Ta Matilda left Tello because she discovered that he
was lazy and a swindler, Mom said. He was always looking for ways to cheat people out of their money.
Today Aunt Matilda lives in our late grandfathers
house with a pet miniature pig that she named . . . Tello.
After her husband, I assume.
Just put the coins in the hole and get this show on the
road, I tell little Robert.
62
Xavier Garza
But how do I know this isnt one of your tricks?

I am going to explain this just one more time, I say,
rolling my eyes. If we plant these coins in the ground a
money tree will grow.
Are you sure?
Of course, Im sure.
How sure are you?
Look . . . do orange seeds grow into orange trees?
Yes.
And what do they give us?
Oranges, little Robert answers.
Do apple seeds grow into apple trees?
Yes.
And what do they give us?
Apples.
So if we plant these coins in the ground, what kind of
trees do you think will grow?
Money trees? asks little Robert.
And whats going to grow from a money tree?
Money, declares little Robert.
The minute I see that greedy little grin come to his face,
I know I have him. Precisely, I tell him. Well grow a
money tree so large that it will give us thousands of coins.
Well be rich!
Okay, lets do it, little Robert decides and places the
coins in the hole. He then shovels the dirt back into the hole
to cover them up.
63
Now, remember, little Robert, you have to water them

every day . . . or they wont grow.
Yes, sir, he says.
Little Robert taps his feet together and salutes like a
soldier would.
***
Once everyone is asleep, I sneak out of our room and

quietly leave the house through the kitchen door. I make
my way to the back of our house, where little Robert buried
his coins. I start digging for them with my hands until I find
them.
What are you doing out here at night? a voice asks
from behind me, catching me by surprise. I turn and see
Aunt Matilda standing there holding Tello.
Nothing, I quickly tell her, trying to hide the coins
behind my back.
You shouldnt be out here so late at night, Nicols. Its
not safe, you know.
Not safe?
Brujas come out at night, she warns me.
Brujas? I ask her. Whats a bruja?
In English I believe the word would be . . . witches.
I didnt know that.
Did you know that not all witches are evil? she asks
me. Some actually use their powers to help people or to
65
teach them a lesson, if they are conniving little thieves, like

my husband Tello.
At the mention of the name Tello, her pet pig gives out
a loud squeal. Squeal! Squeal!
So tell me, Nicols, do you need to learn a lesson?
No, I tell her. Im good.
Really? Then what are you hiding behind your back?
Nothing . . . I answer. Darn . . . shes on to me! She
knows I took little Roberts coins. What am I going to do?
Just then, the hooting of an owl that is perched in a tree
catches her attention. Taking advantage of her momentary
distraction, I place the coins in my mouth.
Show me your hands, she tells me.
I comply readily and open my hands. She eyes me suspiciously, when suddenly the owl from the tree flies right
at me!
Aaargh! I scream as I trip and fall hard on my back.
The coins . . . the coins are stuck in my throat. Im
choking! I try to cough them out, but end up swallowing
them instead. Gulp!
Are you okay? asks Matilda.
The owl . . . why did it attack me?
Right on cue, my stomach begins to make strange gurgling sounds and starts to hurt. I place my hands on my
stomach and feel something moving inside of it. I want to
scream, but no words are coming out. Something is moving inside my stomach. I can feel it! Something begins to
make its way up my throat. Whats happening to me? I
66
Xavier Garza
open my mouth and see that something is growing out from

inside me. What is that? It looks like . . . it looks like . . .
twigs? Are those twigs I see growing out of my mouth? The
twigs are growing bigger now and starting to sprout leaves!
I want to scream for help, but I cant. Im going to die!
Buds appear on the branches growing out of my mouth and
instantly open up to reveal . . . coins? There is an actual
money tree growing out from inside of me!
Did you learn your lesson? asks Aunt Matilda.
I nod my head yes.
Aunt Matilda reaches out and plucks one of the coins
from the tree branches. The pain is excruciating and makes
me black out.
When I wake up I am lying on the ground on my stomach. I look around, but Aunt Matilda and her pet pig are
gone. Feeling as if something is still stuck in my throat, I
try to cough it out. I cough into my hands until I feel something finally dislodge itself from my throat. I open up my
hands to reveal . . . four coins.
The Devil in Mrs. Leals Class

What in the world are you two doing here? asks Josefina. I didnt know they let nerds into dance class.
Anybody can take dance class, Josefina, I tell her.
Thats right, says my best friend, Angelina. Marta
and I have as much right to be here as anybody else.
The truth is neither one of us wants to be here. But the
school counselor told us that we needed to take a physical
education class as part of our curriculum, so it was either
this or volleyball class. Neither one of us is very athletically gifted, so between getting hit on the head with a volleyball and tripping over our own two feet in dance class . . .
we decided to go with what we viewed as being the lesser
of two evils.
Just dont let anybody know you are my cousin, she
tells me. Its embarrassing enough already to have a nerd
for a cousin. Josefina rolls her eyes as she walks away.
She is so stuck-up, says Angelina.
I know, I tell her.
Its true. Josefina is the most stuck-up girl in school.
Unfortunately, she is also my cousin. Josefina is one of the
most beautiful girls in the entire school. Every guy is drool-
67
68
Xavier Garza
ing over her, and she knows it, too. Josefina likes to make
all the guys compete for her affection. She also likes it
when they fight over her. She especially loves that. She
likes to brag that she can have any guy she wants. Whats
worse is that if she finds out that a guy likes me, shell go
and start flirting with him just to make sure he wont talk
to me. My mom said that she acts that way because she is
jealous of me.
But why would Josefina be jealous of me? I asked my
mom. She is the one who is beautiful.
You are beautiful too, mija, my mom told me. But
you are also smart. Beauty will fade with time, Marta, but
being smart will last forever.
Everybody line up, says Mrs. Leal as she enters the
room. Today we will be learning ballroom dancing.
Do you want me to warm up the class, Mrs. Leal?
asks Josefina.
Teachers pet, whispers Angelina to me.
Sure, Josefina, says Mrs. Leal.
Knock . . . knock.
Somebodys knocking at the door, I tell Mrs. Leal.
Come in, she says.
A tall young boy wearing a cowboy hat and blue jeans
walks into the dance studio. He politely takes off his hat
before addressing Mrs. Leal.
Is this Mrs. Leals dance class? asks the young man.
Hes gorgeous, Angelina whispers in my ear. Just
look at that smile and those blue eyes.
69
Shes right. Hes by far the most handsome boy Ive

ever seen in the entire school.
Yes, says Mrs. Leal, youre in the right place.
Nice to meet you, Mrs. Leal, he tells her and shows
her his class schedule. My name is Thomas, but everyone
just calls me Tommy. The young man gently reaches out
and shakes Mrs. Leals hand.
Well, look at you, says Mrs. Leal. You guys could
stand to learn a thing or two about manners from Tommy
here.
Mrs. Leals words make Tommy blush ever so slightly.
Needless to say, that causes every girl in the room to let out
a collective How cute, and we feel our hearts melt.
So have you ever taken a dance class before? Mrs.
Leal asks.
Not really, he answers. But you could say that I
know my way around a ballroom. I get it from my old man.
My dad is a very good dancer. In his younger days he had
a reputation for setting many a dance floor on fire.
Really? asks Mrs. Leal. Well maybe you can show
us a little bit of what you know?
It would be my honor, he tells her. Maybe somebody
in class could be my partner so I can demonstrate what I
know? How about you? he asks, pointing at me.
Me? I say. But I cant dance. Its my first day in
class.
Anybody can dance, he insists. Staring at him, I cant
help but lose myself in those blue eyes of his.
70
Xavier Garza
But where are my manners? he tells me. I dont even

know your name.
Marta . . . my name is Marta.
Well, Marta, may I have the honor of this dance?
Before I even realize what I am doing, I am in front of
to him.
Just follow my lead, he whispers in my ear. He winks
at me and flashes that mischievous little boy grin of his.
I would follow you anywhere, I think to myself. Seconds later I am dancing. I mean I am actually dancing!
Left . . . right . . . left . . . right and turn, he instructs.
I am actually doing it! I am dancing . . . and Im good at
it, too! I look around the room. All eyes are upon us. My
best friend, Angelina, is smiling at me. My cousin Josefina
is staring at me too . . . and boy, does she look super jealous! But I dont care! Im dancing! Really dancing! Im
dancing with the most handsome guy in the entire school . .
. and thats when my world comes crashing down on me.
Ouch! I cry out as I trip and land embarrassingly on
my butt.
Everybody starts to laugh at me. Did somebody just trip
me? I look across from me and see my cousin Josefina
looking all innocent-like.
You tripped me! I tell her.
Dont blame me for you being a klutz, she fires back.
You tripped over your own elephant feet.
71
That was very good, Tommy, says Mrs. Leal, seemingly not the least bit concerned over my embarrassing fall.
Tommy, youre a natural!
Thank you, Mrs. Leal, says Tommy before going
down on one knee to make sure I am all right. Are you
okay, pretty lady? he asks me.
Im okay, I say. I am so embarrassed I cant even look
at him.
Id like to see how you do with a dance partner who has
more dancing experience, says Mrs. Leal. Josefina . . . are
you ready?
Before Mrs. Leal can even finish her question, Josefina
is dragging Tommy to the middle of the classroom. Together they move in perfect rhythm, twisting and turning to the
beat of the music that plays from Mrs. Leals CD player.
Perfect! cries out Mrs. Leal. You two look perfect
together.
Those words make my heart break. Josefina is going to
winagain.
Tommy begins to spin Josefina around the dance floor.
He spins her faster and faster. Josefina is laughing at first,
but begins to get dizzy and begs him to stop. But Tommy
wont stop. He only laughs at her.
Stop, Tommy! screams Mrs. Leal.
But Tommy wont listen to her either. He spins faster
and faster until, as amazing as it sounds, he and Josefina
are just blurs.
72
Xavier Garza
El Diablo, hes the Devil! we hear Josefina scream at

the top of her lungs.
Josefina and Tommy both erupt into a giant fireball that
reaches all the way to the ceiling, setting off the sprinkler
system! But just as suddenly as the fireball erupts in the
room, it disappears, leaving no trace of either Josefina or
Tommy. The only thing left as proof of what has just happened is a burn mark on the middle of the dance floor.
Later, I find a note addressed to me in my backpack. It
reads, Thanks for the dance, pretty lady. Till next time.
Lovingly yours, Tommy.
The Selfie
We shouldnt be here, I tell Rudy as I follow him
through a broken window into the room. Abandoned for
years, the old tax office at Fort Ringgold is covered in dust
and cobwebs.
Stop being such a chicken, Mateo, says Rudy, pointing a flashlight at my face. We both agreed to do it.
No, YOU agreed to do it, I remind him. Im just the
idiot that you talked into tagging along with you.
This way, he tells me, gesturing for me to follow him
down a flight of stairs. The room would have been down
in the basement.
Should we really be doing this? I ask him. I mean,
do we really want to be messing with ghosts?
I thought you said that you dont believe in ghosts.
I dont.
Then youve got nothing to be afraid of, right?
I certainly hope so, but Ive got this nagging feeling that
maybe I am afraid of something.
So whats the story with this place? What is so scary
about an old tax office?
74
75
It wasnt always a tax office, says Rudy. It used to

be a hospital during the Civil War.
A hospital? I never knew that.
My grandma says that back when she used to work
here as a secretary, she and her coworkers heard strange
noises.
Like what?
They heard voices . . . footsteps . . . the usual stuff, he
tells me as he scans the basement with his flashlight. All we
see are old desks and tables. What she says was really
scary was when they heard the screaming.
Screaming . . . what do you mean, screaming?
Cries of agony are what my grandma called them.
Many soldiers died while medics were trying to save them.
Their deaths were so traumatic that their souls became
trapped in this world.
Thats creepy, I tell him.
Hey, thats what my grandma told me, says Rudy.
Lets just get this over with.
This looks like a good spot. He points the flashlight
at a desk in the middle of the room.
Fine by me, I tell him, taking out my cell phone.
We both climb onto the desk and pose together for a
selfie that will prove to our friends that we indeed took the
dare and went into the basement of the old tax office.
Hold it up high, says Rudy. I want you to get as
much of the room as possible.
Say, cheese, I tell him as I snap the picture.
76
Xavier Garza
The phones flash momentarily floods the room with

light.
Got it, I tell Rudy. Now lets get out of here . . . this
place gives me the creeps.
We hurriedly make our way up the stairs but find that
the door we came through is now locked.
Did you lock the door, Rudy?
No. I dont even remember closing it. It must have
been you.
I didnt lock it, I tell him. It had to have been you!
It wasnt me, says Rudy.
If it wasnt you . . . then who did it?
How am I supposed to know?! he screams back at
me. All I know is that it wasnt me!
Help me . . . a voice whispers, from down the stairs.
What was that? asks Rudy.
I dont know. It came from down the stairs. Point the
flashlight down there.
Help me . . . says another voice, a different one this
time.
Theres nobody down there! says Rudy.
Help me . . . help me . . . help me . . . Were hearing
even more voices now coming from every corner of the
basement.
Theres nobody down there! screams Rudy as he continues to point his flashlight in the direction of the basement. Theres nobody down there!
77
I turn and begin to fiddle with the door knob, trying to

force it open.
Help us, help us, the voices begin to chant.
Theyre getting closer, says Rudy. Theyre coming
up the stairs!
Just then, the doorknob turns in my hands, and I swing
the door open.
Lets go! I scream at Rudy.
We both run toward the broken window we had used to
sneak into the building.
What was that down there? I ask Rudy.
I dont know, Mateo, but lets get out of here, says
Rudy as we finish climbing out the window.
We run and run until were far enough not to see the old
tax office anymore.
What just happened? asks Rudy. Those voices that
we heard . . . were they ghosts?
I dont know what they were, I tell him. I just know
that I dont want to ever go back in there again.
Your phone, asks Rudy. We did take a picture, right?
Sure.
I pull the phone out of my pocket. I begin flipping
through my photographs until I come across a picture that
nearly makes my heart skip a beat.
Whats wrong? asks Rudy. Dont tell me it didnt
come out.
I want to speak, but Im in too much of a shock to put
into words what I am seeing.
78
Xavier Garza
Whats wrong? asks Rudy. Tell me, Mateo . . .

please!
I hand my phone over to him and show him what I am
looking at. The picture shows both of us smiling like idiots
for the camera, but that isnt whats got me so scared. All
around us in the photograph are soldiers . . . dead soldiers.
Can I Keep Him?

