Lety Out Loud

by Angela Cervantes

  “What? That’s horrible.” Dr. Villalobos shook his head in disgust.

  “I know,” Lety said. “It was awful. Afterward, Brisa said she had to focus on her English, so she went back to summer school, but she misses the cats like crazy. And I miss her, too.”

  “I wish someone would have told me,” Dr. V. said. “Maybe I could have talked to her and convinced her stay with us at the camp. I would have liked to have helped.”

  “You can still help, Dr. V.,” Lety said, grateful that Dr. Villalobos had made the offer.

  She took a deep breath and remembered her lines from when she practiced in front of the mirror at home. “This whole experience gave me an idea for a program that I’d like to start here, with your permission. It could help lots of kids, like me, who are learning English, and provide company to the shelter pets who spend so many hours alone in their cages.”

  Spike dropped his squeaky toy at her feet and barked twice. Lety laughed.

  “Spike likes it already,” said Dr. Villalobos.

  “What if we could devote a morning or afternoon every week for a program called Reading FUR Friends? For a couple of hours a day, kids like Brisa and my younger brother could come in and read to the dogs and cats.”

  “I used to read to my Gunner all the time,” Hunter added. “She loved it.”

  “I’m prepared to do a demonstration for you with the cat burritos if you’d like,” Lety said. “I brought a book.”

  “That’s not necessary.” Dr. Villalobos smiled. He rubbed his chin. “I’ve heard of a similar program at a shelter in Chicago. It’s been successful. I like it. Let’s do it.”

  “Really?” Lety asked.

  “Of course! What do we need to do to make it happen?”

  Lety’s head buzzed with excitement and next steps.

  “We need to talk to Mrs. Camacho. She’s my teacher. Maybe she can make it part of their summer program? I think she’ll agree because she has two rescue cats.”

  “Woman after my own heart,” Dr. V. said. “Leave me Mrs. Camacho’s email and I’ll contact her. Seriously, Lety. It’s a great idea.”

  Lety and Hunter left Dr. V.’s office, feeling on top of the world. They didn’t even notice that Spike followed them out. Lety and Hunter met up with Kennedy and Mario in the multipurpose room. Each of them agreed to donate books from their homes. If Lety had a tail, it would have definitely been wagging. Luckily for her, Spike was close by and doing enough wagging for the both of them.

  On Saturday afternoon, the girls gathered at Kennedy’s pool. Lety was anxious to see Brisa. She’d talked to her a few times over the phone, but she hadn’t seen her friend the entire week and she missed her. Plus, she couldn’t wait to tell her the plan for the Reading FUR Friends project.

  “Isn’t that a fun name?” Kennedy said, slathering her freckled shoulders with sunblock. “Genius, really.”

  Brisa spread her beach towel over the lounge chair and remained quiet. She gazed out over the blue pool in front of them. Her silence was not the reaction Lety had expected. Lety wanted Brisa to like the idea.

  “Brisa?” Lety said.

  “And Dr. V. was okay with it?” Brisa asked.

  “He thinks it rocks,” Lety answered. “Daisy, too. They think if it goes well, they can make it a permanent program throughout the year. It’s good for the animals and it’s good for everyone to practice reading. Not just girls like us learning English.”

  “Mrs. Camacho?”

  “Loves it!” Lety said, starting to feel like she had to defend her idea to Brisa. “I emailed her and she’s already making plans to bring you guys on Tuesday.”

  “Tuesday?” Brisa asked.

  “¿Qué tienes, Brisa?” Lety asked. “Why aren’t you hooting for joy or dancing around with excitement like usual?”

  “Yeah. More hooting. Less pouty questions,” Kennedy added. “You should be totally happy. You get to see the cats again.”

  Brisa chewed on her lip a bit and then sat up in the chair to face Lety and Kennedy.

  “I’m worried. Is Hunter going to be around reading, too, with his superior reading skills? I don’t want to look like a baby reading a baby book in front of him.”

  “You can bring any book you want,” Lety said. “We’ll also have books at the shelter for you to choose from.”

  “Plus, things have changed with Hunter and Lety,” Kennedy said, removing her sunglasses. “They’re sweethearts now.”

  Lety’s mouth gaped open, and she shook her head. She scrambled to find something to throw at Kennedy but found nothing, so she dipped the tips of her feet in the pool and splashed Kennedy. Kennedy shrieked and laughed.

