Chapter Eleven

The night before my summer camp, Nick has his birthday party with his friends. It turns out to be a “private party.” This exclusive event takes place at the pizza shop with his best friend, Jason, and a few of Nick’s new work friends.

“You won’t want to go,” he tells me when he leaves the house with Mom. “It’s just a bunch of boys.”

I feel a little hurt, but it does give me time to plan my outfit for the first day of camp. I want to look extra special. While I think I am a little less shy now than last school year, I am still nervous the other kids won’t like me. So I need to dress to impress. Biscuit and Linda help me decide on my favorite polka-dot dress and an otter shirt on top. I know it’s the best choice because Biscuit claps his paws when he sees the outfit all together.

I show it off as soon as Mom and Nick get home from the birthday fiesta.

“Can I sleep in my outfit? That way I’m ready just in case.”

Mom shakes her head. “It’ll get wrinkled. I also don’t think you have to worry about being late. Knowing you, I’m more afraid you won’t sleep much.”

Mom was right. I end up checking my alarm clock almost every couple of hours. Part of it is that I’m excited, but I also keep thinking bad thoughts. Like what if there is someone like Jessica Anderson there? I think I can deal better with a bully now, but I don’t want to be made fun of at all. Especially at one of my favorite places in the world.

In the morning, I ride into downtown with Mom on the Metra. She’s going to drop me off at the Shedd before work. It’s always fun to ride the Metra, but it is so much busier on a Monday than it is on the weekends. The station stop is filled with click clack noises of high heels and dress shoes. I almost lose sight of Mom, but she grabs on to me tightly. Luckily, she finds me a seat on the train and stands, hovering over me.

I read a new letter from Stanley quietly before I tell Mom about it. I have to speak deep from my stomach, like I learned in speech class, for her to be able to hear me.

“Stanley got to explore a rocket ship! And, see, he even drew a little alligator at the bottom with a word bubble that says, ‘See you later.’”

Mom smiles. “That’s nice of him.”

“I hope he gets my postcard and new letter soon.”

After our Metra ride, we head over to the grassy fields toward the Shedd. With each step, my stomach starts twisting in knots. By the time we go up the stairs of the museum, I can feel the wave of roja coming on. I’m nervous. The words that came so easily to me on the Metra are gone.

Mom takes one look at me and knows that I’m getting nervous.

“You’re going to be fine, mi amor.”

I try smiling, but it comes out weird like my face is frozen. Studying me, she puts her hand to my chin. She squints her eyes, looking for inspiration.

“I know what will help.” She grabs a pen from her purse and draws a little star on the back of my hand.

“Una estrella.”

Staring at my star, I take a deep breath.

She puts her hands on my shoulders.

“Estrella Díaz, my star, you’ll be fine.”

I look up at her and nod. Then we walk through the front revolving doors.