I found a dog, I tell my mother. Can I keep him? Ill
take care of him. I promise.
You know we cant keep a dog, Nikko, she tells me.
Your dad doesnt like dogs.
But thats not fair, I tell her. Martn isnt even my
dad. I hate him.
You shouldnt say things like that.
Why not? I ask her. Because hell hit me like he
does you?
Dont say that, Nikko.
Why not? Its true.
My stepdad, Martn, is as mean as they come. Hes
nothing but a drunk. Every time he comes home, he reeks
of beer, and all he ever does is call my mom all sorts of
nasty names. Sometimes I wish I was big enough to be able
to punch him in the nose.
Its not fair, Mom, I tell her. All my friends have
dogs.
I know they do, she says.
But he is so cute. . . . Let me show him to you.
80
81
I lean down and pick him up in my arms. My mom

stares at me funny, like shes confused or something.
I see, she says hesitantly.
Im going to call him Vinnie, I say. Do you want to
pat him on the head? He likes that.
Sure, she says, smiling as she leans over and pats
Vinnie on his head. I guess theres no chance of your stepdad ever finding out about Vinnie, right? So lets go ahead
and keep him.
Hooray! I cry out. Lets go to my room, Vinnie. Im
going to show you where youre going to sleep from now
on!
I spend the entire day playing with Vinnie. We run
around in the backyard chasing after squirrels. I try to teach
him to fetch, but Vinnie cant get the hang of it. I end up
having to go and pick up the stick myself each time I throw
it. But Im sure hell figure it out eventually. When I take
Vinnie for a walk, some of the bigger kids in the neighborhood make fun of us and call me a weirdo for no reason.
Vinnie growls at them, but I tell him to leave them alone.
Bigger kids like to make fun of smaller kids just to be
mean.
Vinnie is such a good dog that he doesnt even need a
leash when I walk him. He just follows alongside me. Hes
the best dog in the whole wide world. I knew he would be
from the first moment I saw him playing around in the pet
cemetery. He ran right up to me and practically jumped
82
Xavier Garza
right into my arms. I knew at that exact moment that he

would be my dog forever . . . till death do us part.
By the time Vinnie and I get back home, I can hear my
stepdads voice coming from inside the house. Hes yelling
at my mom. The sound of my dad screaming makes Vinnie
so mad that he begins to growl. When we walk into the
house my stepdad is about to hit Mom, but I yell for him to
stop.
Leave my mom alone!
Did you just yell at me?! he shouts at me as he begins
to remove his leather belt from his pants. Thats the problem with you kids today. You dont respect your elders. But
Ill teach you to respect me, boy.
Stay away from me, I warn him. Stay away or Ill
tell my dog Vinnie to bite you!
Dog? What dog? I didnt say you could have a dog!
But I do have a dog now, I tell him. And hes right
here!
Where? I dont see anything.
Right here, I tell him, pointing at my leg. Hes right
here, and hell bite you if you dont leave us alone right
now.
Youre crazy, he half laughs as he grabs me by my
shirt and pulls me toward him. Ill teach you to make up
stuff!
Just then Vinnie begins to growl and jumps at my stepdad, sinking his teeth deep into his arm!
Aaaay! he screams.
83
Vinnie bites him on both his ankles and then goes for
his legs and thighs. My stepdad is screaming in pain as he
begins to crawl toward the door, trying to get away from
Vinnie, who is on him like a wolf.
Get it off me, get it off me! He screams as he opens
the living room door and takes off, but not before Vinnie
gives him one last bite right on the butt!
Good dog, I tell Vinnie, good dog.
Whats going on? asks my mother. How did you do
that?
How did I do what? I ask her.
What you did to your dad? How did you do that?
But I didnt do anything, Mom. It was Vinnie.
But Vinnie isnt real, she says.
What do you mean Vinnie isnt real? He is right here
next to me.
But theres no dog next to you, Nikko. When you
showed me your dog earlier . . . there was no dog in your
arms. I thought he was an imaginary friend.
But Vinnie is real, I tell her. Hes sitting right next to
you, Mom. Hes licking your hand . . .
ISBN 978-1-55885-816-9
9 781558 858169
50995
PIATA BOOKS
ARTE PBLICO PRESS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
La publicacin de La seora Asno se enfrenta a la Llorona y otros

cuentos ha sido subvencionada por la Ciudad de Houston por medio del
Houston Arts Alliance. Agradecemos su apoyo.
Piata Books estn llenos de sorpresas!
Piata Books
An imprint of
Arte Pblico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Fwy, Bldg 19, Rm 100
Houston, Texas 77204-2004
Ilustraciones de Xavier Garza

Diseo de la portada de Mora Des!gn
Garza, Xavier.
[Short stories. Selections]
The Donkey Lady fights La Llorona and other scary stories / by
Xavier Garza ; Spanish translation by Maira E. Alvarez =
La Seora Asno se enfrenta a La Llorona y otros cuentos / por
Xavier Garza ; traduccin al espaol de Maira E. Alvarez.
p.cm.
ISBN 978-1-55885-816-9 (alk. paper)
1. Horror tales, American. 2. Short stories, American.
[1. Horror stories. 2. Short stories. 3. Hispanic Americans
Fiction. 4. Spanish language materialsBilingual.]I. Alvarez,
Maira E., translator.II. Title.III. Title: Seora Asno se enfrenta a
La Llorona y otros cuentos.
PZ73.G3678 2015
[Fic]dc23
2015028680
CIP
El papel utilizado en esta publicacin cumple con los requisitos del

American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
2015 por Xavier Garza
La seora Asno se enfrenta a la Llorona y otros cuentos
2015 Arte Pblico Press
Impreso en los Estados Unidos de Amrica
United Graphics, Inc., Mattoon, IL
septiembre 2015octubre 2015
121110987654321
Le dedico este libro a sobrina

Allison Rose Sanchez, bienvenida a la familia
ndice
La seora Asno se enfrenta a la Llorona .................. 1
Hoyos ....................................................................... 8
El don maldicin .................................................... 15
El huevo ................................................................. 25
El libro del abuelo Tito .......................................... 31
El Chupacabras ....................................................... 40
Tneles ................................................................... 45
El Diablo me est haciendo hacerlo ....................... 51
El rbol de dinero ................................................... 60
El Diablo en la clase de la seora Leal .................. 67
El selfie ................................................................... 74
Me lo puedo quedar? ............................................ 80
La seora Asno se enfrenta a la Llorona

Escuchbamos con atencin cada una de las palabras
del abuelo Ventura cuando empezaba a contarnos un cuento.
La primera vez que o este cuento apenas era un nio
nos dice. La haba dejado su marido por otra mujer,
Mara se volvi loca por los celos. En un ataque de furia
ahog a sus propios hijos en el ro para desquitarse de l.
No! grita mi prima Maya. Cmo pudo haber
hecho algo tan terrible?
Cuando se le pas la rabia y descubri lo que haba
hecho, Mara se suicid en el mismo ro. Por el terrible crimen, la condenaron a vivir en la tierra como un atormentado espritu conocido como . . . La Llorona!
La Llorona? pregunt. En ingls la llaman
Crying Woman, verdad?
As es, Margarito me dice. La Llorona es un
espritu con ojos rojos que queman como un fuego salvaje.
Su cabello es como serpientes danzantes. Dicen que la Llorona se aparece cerca de los ros y arroyos buscando nios
perdidos para quedarse con ellos.
No es cierto dice mi primo Luis.
Eso es una locura agrega mi primo Daniel.
Xavier Garza
Qu miedo dice Maya.

Y t, Margarito pregunta el abuelo Ventura,
crees que la Llorona da miedo?
El abuelo Ventura se dio cuenta que yo tena una mirada de incredulidad en el rostro. Me encantan sus cuentos,
lo juro. Pero ya tengo once aos. Hace mucho que dej de
creer en fantasmas.
Tal vez un poquito le digo al abuelo, no quiero lastimar sus sentimientos.
Bueno . . . si creen que la Llorona da miedo, me creeran que hay algunas personas que dicen que hay otra cosa
que es ms espeluznante que ella?
Qu podra ser ms aterrador que la Llorona? pregunta Maya.
Algunos dicen que la seora Asno es ms aterradora
dice el Abuelo Ventura.
Quin es la seora Asno? pregunta Daniel.
La seora Asno es una witch . . . una bruja que se
esconde debajo de los puentes. La llaman la seora Asno
porque su cabeza es la de un horrible asno y sus ojos brillan amarillos en la oscuridad.
Qu hace? pregunta Luis.
Se roba a los nios cuando cruzan los puentes. De
repente salta y los atrapa!
No! exclama Maya.
Los jala debajo del puente, y jams los vuelven a ver!
Pero ya se est haciendo tarde dice el abuelo Ventura.
Vale ms que se vayan a casa antes de que se ponga ms

oscuro.
Los cuatro empezamos a caminar por el camino que nos
llevar a nuestras casas. Ya est oscureciendo, as es que
todos nos damos prisa. Luis es quien vive ms cerca a la
casa de abuelo, as es que l llega primero.
No dejen que la Llorona los atrape! nos advierte
antes de despedirse y meterse a la casa.
Tiene suerte de ya estar en casa dice Maya.
Daniel es el segundo del grupo en llegar a casa. Cuidado con la seora Asno, nos advierte antes de abrir
la puerta. Hasta hace sonidos de asno antes de cerrar la
puerta.
Ahora slo quedamos Maya y yo.
Crees que existe la Llorona? pregunta.
Por supuesto que no existe le digo. Es slo un
cuento.
Pero Abuelo dice que s es verdad.
Abuelo dice que todos sus cuentos son ciertos le
digo.
No crees que sus cuentos sean verdad? pregunta
Maya.
Antes pensaba que s eran ciertos, cuando estaba ms
chico . . . pero ya no.
Pues, yo s creo que los cuentos de Abuelo son ciertos.
Bueno, no lo son.
S lo son!
Xavier Garza
Adems le digo, la Llorona ni siquiera da

miedo.
Creo que la Llorona es aterradora dice Maya.
La seora Asno es diez veces ms aterradora que la
tonta Lloroncita le digo. Slo los bebs le tienen
miedo.
Te crees muy grande porque ya tienes once aos
me dice y camina rpido enfrente de m.
Cuando llegamos a la casa de Maya me doy cuenta de
que est bien enojada conmigo.
No quise ofenderte.
S lo quisiste! me grita. Crees que soy una
beb!
Lo siento le digo. Sinceramente lo siento. Deb
haberlo pensado mejor antes de rerme de ella. A Maya no
le gusta que se burlen de ella.
No ests arrepentido me dice. Pero lo vas a
estar.
Hay algo en su tono de voz que me da miedo.
Espero que tanto la Llorona como la seora Asno te
atrapen en el camino a casa, para no tener que volverte a
ver la cara! entra corriendo y llorando a la casa.
Ahora slo quedo yo en la oscuridad. Saco una linterna
de mi bolsillo. La apunto en direccin del angosto puente
que tengo que cruzar antes de llegar a mi casa. Debajo
corre un ro y no es muy profundo. A veces mi primo Luis
y yo venimos a cazar tortugas. Entonces recuerdo lo que
Abuelo dijo sobre la seora Asno acechando debajo de los
puentes. Seguramente no se estaba refiriendo a este puente. Adems, es slo un cuento, verdad? Despacio, empiezo a cruzar el puente. Las tablas rechinan debajo de mis
pies. A la mitad del puente me doy cuenta de que alguien
viene caminando hacia m desde el otro lado del puente.
Cuando la figura se acerca, veo que es una mujer vestida
de blanco. Hay algo raro en la forma en que est caminando. Apunto la linterna a sus pies. Entonces entiendo la
razn por la que las tablas no estn rechinando debajo de
sus pies . . . no tiene pies! No est caminando sobre el
puente . . . est flotando sobre l! Apunto la linterna a su
cara y veo dos ojos mirndome!
La Llorona! grito. Me doy vuelta y empiezo a
correr para alejarme de ella y termino escondindome en el
agua debajo del puente. Puedo escuchar a la Llorona llamarme.
Ven a m me dice. Ven a m, hijo . . . ven a m.
La Llorona es real, y me quiere robar! Nado hacia la
mitad y me meto debajo del agua, aguantando el aire para
que no me vea. Entonces veo un par de brillantes luces
amarillas que nadan hacia m. Se acercan ms y ms hasta
que descubro que no son luces. Son ojos . . . los ojos de
una mujer con una horrible cabeza de asno!
La seora Asno! grito cuando salto del agua.
La seora Asno me persigue debajo del puente!
All ests dice la Llorona cuando me ve. Me agarra del cuello de la camiseta y me empieza a jalar hacia el
cielo!
Xavier Garza
No, es mo! chilla la seora Asno mientras se

escurre de debajo del puente y ve que la Llorona me tiene
atrapado. La seora Asno salta en el aire y me agarra el pie
derecho y empieza a jalarme hacia la tierra.
Yo lo vi primero dice la Llorona y jala bien fuerte
del cuello de mi camiseta.
El que lo encuentra . . . se lo queda grue la seora Asno.
Me jalan y tiran como si fuera la soga en el juego de tira
y afloja. Jalan y tiran, jalan y tiran, hasta que se rompe el
cuello de mi camiseta y la seora Asno me saca el zapato
del pie derecho.
Pum! Caigo con fuerza al suelo.
La Llorona y la seora Asno empiezan a rondarse. En
verdad van a pelear para ver quin har de m su prxima
vctima? La Llorona da el primer paso y tira a la seora
Asno al suelo. Pero la seora Asno es rpida y se pone de
pie inmediatamente. Entonces empuja a la Llorona.
La Llorona le grita a la seora Asno Ayyyy, mis
hijos!
La seora Asno le regresa el grito a la Llorona iiiiaaaa . . . iiiiaaaa!
Luego la seora Asno agarra a la Llorona por el cabello despeinado que baila como serpientes y trata de meterla debajo del puente! Pero la Llorona la ataca y le jala las
largas orejas de asno. Jalan y tiran, jalan y tiran. Se dan
vueltas y vueltas hasta que suben y bajan del puente y
caen en el agua!
Plas!
Continan peleando hasta en el agua! Al ver que tengo
una oportunidad para escaparme, salgo corriendo tan rpido como pueden cargarme los pies. Ni siquiera volteo hacia
atrs . . . ni una vez. Atravieso el puente tan rpido como
un correcaminos. No dejo de correr hasta que llego a la
seguridad de mi casa . . . y cierro la puerta.
Hoyos
Tu perro cav hoyos otra vez en el jardn dijo
Mam. Tienes que ir a limpiar ese desastre ahora mismo.
No puede esperar hasta que termine el partido de
ftbol? le pregunto.
Ahora insiste.
Volteo a ver a mi pap, esperando que intercepte la conversacin y me ayude.
No me veas a m, Joe me dice. Kenny es tu
perro.
Kenny es nuestro perro lo corrijo. Ambos fuimos al refugio de animales por un perro, te acuerdas?
Yo quera un perro de verdad me dice.
Kenny es un perro de verdad.
Es un perro salchicha me recuerda. La gente
piensa dos veces antes de entrar a tu jardn cuando ven un
perro de verdad al acecho. Cuando ven a Kenny, lo nico
que ven es un perro salchicha para salir a pasear.
Uno de estos das ese perro va a llegar demasiado
lejos, Joe advierte mi mam al levantar uno de los restos
de lo que fueron sus rosas rojas. Cuando llegue ese da,
va a ir derechito al albergue!
Est bien le digo. Ya voy a ir a limpiar.

Vale ms que encuentres la forma de controlar a ese
perro me advierte. Por qu anda haciendo hoyos, eh?
Porque los perros escarban dice Pap en un tono
burln. Est en su ADN o algo as.
Voy al jardn y veo que Kenny est haciendo otro hoyo.
Oye, prale! le grito. Ya me metiste en suficientes problemas.
Levanta la vista y lloriquea.
Cuento siete hoyos en el patio. Por qu ests haciendo hoyos por todos lados, Kenny?
De repente se le paran las orejas y empieza a olfatear la
tierra. Llega hasta al cobertizo donde Pap guarda la podadora.
Basta! le grito cuando de repente empieza a escarbar otra vez. Qu te pasa?
Kenny lloriquea un poco, pero no deja de escarbar.
Te dije que pararas!
Lo levanto y lo llevo a la casita de perros que le compramos la semana pasada. Lo encierro y empiezo a limpiar
el desastre que hizo en el jardn.
Kenny, qu voy a hacer contigo? Por qu ests
cavando en todos lados?
Tal vez est buscando algo dice Pap desde la
puerta.
Pero qu? le pregunto. Veo hacia Kenny que nos
est viendo lastimosamente desde adentro de la casita.
10
Xavier Garza
Sepa dice Pap. Pero, fjate cmo est sentado

all mirando el jardn. Definitivamente est buscando algo.
Pero qu? me pregunto. No tengo la menor idea.
Cualquier cosa que sea, vale ms que lo encuentre
pronto, hijo dice Pap. Tu mam ya est cansada de
Kenny. Si no controlas a ese perro puede que cumpla la
amenaza de regresarlo al albergue.
Puedo meter a Kenny a la casa esta noche? pregunto.
Pap frunce el ceo con esta propuesta. Te puedes
asegurar de que no se suba a mi silln?
Seguro le digo.
Entonces est bien. Pero ms te vale que no encuentre ningn pelo de perro en mi silln, okay?
De acuerdo, Pap.
***
Por la noche saco unas cobijas y almohadas de mi cuarto y acampo en la sala.

Es hora de dormir le digo a Kenny, que est sentado cerca de la puerta corrediza mirando al jardn. Ni lo
pienses le advierto.
Da un pequeo quejido antes de regresar a m y acostarse a mi lado en el piso. Me quedo dormido bien rpido,
pero el sonido de Kenny araando la puerta corrediza me
despierta. Me volteo para ver el reloj digital en el DVD.
Son las 5:30 de la maana, Kenny le digo.
11
Adormilado, camino a la puerta corrediza, pensando

que probablemente necesita salir a hacer del bao o algo.
Aprate le digo y empiezo a abrir la puerta.
Qu es eso?
El jardn de Mam est completamente destrozado!
Hay hoyos por todos lados! Qu est pasando? En cuanto abro la puerta corrediza, Kenny sale corriendo y empieza a cavar en el jardn.
Estoy a punto de gritarle que pare, cuando escucho que
Kenny quiebra algo con la quijada.
Ihh! sale un chillido del hoyo.
Corro hacia l y no puedo creer lo que veo. All, en el
hoyo, hay algo que parece ser un dedo verde!
Qu le hizo ese perro a mi jardn? grita Mam.
Tanto ella como Pap estn parados cerca de la puerta
corrediza.
Pens que dijiste que lo ibas a meter a la casa!
dice Pap.
Hay algo en nuestro jardn les digo. Mira lo que
Kenny sac de uno de los hoyos. Les muestro el dedo
verde.
Qu es eso? pregunta Mam.
Ay!! otro chillido.
Kenny empieza a sacar algo verde de uno de los hoyos.
Qu es eso? pregunta Mam.
Kenny comienza a ladrarle a la criatura verde que poco
a poco empieza a ponerse de pie. Una criatura calva, de
13
piel verde y con orejas picudas, nos ve con ojos rojos. Le

chista a Kenny y vuelve a dar otro chillido.
Iiih!
Pap corre al cobertizo y saca una pala. La gira sobre la
criatura y de un golpe la lanza volando a travs del jardn.
Est muerto o desmayado. Es una cosa horrible.
Miren esa nariz puntiaguda, y est cubierta con mezquinos
dice Pap tocndolo con la pala.
Ser un duende? le pregunto a Pap. Abuela me
contaba cuentos de criaturas verdes con ojos rojos que
hacan todo tipo de travesuras. Los llamaba duendes.
No s qu es dice Pap. Pero esta cosa ha estado destrozando tu jardn le dice a Mam. Kenny es
inocente.
Ssss . . . ssss . . . ssss . . .
De repente hay varios susurros a nuestro alrededor.
Vemos cmo uno . . . dos . . . tres . . . cuatro de esas horribles criaturas empiezan a salir de la tierra.
Pnganse detrs de m dice Pap.
Kenny empieza a gruirle a las criaturas que han empezado a rodearnos. Muestran los pequeos y afilados dientes. Ms criaturas empiezan a salir de la tierra. Ahora hay
cinco . . . seis . . . siete . . . ocho de esas cosas rodendonos. Levantan las garras como para atacar. En ese momento Kenny empieza a aullar.
Auuuuu!
Auuuuu!
Auuuuu!
14
Xavier Garza
Es un aullido fuerte y agudo! Qu est haciendo

Kenny? Inesperadamente, el perro del vecino, un terrier,
empieza a ladrar. El perro del otro vecino, un sabueso, tambin empieza a ladrar. Est pidiendo ayuda Kenny? Las
criaturas verdes ahora tienen miedo. Retroceden con rapidez y desaparecen en los hoyos del jardn. Hasta desparece
el que Pap golpe con la pala.
Kenny nos salv le digo a Mam. Nos salv a
todos.
El don maldicin
Cmo pude tener tanta suerte? me pregunto
mientras me doy una ltima mirada en el espejo. Voy al
baile de octavo ao con la chica ms linda de la secundaria.
Slo con que me vean en el mismo cuarto con Terry de
inmediato aumentar mi popularidad.
No creo que debas ir dice mi hermana Sabrina,
quien no comparte la emocin de mi nueva buena fortuna. Tengo un mal presentimiento.
Siempre tienes malos presentimientos de todo le
digo. Es cierto. Si le hiciera caso a mi hermana, sera un
marginado social como ella.
Lo nico que quiero decir es que tengo un mal presentimiento de todo esto.
No empiecesle digo.
Empiece, qu?
Lo de tener un mal presentimiento. Ya prale. Cuntas veces no nos hemos tenido que mudar en los ltimos
tres aos por ti y tus pseudo presentimientos?
En los ltimos tres aos hemos ido a escuelas en Luisiana, California y Florida. Estoy cansado de que nos
tengamos que mudar slo porque pasa algo y Mam tiene
15
16
Xavier Garza
miedo que la gente descubra lo que puedes hacer. Por una

vez, quiero quedarme en un lugar el tiempo suficiente
como para hacer amigos.
Pero, Trino dice Sabrina, cundo me he equivocado?
No quiero saber nada de eso. S que sus presentimientos tienden a dar en el blanco. Pero esta vez no quiero
que acierten. sta va a ser mi noche le digo. No te
voy a permitir que me la arruines.
No quiero arruinarte nada. Pero t sabes que soy clarividente.
All est esa palabra rara que tanto le gusta decir. Quiere decir que puede ver cosas antes de que sucedan. Las
llama visiones. Yo las llamo dolores de cabeza.
T sabes que tengo razn, Trino.
Por qu? Porque eres como Mam? Por qu eres
como era Abuela? Porque eres . . .
. . . una bruja me dice, termina la oracin por
m. Eso es lo que quieres decir?
Iba a decir diferente.
Eso, por supuesto, es una mentira. Iba a decir bruja. Mi
hermana es una bruja. Ya, lo dije. Es una bruja. Una de verdad. No es algo que ella busc o quiso. Podras decir que
es ms una tradicin de familia. Todas las mujeres en mi
familia han sido brujas. Algunas han sido buenas brujas
que usaron sus poderes para ayudar a otros. Algunas no han
sido muy buenas, y usaron sus poderes para causarles dao
y dolor a otros. Nuestra abuela era una bruja buena. Mi
17
madre tambin. Todas tiene el don . . . o la maldicin,

dependiendo cmo se vea.
Por qu me ests arruinando esta oportunidad? le
pregunto a Sabrina. Por qu es tan difcil para ti creer
que Terry puede estar interesada en m?
No es Terry quien me preocupa me dice. Ella
me cae bien . . . siempre ha sido muy amable conmigo. Es
Roy quien me preocupa.
Roy es el ex novio de Terry. Est en el dcimo ao y no
es nada ms que malas noticias.
Cortaron le digo a Sabrina.
Ests seguro?
S. Cort con l hace dos meses.
Pero qu si Roy descubre que t la acompaaste al
baile?
No le tengo miedo a Roy. Bueno . . . tal vez s, un
poquito.
Es casi lo doble de tu tamao.
En serio le digo haciendo la mejor voz de hombre
fuerte. No me haba dado cuenta.
No quiero que te hagan dao.
Ya s que ests preocupada por m. Pero tienes que
relajarte, hermana. Ya estoy grande. No tienes que protegerme como cuando estbamos chicos. Mi hermana es
dos minutos mayor que yo. Eso . . . slo dos minutos. An
as siempre se ha visto como mi protectora.
Est bien admite. Tienes razn. Me preocupo
demasiado.
18
Xavier Garza
Est bien, hermana. No seras t si no lo hicieras.

Vas a estar trabajando en el puesto de las palomitas para
la biblioteca?
S dice.
Ya saba que lo hara. Sabrina prcticamente vive en la
biblioteca. Le encanta leer. Su sueo es ser escritora un
da . . . y debo admitir que eso estara bien padre.
Eres tan nerd le bromeo.
Oye, no es un crimen que me gusten los libros.
***
Cuando llegamos a la escuela, mi hermana y yo vamos
directo a la cafetera que esa noche servir como saln de
baile. Cuando veo a Terry y a sus amigas, me despido de
mi hermana.
Ten cuidado me advierte.
Dijiste que lo dejaras en paz le recuerdo.
Hola, Trino dice Terry cuando me ve caminar
hacia ella.
Te ves linda, Terry le digo.
T tambin te ves muy lindo. Ellas son mis amigas:
Marissa, Sarah y Julie.
Julie me pone los ojos en blanco. Es la hermana menor
de Roy. Encantada dice, sin poder esconder su indiferencia hacia m.
Es un placer conocerlas a todas les digo.
Tenas razn, Terry dice Sarah. Es monsimo.
19
Monsimo . . . como un perrito dice Julie con sarcasmo. El tono de su voz demuestra claramente que no lo
quiso decir como un cumplido.
T eres hermano de Sabrina, verdad? pregunta
Julie. Dicen que tu hermana es bruja.
No es una bruja. Esos son slo cuentos estpidos,
okay?
No es lo que escuch dice Julie, sin dejar de hablar
sobre el tema. Escuch que hace hechizos y cosas de
esas.
Y otra vez lo mismo de siempre. No hay cmo escaparnos de la reputacin de mi hermana Sabrina de hacer cosas
raras.
No hace hechizos le digo. Es una chica normal.
No dira que tu hermana es una chica normal dice
Julie, sonriendo.
Qu quieres decir con eso? pregunta Terry.
Sabrina siempre ha sido muy amable conmigo.
Vamos, Terry dice Julie admtelo. Es rara.
No es rara le digo con frialdad. Sabrina y yo discutiremos, pero no iba a permitir que Julie se riera de ella.
A fin de cuentas, es mi hermana.
No lo estoy diciendo por ser mala ni nada de eso
dice Julie. Es que . . . por qu siempre se viste tan raro?
Raro? Mi hermana no se viste raro.
Siempre se viste de negro, como si estuviera de luto
dice Julie. Adems, no tiene amigos. Lo nico que
hace es leer.
20
Xavier Garza
Leer no es un crimen le respondo con rapidez.

Teniendo en cuenta que Julie est reprobando la clase de
lectura, no le hara mal leer de vez en cuando.
Terry me toma del brazo al percatarse de la tensin en
el ambiente. Vamos a tomar aire fresco, Trino.
Tu amiga Julie no es muy amable digo al alejarnos
de las dos.
No siempre se porta as. Julie est actuando as porque romp con su hermano.
Escuch que sigue viniendo a buscarte despus de la
escuela.
S me dice. Pero no le hablo. La verdad es que
ahora me da miedo.
Miedo?
Roy puede ser muy celoso. Piensa que le pertenezco
o algo. Yo quera cortar con l desde hace mucho tiempo,
pero me daba miedo hacerlo.
Ya se cansaron de bailar? de repente escuchamos
que pregunta una voz. Es la voz de Sabrina.
No quise escuchar su conversacin dice. Slo
sal para tomar un descanso.
Servir palomitas se te ha hecho difcil, hermana?
le pregunto a Sabrina. S que est comprobando que estoy
bien.
Hola, Sabrina dice Terry.
Hola, Terry le responde al ponerme una mano
sobre el hombro izquierdo. Espero que mi hermano se
est portando bien contigo.
21
Ha sido todo un caballero dice Terry.

Trino, un caballero? pregunta Sabrina. Cremelo, Terry, no lo conoces como yo.
Qu no tienes que ir a servir palomitas? le digo.
Est bien dice Sabrina. Los voy a dejar solos.
Fue un gusto verte dice Terry. Deberamos
hacer algo juntas.
Sera divertido dice Sabrina al caminar hacia la
cafetera.
Tu hermana es tan simptica, Trino dice Terry y se
inclina y me abraza.
Aljate de mi chica! escucho un grito detrs de
m. Me doy vuelta justo a tiempo para ver un puo que
viene directo a mi cara.
Pum!
El inesperado golpe me tira al suelo.
Djalo! escucho que Terry le grita a Roy.
Me da otro puetazo en la mera cara. Intento protegerme del golpe, pero estoy tan atontado con el primero que
no puedo defenderme. Terry agarra a Roy del pelo e intenta quitrmelo de encima, pero ste le da un empujn. Logro
levantarme, pero Roy me da una patada en la panza.
Deja a mi hermano en paz! escucho que Sabrina
grita al saltarle a Roy en la espalda y estira los brazos para
apretarle el estmago. Lo que le hace a Roy hace que ste
se aleje de ella con dolor. Le da la espalda y sale corriendo.
Ests bien? le pregunto a Terry.
S dice Terry. Est bien tu hermana?
22
Xavier Garza
Mi hermana est sentada en el suelo tratando de recuperar el aliento.

Te lastim? le pregunto a Sabrina.
Quiero irme a casa me dice.
Cuando llegamos a casa, le pregunto a mi hermana qu
le hizo a Roy.
No lo s. Slo recuerdo que te estaba haciendo dao.
Me hizo enojar tanto, Trino . . . lo quera lastimar! Lo
nico que recuerdo es que le agarr el estmago y que mi
mente se puso en blanco. Ni siquiera recuerdo qu le hice.
Perd el control, Trino. Perd el control!
Nunca es bueno que mi hermana pierda el control de
sus poderes.
Al da siguiente en la escuela, todos estn hablando de
la gran pelea que tuve con Roy. No es que haya sido una
sper pelea. Yo fui quien recibi todos los golpes. Pero al
or a todos hablar, barr con Roy! Estoy a punto de abrir
mi casillero cuando llega Terry.
Qu le hizo tu hermana a Roy?
Qu quieres decir? le pregunto.
No has odo?
Odo qu?
Es Roy . . .
Qu de Roy?
Julie dijo que lo tuvieron que llevar al doctor anoche.
Qu paso?
Dijo que le dola el estmago.
Y?
24
Xavier Garza
Roy est muerto!

Muerto?! Cmo que est muerto?
Cuando llegaron al hospital, los doctores no saban
qu le pasaba. Le tomaron radiografas del estmago. No
podan creer lo que encontraron . . .
Qu?
Encontraron vboras!
Vboras? repito con incredulidad. Tena vboras en el estmago?
S dice Terry. Tena vboras en el estmago.
Los intestinos se le transformaron en vboras!
Pero, cmo pudo haber sucedido eso? le pregunto e intento tocarle el brazo pero Terry me empuja.
Me mentiste me dice. Julie tena razn sobre tu
hermana. Es una bruja. Ella le hizo eso a Roy!
Terry est aterrorizada conmigo. Lo puedo ver en sus
ojos.
Es una bruja . . . es una bruja dice Terry una y otra
vez, como si se estuviera volviendo loca!
Aun cuando la veo alejarse de m corriendo s lo que
nos espera maana, mi hermana y yo tendremos que
mudarnos a otra escuela y a otra ciudad.
El huevo
Dijiste que lo encontraste en la cueva detrs de
nuestra casa? le pregunto a Dillon.
Cubierto con hojas y ramas agrega. Como si
alguien lo estuviera escondiendo, Mateo.
Qu crees que sea? pregunta Dillon. Parece
un . . .
Un tipo de huevo me dice, interrumpindome
antes de que pueda terminar la oracin.
S digo parece un huevo. Pero est tan grande.
El huevo es del tamao de una pelota de bsquetbol.
Qu tipo de pjaro pondra un huevo de ese tamao?
Tal vez un avestruz . . .
Qu andara haciendo un avestruz en la cueva detrs
de nuestra casa? pregunto.
No sabr qu tipo de huevo es dice Dillon, pero
s s que hace cosas.
Qu tipo de cosas?
Cosas raras.
Cmo qu?
25
27
Mira Dillon estira la mano despacio para tocar el

huevo con las yemas de los dedos, y salen pequeos destellos de electricidad del espacio entre sus dedos y el huevo.
Cmo le hiciste para que hiciera eso?
Yo no hice nada me dice. El huevo lo hizo solo.
Qu tipo de huevo hace eso?
Tal vez . . . y esto es slo una idea . . . No digo que
ste sea uno . . . pero tal vez este huevo le pertenece a un
ave del Trueno.
Un ave del Trueno? repito. Pero esas son puras
historias.
Ests seguro? pregunta Dillon. Pap sola contarnos que la gente reportaba ver aves del Trueno todo el
tiempo. Pap deca que cuando las nubes se oscurecan y
las tormentas aparecan de la nada, era una seal de que el
ave del Trueno estaba cerca.
No hay prueba cientfica de que las aves del Trueno
existan digo en tono burln.
Entonces cmo explicas este huevo y lo que puede
hacer.
No lo puedo explicar, pero tiene que haber una explicacin lgica.
Lo voy a llevar a casa dice Dillon.
No lo puedes llevar a casa.
Es mi huevo. Yo lo encontr.
Pero no lo puedes llevar a casa.
Por qu no? pregunta Dillon.
Porque Mam no te va a dejar tenerlo.
28
Xavier Garza
Mam ni se va a enterar que est all me dice.

Ella limpia nuestro cuarto todos los das le recuerdo. Lo va a ver.
No lo ver si lo guardo en la casa de rbol de afuera.
Mam nunca sube all.
Supongo que esa idea puede funcionar digo.
Mam tiene demasiado miedo a las alturas como para
subir la escalera y entrar a la casa en el rbol.
Y cmo lo vamos a llevar a casa?
As dice mientras vaca su mochila. Pon mis
libros en tu mochila, y yo usar la ma para cargar el huevo.
Cuando ya estamos en casa, subimos con l a la casa en
el rbol.
En verdad crees que es un ave del Trueno? le pregunto a Dillon.
T eres el inteligente, Mateo. T me dirs qu otra
cosa puede ser.
Dillon tena razn.
Bruuuum . . .
Eso fue un trueno? pregunta Dillon.
Ambos nos asomamos por la ventana de la casa en el
rbol y vemos los relmpagos que empiezan a bailar por el
cielo.
Parece que s digo.
Nios, bajen de all y mtanse a la casa! dice
nuestra mam desde abajo.
Ya vamos, Mam! le grito.
Bruuuum . . . bruuuum . . . escriiish . . .
29
Qu fue eso? pregunta Dillon.

Truenos respondo.
Los truenos no hacen Escriiish.
Dillon tiene razn. Esos chillidos no son parecidos a
algo que haya escuchado antes.
Escriiiish! All est el sonido otra vez.
Mira hacia el cielo dice Dillon. Qu es eso?
En medio de los truenos y las nubes negras hay una
figura del tamao de una troquita pickup volando. La
gigante figura tipo pterodctilo se hace ms visible con
cada descarga de electricidad que sale de sus alas grises!
Eso es un dinosaurio! exclama Dillon. Cre . . .
crees que eso es lo que est dentro del huevo?
No . . . no . . . no lo s . . .
Bajen inmediatamente! escuchamos a nuestra
mam gritarnos otra vez.
Va a atrapar a Mam dice Dillon. Ni siquiera se
ha dado cuenta de que hay un ave del Trueno volando en el
cielo.
Quiere el huevo de tu mochila grito.
Dillon mete la mano en su mochila y saca el huevo. En
ese momento el huevo empieza a quebrarse en sus manos.
Est saliendo del cascarn dice Dillon mientras lo
coloca en el suelo. Vemos cmo una criatura de piel gris y
parecida a un pjaro emerge del huevo. Camina un poco
como pato, pero luego abre las alas bien grandes. Levanta
la cabeza y emite un chillido agudo. El ave del Trueno
recin nacido empieza a aletear torpemente, pero con cada
30
Xavier Garza
aletazo parece hacerse ms y ms fuerte hasta que le salen

chispas de electricidad y empieza a volar. Vemos que vuela
hacia el cielo para unirse con su madre. Desde la casa en el
rbol observamos que ambos se alejan volando.
Les dije que se bajaran de all inmediatamente!
dice nuestra mam, quien no tiene idea de lo que acaba
de suceder.
Ya vamos, Mam! respondemos al unsono cuando empezamos a bajar de la casa en el rbol.
Mi mam ni se dio cuenta, para ella no fue nada ms
que una tormenta que pas tan pronto como apareci. Pero
Dillon y yo s sabemos lo que fue.
El libro del abuelo Tito

El libro es mo, Guadalupe declara la rubia de ojos
tan descoloridos como la luna.
No lo puedes tener le dice mi mam, Guadalupe.
Soy la mayor, Guadalupe. El libro me pertenece!
Eso no significa nada! le argumenta mi madre.
Qu est pasando, Mam? pregunto al bajar las
escaleras. Quin es esa mujer . . . y por qu est alterando
a mi madre.
Nada dice mi mam. Sbete y vete a la cama.
Dnde estn tus buenos modales, Guadalupe?
pregunta la rubia. No me vas a presentar a tu linda y
joven hija . . . y a tu guapo hijo, tambin? agrega enfocando la mirada hacia mi hermanito Milagro, quien est
parado en las escaleras. ste abre la boca para hablar, pero
no le salen las palabras. Milagro naci sordomudo.
Quin es esa mujer?
Quin soy yo? pregunta la extraa. Me quieres decir que tu madre jams les ha hablado de m?
La sonrisa delgadsima que se forma en los plidos
labios de la mujer me da miedo. Da un paso hacia m y
31
32
Xavier Garza
extiende la mano para tocarme, pero mi hermanito Milagro

baja las escaleras corriendo y la empuja.
No, Milagro le digo.
Mira dice la mujer, mirando a Milagro con detenimiento. Apenas eres un nio y ya eres tan valiente como
Abuelo Tito.
Abuelo Tito? Acaba de mencionar al abuelo Tito?
Milagro mira a la mujer con furia.
Esos ojos dice la extraa mujer. Recuerdo esa
mirada de desaprobacin muy bien. T tienes los ojos de tu
abuelo.
Ya es hora de que te vayas le dice mi madre a la
mujer con severidad.
Que me vaya? Pero si apenas acabo de llegar, y no
me voy a ir sin mi libro.
Mam alcanza el salero de la mesa de la cocina y se
acerca hacia la visita no deseada. Por alguna razn el ver el
salero en las manos de mi madre parece sobresaltar a la
mujer.
Debiste haber hecho esto por las buenas, Guadalupe
le advierte a nuestra madre cuando empieza a caminar
hacia la puerta. Quiero ese libro. Voy a tener ese libro!
Y con esas palabra sale de la casa.
Quin era esa mujer, y qu tiene que ver con el
abuelo Tito? Qu est pasando, Madre?
Ve, acuesta a Milagro me dice. Hablaremos despus de que hayas hecho eso.
33
Despus de acostar a Milagro, bajo las escaleras y

encuentro a Mam sentada en la mesa de la cocina. Est
leyendo un libro con una portada de piel negra.
Es ese uno de los libros del abuelo Tito? le pregunto.
S.
Eso es lo que quera la seora?
No . . . no quiere este libro. Lo que Anastasia quiere
es el libro especial del abuelo.
As se llama? Anastasia?
S, Anastasia es mi hermana.
Nunca me dijiste que tenas una hermana.
Cuando estbamos creciendo, ramos tan apegadas
como lo pueden ser las hermanas . . . pero todo cambi despus de que me quiso robar el libro del abuelo Tito.
Por qu hizo eso?
Porque era impaciente explica. Era la mayor, y
el libro eventualmente sera de ella. Pero tu abuelo Tito
crea que no estaba lista.
Cuando dices que el libro es especial, qu quieres
decir exactamente con eso?
Cualquier cosa que escribas en l se convierte en realidad.
Cualquier cosa que escribas en l se convierte en
realidad!
Esas palabras me recordaron de la vez que yo estaba
sentada en el regazo del abuelo Tito en la mesa de la cocina cuando estaba escribiendo en el viejo libro. Recuerdo
34
Xavier Garza
que me dijo que me tena que mostrar algo. Abri mi mano

izquierda y me puso una oruga peluda.
Gucatelas . . . Recuerdo cunto asco me dio esa vez.
Despus me hizo cerrar la mano tan fuerte que poda sentir
a la oruga movindose. Lo que sucedi despus me sorprendi. Me dijo que abriera la mano, y para mi sorpresa,
la oruga se haba convertido en crislida . . . un capullo.
Cmo lo hiciste? le pregunt. l no me respondi, slo me sonri y me dijo que cerrara la mano otra vez.
brela ahora me orden.
Cuando lo hice, vol una mariposa.
Cmo lo hiciste? le pregunt completamente
asombrada.
Porque lo escrib en mi libro especial me confes. Todo lo que escribo en el libro se hace realidad.
Dijiste que Anastasia quera robarse el libro del
abuelo Tito? le pregunt a Mam. Pero obviamente no
lo logr.
Bueno, Anastasia s lo tuvo en sus manos por un
tiempo y gracias al libro se dio la habilidad de hacer magia.
Qu hizo el abuelo Tito cuando descubri lo que
haba hecho?
La enfrent y le quit el libro, pero cuando le quiso
quitar los poderes mgicos, sta se convirti en una gran
lechuza y se alej volando.
Y por qu el abuelo no cambi la historia y le quit
los poderes?
36
Xavier Garza
Porque no puedes cambiar lo que otra persona ha

escrito en el libro. Antes de morir, el abuelo enterr el libro
y no le dijo a nadie dnde lo escondi. Saba que Anastasia no vendra a buscar el libro mientras l estuviera vivo
porque le tena miedo.
Pero ahora que muri grita Anastasia desde afuera
de la casa, no tengo nada que temer!
Ha vuelto dice Mam. Sube y qudate con Milagro. Quiero que ambos se escondan.
No puedes salir y enfrentarla sola, Mam . . . te va a
matar.
Haz lo que te digo! me grita.
Subo las escaleras corriendo y me asomo a ver cmo
est Milagro, pero su cama est vaca.
Milagro! grito. Dnde ests, Milagro?
No te imaginas los poderes que tengo ahora escucho que Anastasia le advierte a mi madre.
Corro a la ventana.
Soy ms poderosa de lo que te puedes imaginar.
Con horror veo cmo empieza a cambiar su cuerpo. Sus
pies se transforman en garras, y le salen alas de la espalda.
Dios mo! grito. Se est transformando en una
lechuza gigante!
El libro es mo! le chista a mi madre. Entrgamelo!
Entonces veo a Milagro corriendo en la distancia.
Adnde ir? Anastasia embiste a mi madre, y Mam tira
un puo de sal en el aire. Algunos de los granos de sal caen
37
en la espalda de Anastasia y la hacen bufar por el dolor. El

monstruo trata de atrapar a mi mam con sus garras, pero
Mam logra quitarse del camino justo a tiempo!
Tomo el bate de bisbol de mi hermano y bajo las escaleras corriendo para ayudarla.
Aljate de mi madre! grito. Cuando Anastasia
voltea para verme, giro el bate para pegarle.
Crac! El impacto del golpe la tira al suelo.
No te voy a dar el libro! mi madre le grita a Anastasia.
Justo en ese momento, una piedra le pega a Anastasia
en la nuca. Es Milagro! Tiene una pala en una mano y un
costal de manta en la otra. Mete la mano en el costal y saca
. . . el libro del abuelo Tito!
El libro! grita Anastasia. Dmelo!
Anastasia empieza a aletear y vuela hacia Milagro. Le
grito que corra, pero Milagro se queda all parado con el
libro en las manos.
Dame el libro demanda Anastasia mientras se
acerca ms y ms a Milagro.
Por qu no corre?
Milagro saca un crayn rojo del bolsillo del pantaln y
abre el libro. Empieza a escribir en l.
ANASTASIA! de repente grita una voz.
ANASTASIA! vuelve a gritar la voz. Hay algo
familiar en ella.
Viene del bosque le digo a Mam.
ANASTASIA! grita la voz por tercera vez.
38
Xavier Garza
No puede ser! chilla Anastasia. No puede ser!

Del bosque emerge el cadver del abuelo Tito!
ANASTASIA! grita otra vez. Su voz es estruendosa. VEN, ANASTASIA! grita. VEN A M!
Anastasia est aterrorizada! Trata de escaparse volando, pero el abuelo Tito levanta la mano derecha que ya se
est pudriendo y exclama QUDATE!
Anastasia se derrumba en el suelo, parece haberse congelado all mismo.
Sultame! grita Anastasia, pero el Abuelo Tito la
toma y la arrastra gritando y chillando al bosque.
Ambos desaparecen.
Ya se fueron? le pregunto a Mam.
Creo que s me responde.
El abuelo Tito nos salv.
No fue el abuelo Tito quien nos salv dice
Mam. Fue Milagro. Apunta hacia mi hermano quien
ha terminado de escribir en el libro del abuelo Tito y ahora
lo est cerrando. Milagro us el libro para traer a la persona a quien Anastasia teme.
Pero cmo sabas dnde estaba escondido el libro
del abuelo Tito? le pregunto.
Milagro responde haciendo seas con las manos.
Antes de que el abuelo Tito muriera me dijo dnde
haba escondido el libro. Me dijo que si alguien poda guardar un secreto era yo.
39
Milagro abre el libro del abuelo Tito y apunta a la primera pgina. Instantneamente reconozco la escritura del
abuelo Tito. Escrito en la primera pgina del libro est el
siguiente mensaje:
Este libro le pertenece a Milagro.
El Chupacabras
Anda, perro maldito, . . . durmete! me susurro
mientras estoy sentado en la rama de un rbol en el bosque.
La noche se est poniendo fresca y no traje mi chamarra, pero no me voy a ir a casa sin antes acercarme a escondidas a la ventana del cuarto de mi novia Sally para darle
un beso. El truco es hacerlo sin que su padre se entere.
Sally me advirti que no lo intentara.
No lo hagas, Vctor dijo. Sabes que mi padre es
el mejor tirador del pueblo.
Es cierto. Su viejo ha ganado el torneo de puntera del
condado en los ltimos cinco aos. Hasta esa gente de la
ciudad que viene de todos lados con sus sofisticadas pistolas y miras de lser no han podido ganarle. S que es una
locura que me arriesgue de esta manera. Pero todo valdr
la pena si puedo besar los labios de mi bella Sally.
Pero no slo su pap, sino un sarnoso y viejo sabueso
llamado Chip me impiden este encuentro amoroso. Me da
miedo que me escuche el perro cuando trepe a la ventana
de Sally. Si empieza a aullar y despierta al pap, ser nio
muerto. As es que mejor me quedo aqu sentado y espero
el momento exacto para desplazarme.
40
41
Espero . . . y espero . . . y espero. Pero el maldito perro

no se mueve de su puesto. Estoy a punto de darme por vencido e irme a casa cuando veo que las orejas de Chip se
espabilan. El viejo sabueso emite un gruido bajito y
empieza a caminar hacia el bosque en mi direccin.
Me habr visto? Me pregunto, pero el viejo Chip pasa
a mi lado gruendo. Qu suerte! Me bajo de un salto del
rbol y empiezo a correr hacia la ventana del cuarto de
Sally. Estoy a punto de tocar para avisarle que ya llegu
cuando escucho que desde el bosque sale el chillido ms
horrendo que he odo.
Gir!
El fuerte chillido es seguido por un aullido agudo.
Qu est pasando all? escucho que el pap de
Sally grita desde la ventana de su recmara.
Me regreso rpidamente al bosque y me escondo detrs
de un arbusto. El pap de Sally sale de la puerta de enfrente con una escopeta en las manos. Intento escaparme, pero
termino tropezndome con algo y me caigo fuertemente
sobre el hombro. Al ver a mi alrededor veo que Chip est
ms muerto que muerto! Tiene dos heridas en el pescuezo.
Es como si alguien . . . o algo . . . le chup la sangre! Instantneamente recuerdo las historias que la abuela Maya
me contaba cuando nio sobre una criatura conocida como
el Chupacabras. Por qu una abuela considerara sensato
llenarle la cabeza a un nio con historias de un monstruo
de piel verde que te puede chupar toda la sangre del cuerpo, es un misterio para m. Pero siempre insista en que el
42
Xavier Garza
Chupacabras exista. Que estaba tan alto como un hombre

y que tena garras tan afiladas y nuevas como los cuchillos
carniceros, como los que venden en la tele. Escucho un
susurro en mi espalda. Despacito me doy vuelta y quedo
cara a cara con la misma criatura de las historias de mi
abuela. Sus encendidos ojos rojos miran fijamente a los
mos. Quiero correr. En verdad quiero correr. Pero con
cada paso que toma la criatura, encuentro que me es ms y
ms difcil moverme. Es como si los ojos rojos de la criatura tuvieran un tipo de control que no me permite correr.
La criatura se acerca ms y ms hasta que est tan cerca
que la baba que le escurre del hocico cae sobre mis tenis.
Pum! Pum! El sonido repentino de las balas rompe
con el trance hipntico del monstruo en m. La bestia da un
fuerte chillido cuando una bala encuentra el blanco en su
hombro izquierdo. El monstruo se aleja corriendo y desaparece en las sombras. Entonces es cuando veo al pap de
Sally corriendo hacia m con la escopeta.
Ests bien, hijo? me pregunta.
Creo que s susurro, an estoy temblando de
miedo.
Qu diablos era esa cosa? me pregunta.
El . . . el . . . el Chupa . . . el Chupacabras murmuro con gran dificultad.
Ests bromeando. Ve hacia la direccin en donde
estuvo parada la criatura. Dices que existe? Siempre
cre que era un cuento dice rascndose la cabeza.
44
Xavier Garza
Qu estabas haciendo all en el bosque, eh? Qu no hay

clases maana?
Qu le voy a decir. No le puedo decir que estaba tratando de robarle un beso a su hija Sally.
Quera ver si las historias de mi abuela Maya sobre
el Chupacabras eran ciertas.
Maya? pregunta. Vaya. No puede ser . . . entonces t eres hijo de Big Mike, verdad?
S. Todos llaman a mi pap Big Mike porque es tan
grande como un luchador profesional.
Tu viejo y yo ramos mejores amigos en la preparatoria me dice. No deberas andar por aqu en la noche,
especialmente con esa cosa . . . cualquier cosa que sea, al
acecho. Aydame a llevar a Chip a la casa para enterrarlo
como se debe. Despus entraremos para que le llames a tus
paps y vengan por ti.
Dijo que entraramos a su casa?
Tienes un rasguo muy feo en el hombro me
dice. Mi hija Sally se cree enfermera. Ella te puede curar
si quieres.
S, seor acepto con una sonrisa. Qu buena suerte!
Pero no se te ocurra hacerle ojitos a mi hija. Me
oyes?
No se preocupe, seor, no se preocupe.
Tneles
Ay grito al caer en el fondo de la cueva! Me ca
por un hoyo cuando me persegua uno de los animales ms
salvajes y raros que he visto en mi vida y desde la profundidad veo el cielo de la noche. Me meto la mano en el bolsillo derecho y saco el llavero con linterna. No ilumina
mucho, pero por lo menos ahora puedo ver lo que est
enfrente de m.
Espera un minuto, Joe me digo. Esto no es una
cueva. Por el marco de madera, esto es una especie de tnel
hecho por alguien. Veo a mi alrededor y encuentro un interruptor. Lo enciendo. Hasta dnde llegar este tnel?
me pregunto al ver con detenimiento el camino que est
iluminado enfrente de m. Drogas pienso. Eso es lo
que tiene que ser. Tiene que ser uno de esos tneles de los
que he ledo en las noticias. Los crteles de drogas los usan
para transportar mercanca a los Estados Unidos. Tengo
que salir de aqu y rpido. Lo ltimo que quiero es que los
narcotraficantes me agarren pasendome en su tnel. Pero
qu del animal ese que me persigui?
Slo quera ir a pescar de noche detrs de la casa de mi
abuelo. Mi mam me dijo que no deba ir, que ya no era
45
46
Xavier Garza
seguro. Dijo que los narcotraficantes usaban el ro para traficar drogas. Lo que no saba era que el encontrarse con los
narcos no era el nico peligro. Al parecer, uno tambin
tiene que preocuparse del Chupacabras, si es que es eso lo
que me persigui hace rato.
He escuchado cuentos del Chupacabras. Supuestamente es un extraterrestre de piel verde que se alimenta de sangre. Pero si la cosa con la que me encontr era de verdad,
entonces el Chupacabras pareca ms un perro pitbull grandote y sin pelo. No es que fuera menos horrendo. Recuerdo haberlo visto una vez en la tele. El video se hizo gracias
a la cmara en el tablero del polica. Mostr que una de las
criaturas del Chupacabras estaba tratando de alejarse de la
patrulla. Recuerdo que me re entonces. Hasta le coment a
mi pap lo falsa que luca la criatura. Era obviamente un
engao. Pero el Chupacabras que ahora conozco es real.
Camin por el tnel, esperando encontrar una salida
pronto. Estar yendo en la direccin correcta? Seguir en
los Estados Unidos? Podra estar en Mxico. Al caminar
por el tnel, escucho pasos enfrente de m. Inmediatamente busco un lugar para esconderme, pero no hay en donde
pueda hacer eso. De repente un nio de no ms de nueve
aos salta enfrente de m. Lleva una camiseta desgastada
con el logo de un equipo de ftbol mexicano. El nio me
observa como si intentara saber si le voy a hacer dao o no.
Creo que me tiene tanto miedo como yo a l. Ser que est
all en los tneles porque se cay como yo? Me empieza a
hablar en espaol. Mi espaol no es muy bueno, pero me
48
Xavier Garza
puedo comunicar con l. Le digo que me llamo Joe y que

me ca por un hoyo. Que as es como llegu all. Le pregunto si le pas lo mismo. Me dice que se llama Martn y
que est all buscando a Chato, su perro.
Ya lo encontraste? le pregunto.
Mueve la cabeza y me dice que no. Le digo que debemos salir antes de que salgan los narcotraficantes. Me dice
que l conoce la salida, pero no quiere irse sin Chato. Me
cuenta que no le tiene miedo a los narcotraficantes, y que
Chato lo proteger. Intento explicarle que el perro no ofrece mucha proteccin contra la pistola, pero no me hace
caso. Le digo que si me ensea a salir de all yo le ayudar a encontrar a Chato. Acepta.
Gritamos mientras caminamos por el tnel. Chato!
Chato!
Tal vez ya se sali, Martn.
No se ira sin m.
Quin anda all?! grita una voz detrs de nosotros.
Ambos nos damos vuelta y vemos a tres hombres armados que caminan hacia nosotros. Los narcos!
Martn, tenemos que escondernos volteo para
susurrarle, pero ya no est.
Oye, t . . . no te muevas grita uno de los hombres.
Tiene la pistola apuntndome y camina hacia m.
Qu ests haciendo aqu, chamaco?
Me ca le digo. Al correr para escaparme del
Chupacabras me ca en un hoyo.
do.
49
El Chupacabras?
Se voltea hacia sus compinches, quienes se estn rien-
Qu malo para ti, muchacho dice y levanta la pistola. La apunta hacia mi cabeza.
Arrr . . . arrr . . . arrr . . . !
Qu es eso? pregunta el tipo que tiene la pistola
apuntada hacia mi cabeza. Le dice a los otros tipos que
vayan a revisar.
Chato pienso. Ser el perro de Martn?
Cuando los dos tipos empiezan a caminar por el tnel
se apagan las luces.
Quin apag las luches? preguntan los dos tipos.
La pregunta es seguida por unos gritos y aullidos agudos.
Ayyy!
De repente, el tipo que est a mi lado grita tambin, y
siento que algo lo derrumba hasta el suelo. Las luces se
vuelven a prender. Le est saliendo sangre de la boca. La
misma bestia que me persigui hace rato ahora est parada
sobre el narco. Le desgarr la garganta y ahora est lamiendo la sangre.
Chato! le grita Martn.
Veo cmo el Chupacabras empieza a caminar hacia
Martn. Lo hace tan despacio al principio, pero con cada
paso que da parece correr ms y ms rpido. Veo cmo el
Chupacabras salta sobre Martn y lo tira al suelo. El monstruo despus empieza a . . . lamer la cara de Martn? El
50
Xavier Garza
feroz monstruo que hace unos minutos asesin a tres hombres ahora juguetea lamiendo la cara de Martn.
Chato . . . Chato dice Martn, y abraza a la criatura.
Ese es Chato? El Chupacabras es Chato?
Martn me hace un gesto para que lo siga a l y a Chato
por el tnel. Chato se da vuelta y me grue. Pero Martn le
aprieta el cuello y lo hace parar. Mientras caminamos por
el tnel, Martn apunta hacia la lejana torre de observacin
de la Patrulla Fronteriza.
Anda dice Martn sonriendo. Luego le indica al
Chupacabras que lo siga al tnel.
Cuando llego a la torre de la Patrulla Fronteriza, les
cuento a los agentes sobre el tnel. Les cuento sobre los
narcotraficantes. Hasta les cuento sobre Martn y el Chupacabras. Cuando van a investigar, me dicen que encontraron los tneles, as como los cuerpos de los tres hombres
muertos. Pero a Martn y al Chupacabras . . . no los encontraron por ningn lado.
El Diablo me est haciendo hacerlo

Cmo me dijiste? pregunta el seor Lpez.
No le dije nada responde Freddie, asustado.
l le prometi a su madre que hoy no se metera en problemas en la escuela. Pero parece que Freddie est a punto
de romper su promesa.
El seor Lpez mira a Freddie con sospecha.
***
Pobre Freddie, de verdad est tratando de ser bueno.
Pero tengan la seguridad de que cuando termine con l, su
madre recibir la llamada robtica para avisarle que el
pequeo Freddie se volvi a meter en problemas. En los
ltimos dos das, lo he hecho faltar a clases, responderle a
sus maestros y hasta tronar un petardo en la mitad del pasillo . . . pero me guard lo mejor para el final. Hoy, voy a
hacer que Freddie empiece una pelea con comida en la
cafetera. Esta no ser cualquier pelea, no, no, no . . . ser
la mejor pelea con comida en la historia de todas las escuelas secundarias! Ser monumental! pica! Y ahora que
van a servir enchiladas, ser an ms sucia! Me preguntas
51
52
Xavier Garza
que por qu le estoy haciendo estas cosas terribles a Freddie, porque mi trabajo es meter a la gente en problemas. Es
lo que he hecho desde que empez el mundo. Preguntas
quin soy yo. Podras decir que soy la inspiracin de cada
terrible y vil acto que se haya cometido en el mundo . . .
soy el Diablo! No estoy hablando metafricamente. Digo,
literalmente soy el Diablo. El ngel Cado, el Rey de las
Tinieblas, el Rival de Dios. El verdadero mal encarnado.
***
Ve a la oficina, Freddie dice el seor Lpez, muy

ofendido por las malas palabras que el nio us para referirse a l.
La verdad es que fui yo quien dijo esa palabrota. Les
dije que soy un ventrlocuo muy talentoso? Los consejeros
van a culpar el comportamiento de Freddie en la reciente
muerte de Gilberto, su pap. Buen tipo, el pap de Freddie.
Un ex boxeador con un izquierdazo de muerte. Podra
haber sido profesional, pero desisti de la gloria del boxeo
para cuidar de su hijo, y para su crdito, jams se arrepinti de su decisin. Tambin iba a la iglesia todos los domingos sin falta. Odio ese tipo de personas. Digo, se moriran
si se toman un domingo libre de vez en cuando? Freddy y
su pap tambin eran muy cercanos. No importaba lo cansado que llegara despus del trabajo. El viejo siempre hacia
tiempo para su hijito. Cualquier promesa que hiciera su
pap era dorada, y Freddie lo saba. Su viejo siempre haca
53
lo que le prometa. Bueno, excepto por la promesa de que

siempre estara all para l. Que nunca lo dejara. Pero
cuando Gilberto se muri, dej al pobre de Freddie solo.
Freddie entiende que su padre no se quera morir. Que no
fue su culpa que un borracho estuviera en la carretera la
misma noche que su padre. Pero Freddie an siente que su
padre lo abandon. Es un pensamiento irracional, claro.
Pero Freddie es slo un nio lidiando con la pena de haber
perdido a su padre. Mientras Freddie estaba sentado solo
en la oficina de la directora esperando que llegara, decid
que era hora de presentarme con l.
Siempre te estn molestando, verdad, Freddie?
Quin dijo eso? pregunta Freddie. La mirada en
la cara del nio es invaluable! El nio ha de pensar que se
est volviendo loco.
Yo lo dije le digo mientras sigo invisible.
El nio salta de la silla. Est aterrado!
Quin dijo eso?
Despacio empiezo a materializarme enfrente de l.
Llevo una camiseta roja. Los pantalones me llegan a la
mitad de las nalgas. Es una tontera. Lo s, y mis calzones
no dejan nada a la imaginacin. Pero es como se visten los
chicos en estos das, y jams digan que el Diablo no est al
tanto de la ltima moda juvenil.
Freddie quiere gritar. Lo veo en su rostro.
Me llevo el ndice a los labios. Te comi la lengua
un ratn? le digo.
54
Xavier Garza
Y as, Freddie intenta hablar, pero no le salen las palabras.

No fue un ratn me corrijo. Ms bien, yo tengo
tu lengua. Abro las manos y se la muestro. Me encanta
hacer que la gente pierda el control con esa bromita!
Clmate, Freddie le digo. Seguro que te mueres
por saber quin soy y cmo hice eso.
Freddie asiente.
Salto encima del escritorio de la directora. Tal vez es el
artista en m, pero me encanta ser as de dramtico.
SOY EL DIABLO! declaro.
El chico est verdaderamente aterrorizado. Lo puedo
ver en sus ojos. Es mejor que baje la intensidad antes de
que se haga en los pantalones. Eso ha pasado antes.
No tienes que temerme le digo. Bueno, tal vez
s . . . un poquito.
No te quiero hacer dao le digo ms bien para ayudarme a m mismo. S que ests teniendo problemas en
la escuela, verdad? Lo s porque soy yo quien los est
causando!
Freddie asiente.
Qu si te digo que los puedo desaparecer? Que
poda arreglar las cosas para que nadie te hiciera dao. Te
interesa?
Freddie no responde. Est tan silencioso como un ratn.
Habla, nio, te interesa o no?
Qu tonto, olvid que le quit la lengua. Trueno los
dedos. Intenta hablar ahora.
56
Xavier Garza
Te vas a asegurar que no me vuelva a pasar nada

malo? pregunta Freddie.
Te doy mi palabra.
Y cmo vas a hacer eso?
Te voy a ensear le digo justo cuando entra la
directora al cuarto. Digamos que sta es una muestra,
de acuerdo?
Qu est pasando, Freddie? le pregunta la directora.
Nada . . .
El seor Lpez dijo que usaste una palabra bastante
grosera con l.
Pero no lo hice.
La directora, la seora Martnez, camina a su escritorio.
Freddie ve que estoy parado detrs de la silla con ruedas de
la directora. Cuando se empieza a sentar, jala la silla.
Ay! grita con dolor porque cae con fuerza sobre el
coxis.
Est bien? Freddie pregunta con rapidez.
Dios mo! grita la secretaria de la directora, quien
entra corriendo a la oficina. Qu pas?
Llama a la enfermera! grita la seora Martnez
con dolor.
Regresan a Freddie a su saln.
La seora Martnez tendr que tratar contigo despus
dice la secretaria.
Ves le digo. Yo soy fiel a mi palabra. No te
metiste en problemas.
57
Pero la lastimaste me dice molesto. No te dije

que le hicieras dao.
No me dijiste que no lo hiciera le recuerdo.
No quiero hacer esto dice Freddie. Est mal.
Djame en paz.
Que te deje en paz? Crees que va a ser tan fcil
decirle no al Diablo?
No me puedes hacer que haga algo que no quiero
me desafa Freddie.
Es hora de que le muestre a este mocoso quin manda
aqu.
Vas a hacer todo lo que te diga, Freddie.
Levanto los brazos y los muevo para arriba y para
abajo. Sorprendido, Freddie ve cmo sus brazos hacen los
mismos movimientos.
Eres mi marioneta le digo, y yo soy tu titiritero.
Entonces, suena el timbre que anuncia el receso para
almuerzo. Es hora de que comas, Freddie le digo.
VAMOS A COMER!
Llevo a Freddie a la lnea de la comida, me est peleando cada paso pero est perdiendo terriblemente.
Escoge esas enchiladas con mucho queso le
digo. Pide queso extra . . . mucho. Veo cmo la seora de la cafetera sirve una cucharada grande del pegajoso
queso amarillo.
Ya es hora, Freddie le susurro cuando se sienta en
una de las mesas de la cafetera. Vas a tomar ese plato
58
Xavier Garza
lleno de enchiladas con extra queso y lo vas a lanzar al otro

lado del cuarto le ordeno.
Y qu si le pego a alguien?
sa es la idea, tontn.
No quiero hacer eso.
Soy el Diablo, y t debes hacer lo que te ordene.
Result terco el debilucho de Freddie. Lo hago que
levante el plato de enchiladas. Veo cmo se pone de pie y
agarra el plato. An est vacilando, pero despacio lo empieza a elevar en el aire.
Eso es le digo. Ahora apunta con cuidado.
Pero Freddie se queda all parado como un tonto. No
lo voy a hacer me dice.
No tienes otra opcin le recuerdo.
Ayuda! grita a todo pulmn.
Ayuda? le pregunto. Quin crees que va a
venir a ayudarte?
En ese momento veo que todos en la cafetera estn
petrificados. Qu est pasando? All es cuando lo veo . . .
el seor Santurrn. El espritu del pap de Freddie est
parado en medio de la cafetera. Est envuelto en una luz
dorada y lleva una aureola en la cabeza.
Pap? pregunta Freddie incrdulo. Eres t?
Freddie le susurro en un gruido bajito lanza el
plato de enchiladas!
Veo que Freddie pone el plato en la mesa y lo empuja.
No! me grita con desafo. Mi papi me ense
que no debo empezar peleas con comida en la cafetera.
59
Me lanzo encima de Freddie, pero antes de que lo pueda

atrapar siento un golpe en los pies que me hace dar una
maroma y caer al suelo. Levanto la vista y veo al pap de
Freddie parado sobre m. Ahora lleva un par de alas de
ngel exageradamente grandes. Y me cae el veinte. El
padre de Freddie no es un mero espritu. Gilberto fue tan
santurrn toda su vida que cuando muri y se fue al cielo,
lo hicieron ngel guardin. El pap de Freddie es un ngel
guardin!
Eres t, Pap? pregunta Freddie.
S, soy yo, hijo.
Pero, pens que me habas abandonado.
Jams te abandonara, hijo. Estoy contigo . . . aunque
no me puedas ver.
El amor de padre a hijo balbuceo. Me da asco.
Esta vez ganan ustedes les digo a Freddie y a su
pap mientras empiezo a esfumarme. Ser el Diablo, pero
hasta yo s que no debo pelear con un ngel guardin. Hoy
ganaron los buenos . . . pero maana?
El rbol de dinero
No s, Nicols dice mi hermanito Robert. En
verdad crees que funcione esto?
Estoy seguro que va a funcionar le digo.
Pero an no estoy seguro dice el pequeo Robert
otra vez. No ha aceptado por completo que mis palabras
son la mera verdad.
Mira . . . quin tiene once?
T responde.
Y cuntos tienes t?
Seis.
Y quin ha vivido ms?
T.
Entonces quin va a saber ms de esta cosas, eh?
T. Frente a tal lgica, el pequeo Robert acepta
de mala gana. Y qu tengo que hacer?
Primero tienes que cavar un hoyo en la tierra lo suficientemente grande para enterrar tus cuatro monedas.
Le entrego la pala. El pequeo Robert empieza a cavar
y en pocos minutos est listo el hoyo. Le hago una sea
para que ponga las cuatro monedas en el hoyo, pero vacila.
60
61
Pero stas son mis monedas. Mi madrina Matilda me

las dio en mi cumpleaos.
Tu ESPELUZNANTE madrina Matilda te las dio en
tu cumpleaos?
No es espeluznante dice el pequeo Robert.
Matilda s es espeluznante. Es rara, dira yo. Es una ta
que vive en la casa al lado de la nuestra. Hace cinco aos
conoci a un hombre llamado Tello y se cas con l. Ellos
bautizaron a Robert. Todo pareca bien al principio. Pero
cuando se mudaron a Mxico, la gente deca que Tello
empez a cambiar. Que tomaba mucho y que ya no quera
trabajar. Que hasta se puso abusivo con la ta Matilda. Que
la trataba como una prisionera. Hasta que ella reuni el
coraje para dejarlo. Se fue a un pueblo llamado Catemaco
. . . la capital de las brujas en Mxico. All fue donde se
involucr con la magia, las cartas del tarot, el tablero de
Ouija, la profetizacin de la suerte y cosas de ese tipo.
Empezaron a surgir rumores de que Matilda se haba convertido en bruja. Tello fue a buscarla a Catemaco y jams
lo volvieron a ver. Es como si se lo hubiera tragado la tierra. Nuestra mam dice que esas historias no son ciertas.
Que son terribles rumores que dice la gente ignorante.
La ta Matilda dej a Tello porque descubri que era
un flojo y un estafador dice Mam. Siempre estaba en
busca de formas de hacerle trampa a la gente y quitarles su
dinero.
62
Xavier Garza
Hoy la ta Matilda vive en la antigua casa de nuestro

abuelo con un marranito de mascota llamado . . . Tello.
Supongo que le puso as por su marido.
Ya pon las monedas en el hoyo y vmonos.
Pero cmo s que ste no es uno de tus trucos?
Te lo voy a explicar una vez ms le digo, ponindole los ojos en blanco. Si siembras estas monedas en la
tierra crecer un rbol de dinero.
Ests seguro?
Por supuesto que estoy seguro.
Mira . . . crecen rboles de naranja de las semillas
de naranja?
S.
Y qu nos dan?
Naranjas respondi el pequeo Robert.
Crecen rboles de manzana de las semillas de manzana?
S.
Y qu nos dan?
Manzanas.
Entonces si sembramos estas monedas en la tierra,
qu tipos de rboles van a crecer?
rboles de monedas? pregunta el pequeo Robert.
Y qu va a crecer de esos rboles de monedas?
Monedasdeclara el pequeo Robert.
El minuto en el que veo su ambiciosa sonrisa dibujarse
en su cara, s que lo tengo. Exactamente le digo.
63
Tendremos un rbol de dinero tan grande que nos dar

cientos de monedas. Seremos ricos!
Est bien. Hagmoslo decide el pequeo Robert y
coloca una de las monedas en el hoyo. Luego palea la tierra en el hoyo para cubrirla.
Ahora, recuerda, Robertito, que tienes que regarla
todos los das . . . si no, no crecer.
S, seor dice.
El pequeo Robert golpea sus dos pies y saluda como
un soldado.
***
En cuanto todos se duermen, salgo del cuarto a hurtadillas y sin hacer ruido salgo por la puerta de la cocina. Voy
hacia la parte trasera de la casa, donde el pequeo Robert
enterr las monedas. Empiezo a cavar con mis manos hasta
que las encuentro.
Qu ests haciendo aqu en la noche? pregunta
una voz detrs de m, y me toma por sorpresa. Rpidamente doy vuelta y veo a la ta Matilda parada con Tello en sus
brazos.
Nada respondo con rapidez, intentando esconder
las monedas detrs de mi espalda.
No deberas estar aqu tan tarde, Nicols. Ya sabes
que no es seguro.
No es seguro?
Las brujas salen de noche me advierte.
65
Brujas? le pregunto. Qu es una bruja?

En ingls creo que la palabra sera . . . witches.
No lo saba.
Sabas que no todas las brujas son malas? me pregunta. Algunas usan sus poderes para ayudar a la gente,
o para darles una leccin, si son raterillos conspiradores,
como mi esposo Tello.
Al escuchar el nombre de Tello, su marranito empez a
chillar. Oink! Oink!
As es que dime, Nicols, necesitas una leccin?
No le digo. Estoy bien.
De verdad? Entonces qu escondes detrs de la
espalda?
Nada . . . le respondo. Chihuahua . . . me descubri! Sabe que saqu las monedas de Robertito. Qu voy
a hacer?
Justo en ese momento, el ulular de un bho que estaba
posado en un rbol le llama la atencin. Aprovecho la distraccin momentnea y meto las monedas en mi boca.
Mustrame las manos me dice.
Hago lo que me pide e inmediatamente abro las manos.
Me mira con sospecha, cuando de repente el bho vuela
del rbol directamente a m!
Ay! grito al tropezar y caerme con fuerza sobre la
espalda.
Las monedas . . . las monedas estn atoradas en mi garganta. Me estoy ahogando! Intento toser para soltarlas,
pero termino tragndomelas. Glup!
66
Xavier Garza
Ests bien? pregunta Matilda.

El bho . . . por qu me atac?
En ese preciso instante, mi estmago empieza a hacer
unos ruidos de gorgoteo y a dolerme. Me pongo las manos
en la panza y siento que algo se mueve dentro. Quiero gritar, pero no me salen las palabras. Algo se est moviendo
dentro de mi estmago. Lo puedo sentir! Algo empieza a
subirme por la garganta. Qu me est pasando? Abro la
boca y veo que algo est creciendo dentro de m. Qu es
eso? Parecen . . . parecen . . . ramas? Son ramas las que
estn creciendo de mi boca? Las ramas estn creciendo
ms y ms y empiezan a brotarles hojas! Quiero gritar,
pero no puedo. Me voy a morir! Empiezan a brotar capullos en las ramas que me salen de la boca e instantneamente se abren para revelar . . . monedas? Hay un rbol
de dinero creciendo dentro de m!
Aprendiste la leccin? pregunta la ta Matilda.
Asiento.
La ta Matilda estira la mano y corta una de las monedas de las ramas. El dolor es tan intenso que me hace desmayar.
Cuando despierto estoy acostado en el suelo sobre mi
estmago. Veo a mi alrededor, pero la ta Matilda y su
marranito ya no estn. Siento que an tengo algo atorado
en la garganta, intento toser para que se suelte. Toso en mis
manos hasta que siento que, por fin, algo se suelta de mi
garganta. Abro las manos y veo . . . cuatro monedas.
El Diablo en la clase de la seora Leal

Qu estn haciendo aqu ustedes dos? pregunta
Josefina. No saba que dejaban que los nerds tomaran
clases de baile.
Cualquier persona puede tomar clases de baile, Josefina le digo.
Es cierto dice Angelina, mi mejor amiga. Marta
y yo tenemos tanto derecho como cualquier otra persona de
estar aqu.
La verdad es que ninguna de las dos quiere estar aqu.
Pero el consejero nos dijo que tenamos que tomar una
clase de educacin fsica como parte de nuestro currculo,
as es que era o esto o la clase de volibol. Ninguna de las
dos tenemos un don atltico, as es que entre que nos den
golpes con la pelota de voli en la cabeza y que nos tropecemos con nuestros propios pies en la clase de baile . . .
decidimos por el menor de los males.
No dejes que nadie se entere que eres mi prima me
dice. Ya es suficiente con tener una prima nerd. Josefina pone los ojos en blanco al alejarse.
Es tan creda dice Angelina.
Ya s le respondo.
67
68
Xavier Garza
Es cierto. Josefina es la nia ms creda de la escuela.

Desafortunadamente, tambin es mi prima. Josefina es una
de las nias ms lindas de toda la escuela. Todos los chicos
estn vueltos locos por ella, y ella lo sabe. A Josefina le
gusta hacer que los chicos compitan por su afecto. Tambin
le gusta cuando pelean por ella. Eso le encanta ms que
nada. Le gusta presumir que puede tener a cualquier chico
que le guste. Lo que es peor es que si descubre que yo le
gusto a un chico, va y empieza a coquetearle para que no
me hable. Mi mam dice que ella acta as porque me tiene
celos.
Pero por qu me tiene celos a m? le pregunto a
mi mam. Ella es ms linda que yo.
T tambin eres linda, mija me dice mi mam.
Pero t tambin eres inteligente. La belleza se desvanece
con el tiempo, Marta, pero la inteligencia dura toda la vida.
Hagan fila dice la seora Leal cuando entra al
saln. Hoy vamos a aprender bailes de saln.
Quiere que ayude a la clase con los ejercicios de
calentamiento, Seora Leal? pregunta Josefina.
Lambiscona me susurra Angelina.
S, Josefina dice la seora Leal.
Toc . . . toc.
Alguien est tocando en la puerta le digo a la seora Leal.
Adelante dice ella.
69
Entra un joven alto con sombrero vaquero y jeans azules al saln de baile. Educadamente se quita el sombrero
antes de hablarle a la seora Leal.
Es sta la clase de la seora Leal? pregunta el
joven.
Qu guapo Angelina me susurra al odo. Mira
esa sonrisa y esos ojos azules.
Tiene razn. Es uno de los chicos ms guapos que he
visto en toda la escuela.
S dice la seora Leal, ests en el lugar correcto.
Mucho gusto, seora Leal le dice y le muestra su
horario de clases. Me llamo Thomas, pero todo mundo
me llama Tommy. El joven extiende la mano para estrechar la de la seora Leal.
Muy bien, miren dice la seora Leal. Deberan
aprender a ser como Tommy.
Las palabras de la seora Leal hacen que Tommy se
ruborice un poco. Obviamente, esto hace que todas las chicas en el saln suelten un Qu lindo colectivo y sintamos
que nuestros corazones se derritan.
Has tomado alguna clase de baile antes? pregunta la seora Leal.
No necesariamente responde Tommy. Pero
podra decir que me manejo en la pista de baile. Lo hered
de mi padre. l baila muy bien. Cuando era joven tena la
reputacin de sacarle lumbre a la pista.
70
Xavier Garza
En serio? pregunta la seora Leal. Tal vez nos

puedas hacer una demostracin de lo poquito que sabes?
Sera un honor le responde. A lo mejor alguien
en la clase puede ser mi pareja para ensearles lo que s?
Qu tal t? me dice sealndome.
Yo? digo, pero no s bailar. Es mi primer da de
clase.
Todos sabemos bailar insiste. Lo veo fijamente, no
lo puedo evitar y me pierdo en sus ojos azules.
Pero, qu pasa con mis modales me dice. Ni
siquiera s tu nombre.
Marta . . . me llamo Marta.
Bueno, Marta, bailamos?
Antes de darme cuenta de lo que est pasando, estoy
parada a su lado.
Slo sgueme me susurra en el odo. Me guia un
ojo y me regala una sonrisa de nio travieso.
Te seguira a cualquier lado pienso. Unos segundos despus estoy bailando. Bailando de verdad!
Izquierda . . . derecha . . . izquierda . . . derecha y
vuelta me ordena.
Lo estoy haciendo! Estoy bailando . . . y lo estoy
haciendo bien tambin! Veo alrededor del saln. Todos nos
ven. Angelina, mi mejor amiga me est sonriendo. Mi
prima Josefina tambin me est observando . . . hjole est
bien celosa! Pero no me importa! Estoy bailando! Verdaderamente bailando! Estoy bailando con el chico ms
71
guapo de toda la escuela . . . y en ese momento me cae todo

el mundo encima.
Ay! grito cuando me tropiezo y me caigo de
espaldas.
Todos se empiezan a rer de m. Me tropezaron? Veo
al otro lado y mi prima est all parada toda inocente.
Me tropezaste! le digo.
No me culpes por ser torpe me responde de manera grosera. T te tropezaste con tus pies de elefante.
Lo hiciste muy bien, Tommy dice la seora Leal,
aparentemente no est para nada preocupada con mi vergonzosa cada. Tommy, se te da muy bien el baile.
Gracias, seora Leal dice Tommy antes de hincarse a mi lado para asegurarse que estoy bien. Ests bien,
preciosa?
S digo, tengo tanta vergenza que no puedo verlo.
Me gustara ver cmo bailas con una pareja con ms
experiencia de baile dice la seora Leal. Josefina . . .
ests lista?
Antes de que la seora Leal termine de hablar, Josefina
jala a Tommy a la mitad de la pista. Empiezan a moverse a
un ritmo perfecto, dando vueltas y vueltas al ritmo de la
msica que sale del tocador de discos compactos de la
seora Leal.
Perfecto! grita la seora Leal. Se ven perfectos
juntos.
Sus palabras me rompen el corazn. Josefina va a ganar
otra vez.
72
Xavier Garza
Tommy empieza a darle ms y ms vueltas a Josefina

alrededor de la pista de baile. Giran y giran sin parar. Al
principio Josefina se re, pero empieza a marearse y le pide
que se detenga. Pero Tommy no para. Slo se re de ella.
Para, Tommy! grita la seora Leal.
Pero Tommy tampoco le hace caso a ella. Gira ms y
ms hasta que, aunque suene increble, l y Josefina se
transforman en un borrn.
The Devil, es el Diablo! escuchamos que Josefina
grita bien fuerte.
Josefina y Tommy se convierten en una bola de fuego
que alcanza el techo y hace que los extintores de agua se
enciendan! Y as como aparece la bola de fuego en el saln,
tambin desaparece sin dejar rasgo de Josefina o Tommy.
Lo nico que queda como evidencia de lo que sucedi es
una quemada en medio de la pista de baile. Despus encontramos en mi mochila una nota dirigida a m que lee: Gracias por bailar conmigo, preciosa. Hasta la prxima. Con
cario, Tommy.
El selfie
No deberamos estar aqu le digo a Rudy al meterme al cuarto detrs de l por la ventana rota. La vieja oficina de impuestos de Fort Ringgold lleva aos de estar
abandona y est cubierta de polvo y telaraas.
Deja de ser tan miedoso, Mateo dice Rudy, y apunta la linterna hacia mi cara. Dijimos que lo haramos los
dos.
No, T lo aceptaste le recuerdo. Yo soy el idiota a quien convenciste de que te siguiera.
Por aqu me dice, haciendo una mueca para que
bajemos por una escalera. El cuarto tendra que estar en
el subterrneo.
Queremos hacer eso? le pregunto. Digo, en
verdad queremos meternos con fantasmas?
Pens que dijiste que no creas en fantasmas.
No creo en ellos.
Entonces no tienes nada que temer, verdad?
En verdad eso espero, pero tengo una insistente sensacin que tal vez s tengo miedo de algo.
Y cul es la historia de este lugar? Por qu puede
ser tan espeluznante una vieja oficina de impuestos?
74
75
No siempre fue una oficina de impuestos dice

Rudy. Tambin fue hospital durante la Guerra Civil.
Un hospital? No saba eso.
Mi abuela dice que antes, cuando ella trabajaba aqu
como secretaria, ella y sus compaeros de trabajo escuchaban ruidos extraos.
Cmo qu?
Escuchaban voces . . . pasos . . . cosas raras me
dice mientras pasa la linterna por el subterrneo. Lo nico
que vemos son viejos escritorios y mesas. Lo que ms
les daba miedo era cuando escuchaban gritos.
Gritos . . . qu quieres decir con gritos?
Gritos agonizantes. Mi abuela dice que algunos soldados se murieron mientras los mdicos intentaban salvarlos. Sus muertes fueron tan traumticas que hasta sus almas
quedaron atrapadas en este mundo.
Ya, basta! le digo.
Oye, eso fue lo que me dijo mi abuela dice Rudy.
Terminemos con esto de una vez.
Parece que all es un buen lugar. Con la linterna
apunta al escritorio que est en medio del cuarto.
De acuerdo le digo y saco mi celular.
Ambos nos subimos al escritorio y posamos para un
selfie que le demostrar a nuestros amigos que en verdad
cumplimos con el desafo y bajamos al subterrneo de la
vieja oficina de impuestos.
Elvala dice Rudy. Quiero que salga todo lo que
se pueda del cuarto.
76
Xavier Garza
Di queso le digo al tomar la foto.

El flash del telfono ilumina todo el cuarto por un
momento.
Ya est le digo a Rudy. Ahora vmonos de
aqu . . . este lugar me da cosa.
Subimos rpidamente las escaleras pero descubrimos
que la puerta por la que entramos ahora est cerrada!
T le echaste llave a la puerta, Rudy?
No, ni siquiera recuerdo haberla cerrado. Seguro que
fuiste t.
Yo no la cerr le digo. Seguro que fuiste t!
No fui yo dice Rudy.
Si no fuiste t . . . entonces quin lo hizo?
Cmo lo voy a saber?! me grita. Lo nico
que s es que no fui yo!
Aydenme . . . susurra una voz del subterrneo.
Qu fue eso?
No s. Viene del subterrneo. Apunta la linterna
hacia all.
Aydenme . . . dice otra voz, una voz diferente.
No hay nadie all! dice Rudy.
Aydenme . . . aydenme . . . aydenme . . . Escuchamos ms voces por todos lados del subterrneo.
No hay nadie all abajo! grita Rudy mientras
sigue iluminando el subterrneo con la linterna. No hay
nadie all abajo!
Me doy vuelta y empiezo a mover la perilla de la puerta, intentando abrirla a la fuerza.
77
Aydennos, aydennos empiezan a cantonear las

voces.
Se estn acercando dice Rudy. Estn subiendo
las escaleras!
Justo en ese momento, la perilla da vuelta en mis manos
y abro la puerta con fuerza.
Vmonos! le grito a Rudy.
Ambos corremos hacia la ventana rota que usamos para
entrar al edificio.
Qu haba all abajo? le pregunto a Rudy.
No s, Mateo, pero vmonos de aqu dice Rudy
cuando logramos salir por la ventana.
Corremos y corremos hasta que estamos tan lejos de la
vieja oficina de impuestos que ya no la vemos.
Qu acaba de pasar? pregunta Rudy. Esas
voces que escuchamos . . . eran fantasmas?
No s qu eran le digo. Lo nico que s es que
jams quiero volver a entrar all.
Tu telfono dice Rudy. S tomamos la foto,
verdad?
Claro.
Saco el telfono de mi bolsillo. Empiezo a repasar las
fotografas hasta que llego a una que casi le da un vuelco a
mi corazn.
Qu pasa? pregunta Rudy. No me digas que no
sali.
Quiero hablar, pero estoy tanto en shock que no puedo
describir con palabras lo que estoy viendo.
78
Xavier Garza
Qu pasa? pregunta Rudy. Dime, Mateo . . .

por favor!
Le entrego mi telfono y le enseo lo que estoy viendo.
La foto nos muestra a los dos sonrindole como idiotas a la
cmara, pero eso no es lo que me tiene aterrado. En la foto
estamos rodeados de soldados . . . de soldados muertos.
Me lo puedo quedar?
Me encontr un perro le digo a mi madre. Me
lo puedo quedar? Yo lo voy a cuidar. Lo prometo.
Ya sabes que no podemos tener un perro, Nikko
me dice. A tu pap no le gustan los perros.
Pero no es justo le digo. Martn ni siquiera es mi
pap. Lo odio.
No debes decir esas cosas.
Por qu no? le pregunto. Porque me pegar
como a ti?
No me digas eso, Nikko.
Por qu no? Es la verdad.
Mi padrastro, Martn, es bien malo. Es un borracho.
Cada vez que llega a casa apesta a cerveza, y lo nico que
hace es insultar a mam con todo tipo de palabras obscenas. A veces deseo ser grande para darle un puetazo en la
nariz.
No es justo, Mam le digo. Todos mis amigos
tienen perros.
Ya lo s dice.
Pero est bien lindo . . . Deja y te lo muestro.
80
81
Me agacho y lo tomo en mis brazos. Mi mam me

observa con una mirada divertida, como si estuviera confundida o algo.
Ya veo dice titubeando.
Lo voy a llamar Vinnie le digo. Quieres hacerle
un cario en la cabeza? Eso le gusta.
Claro dice, y sonriendo se agacha y le acaricia la
cabeza a Vinnie. Supongo que no es tan fcil que tu
padrastro se entere que tenemos a Vinnie, verdad? Vamos
a quedrnoslo.
Viva! grito. Vamos a mi cuarto, Vinnie. Te voy
a mostrar dnde vas a dormir de ahora en adelante!
Me paso todo el da jugando con l. Corremos en el jardn persiguiendo ardillas. Trato de ensearle a ir a buscar
un palito, pero Vinnie parece no entender. Cada vez que lo
tiro, yo termino yendo a buscarlo. Estoy seguro que eventualmente aprender. Cuando llevo a Vinnie a caminar,
algunos de los nios ms grandes se ren de m y, sin razn,
me gritan que soy raro. Vinnie les grue, pero le digo que
los deje en paz. A los chicos ms grandes les gusta molestar a los pequeos porque son malos.
Vinnie es un perro tan bueno que ni siquiera necesita
una correa cuando lo camino. Simplemente camina a mi
lado. Es el mejor perro del mundo. Lo supe desde el primer
momento en que lo vi jugando en el cementerio de mascotas. Corri directamente a m y prcticamente me salt a
los brazos. En ese momento supe que sera mi perro para
siempre . . . hasta que la muerte nos separara.
82
Xavier Garza
Para cuando volvemos Vinnie y yo a casa, escucho la

voz de mi padrastro. Le est gritando a mi mam. El sonido de los gritos de Martn enoja tanto a Vinnie que empieza a gruir. Cuando entramos a casa mi padrastro est a
punto de golpear a Mam, pero le grito que pare.
Deja a mi mam en paz!
Qu me gritaste?! me reclama y empieza a quitarse el cinturn de los pantalones. Ese es el problema
con los chicos de hoy. No respetan a los adultos. Pero te
voy a ensear a respetarme, muchacho.
Aljate de m le advierto. Aljate de m o le voy
a decir a mi perro Vinnie que te muerda.
Perro? Cul perro? No te dije que podas tener un
perro!
Pero ahora tengo uno le digo. Y est aqu!
Dnde? No veo nada.
Aqu digo apuntando hacia mi pierna. Est aqu
y te va a morder si no nos dejas en paz ahora mismo.
Ests loco se medio re y me agarra de la camiseta para jalarme hacia l. Te voy a ensear a no inventar
cosas!
Justo en ese momento Vinnie empieza a gruir y salta
sobre mi padrastro, clavndole los dientes en el brazo!
Ay! grita.
Vinnie despus lo muerde en los dos tobillos, y le ataca
las piernas y los muslos. Mi padrastro grita por el dolor e
intenta gatear hacia la puerta para alejarse de Vinnie quien
lo est atacando como un lobo.
83
Qutenmelo de encima! Qutenmelo de encima!

Grita mi padrastro cuando abre la puerta de la sala y se
aleja corriendo pero no antes de que Vinnie le d una mordida en el trasero!
Eres un buen perro le digo a Vinnie, un buen
perro.
Qu est pasando? pregunta mi madre. Cmo
lograste eso?
Cmo logr qu? le pregunto.
Qu le hiciste a tu pap? Cmo lo hiciste?
Pero si no hice nada, Mam. Fue Vinnie.
Pero Vinnie no es de verdad dice.
Qu quieres decir con que Vinnie no es de verdad?
Est aqu a mi lado.
Pero no tienes a un perro a tu lado, Nikko. Cuando
me enseaste un perro hace rato . . . no tenas a un perro en
tus brazos. Pens que era un amigo imaginario.
Pero Vinnie es de verdad le digo. Est sentado a
mi lado, Mam. Te est lamiendo la mano . . .
Tambin por Xavier Garza

Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys
Kid Cyclone Fights the Devil and Other Stories /
Kid Cicln se enfrenta a El Diablo y otras historias
Juan and the Chupacabras / Juan y el Chupacabras
Zulema and the Witch Owl / Zulema y la Bruja Lechuza

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La Señora Asna Se Enfrenta A La Llorona y Otros Cuentos by Xavier Garza

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La Señora Asna Se Enfrenta A La Llorona y Otros Cuentos by Xavier Garza

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Also by Xavier Garza

Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys

The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to my niece

The Gift That Is a Curse ................................. 15

The Egg ........................................................... 25

Grandpa Titos Book ....................................... 31

The Blood-Sucking Beast ............................... 40

The Devil Is Making Him Do It ..................... 51

The Money Tree .............................................. 60

The Devil in Mrs. Leals Class ....................... 67

The Selfie ........................................................ 74

Can I Keep Him? ............................................ 80

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona

Thats scary, chimes in Maya.

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

All four of us begin walking down the road that will

When we get to Mayas house I can tell by the look on

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

that I realize the reason the wooden boards arent creaking

I saw him first, says La Llorona as she tugs hard on

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

But even in the water they continue to fight! Seeing my

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

Fine, I tell her. Ill go and clean it up right now.

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

Groggily, I walk over to the sliding door, thinking that

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

It is a loud and piercing howl! What is Kenny doing?

The Gift That Is a Curse

move just because something happens and Mom gets

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

fering on others. Our grandmother was a good witch. My

Its okay, sis. You wouldnt be you if you didnt. Will

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

Cute . . . like a puppy, says Julie sarcastically. The

Its not a crime to read, I snap back. Given the fact

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

Dont you have some popcorn to go serve? I tell her.

Did he hurt you? I ask Sabrina.

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

She cleans our room every day, I remind him. Shell

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

Dillon has a point. Those shrieking sounds were unlike

Grandpa Titos Book

Who am I? asks the strange woman. You mean to

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

thing to show me. He opened my left hand and placed a

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

salt falls on Anastasias back, and it makes her hiss out in

ANASTASIA! the voice screams again. There is

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

But how did you know where Grandpa Titos book

The Blood-Sucking Beast

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

up in this tree waiting for the right moment to make my

fill a childs brain with stories of a vicious green-skinned

I always figured it to be just a story, he says, scratching his

dealers were using the river to smuggle drugs. What she

Spanish. My own Spanish is a bit rusty, but its good

The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories

I fell, I tell him. I was trying to get away from the