  “¡Ay, dios mío!” Brisa gasped. “Hunter?”

  “We are friends. He apologized for being rude. And he said he thought my animal profiles were better than his.”

  “He admitted that?” Kennedy asked.

  “Wow! What else did I miss?” Brisa said.

  “You don’t have to miss anything anymore, Brisa. On Tuesday, you can be back with us and practice English while helping all the furry friends.”

  Brisa smiled wide. “As my mom would say, ‘I have tinkaso about this new idea of yours.’ ”

  “Tinkaso? Is that Spanish?” Kennedy asked.

  “Not Spanish. It’s Quechua,” Brisa answered. “My grandma speaks it, and she and my mom use tinkaso whenever they have a good gut feeling about something.”

  “So then you like my idea?” Lety pressed, relieved that Brisa was finally on board with the new program.

  “Yes, I like it and I can’t wait to return to the shelter to see all the gatitos again.”

  “Yay! I have tinkaso about your program, too,” Kennedy practiced the new word. And “I have tinkaso that Ailis the poodle will be adopted soon. Your profile is on point. Big time.”

  “Thanks,” Lety said.

  “Read it to me, Kennedy,” Brisa said. “I love that sweet poodle with her little chuño nose.”

  Kennedy grabbed her iPhone and read the profile from the website.

  “Best dog profile ever!” Brisa gushed.

  “And what about Spike?” Kennedy asked.

  Brisa and Kennedy both looked at Lety. They knew she had loved Spike since that first day at the shelter.

  “Don’t you want to adopt him for you and Eddie?” Kennedy asked. “You guys would be the perfect family. I told Dr. V.”

  “You did? What did he say?” Lety asked.

  “He smiled real big and said he’d be happy if someone like you were Spike’s family. I think he’s just waiting for you to say something.”

  “Do it!” Brisa squealed so loud that it sent a couple of birds on the roof of the pool house darting off into the sky.

  “Okay, we’ll see,” Lety said. She thought about the profile for Spike that the previous shelter scribe, Gaby, had written. The last line asked for someone to take a chance on him. Lety was willing to give him a thousand chances. For her, he was still the smartest dog she’d ever met.

  On Tuesday, Hunter’s hands were filled with picture books about dinosaurs and sharks. Mario brought his whole collection of Harry Potter paperbacks. Kennedy had a book filled with Irish folktales to share.

  “This will be just like how I used to read to Gunner,” Hunter said to Lety, showing her the books he’d brought. “I’m going to start by reading to Finn. I think he’d like this story about a shark who wants to make friends, but all the other fish are scared of him.”

  “That sounds good,” Lety said. “Does he end up making friends?”

  Hunter looked into Lety’s brown eyes. “It’s a total happy ending.”

  And the way he said it made Lety feel like maybe Hunter and she were a happy ending, too. Two weeks ago, she would never have thought they could be friends, but here they were talking books and working on animal profiles together.

  Then right on time, the front door of the shelter swung open and Brisa raced in. Behind her, Mrs. Camacho entered, leading a g
roup of familiar faces that Lety knew. Mrs. Camacho’s silver-gray hair was pulled back into a chignon, and she wore a T-shirt with a long floral skirt. The T-shirt read: SOY BILINGÜE. WHAT’S YOUR SUPERPOWER? Brisa quickly embraced Lety like she hadn’t seen her in a hundred years.

  “I can’t believe I’m back! I’m so happy!” Brisa exclaimed. “I will read to all the cats.”

  Eddie walked in, chatting it up with Gazi and Aziza and a couple of younger boys Lety didn’t know yet. He clutched paint swatches in his small hands. His eyes gazed over the room and then stopped when he saw Lety. He smiled and waved the swatches at her.

  “What colors did you bring?” Lety asked, giving him a kiss on his head.

  “I brought all the colors. Sunflower Smile, Dandelion Gold, Creamy Meringue …” Eddie said as Lety shuffled through the swatches. “I’m going to read them to the cats. Do you think the cats will like it, Lety?”

  “Of course! What cat wouldn’t want to hear the latest paint colors?”

  Eddie looked down at his swatches. “Good. That’s what I thought, too. I also want to read some of your profiles. Can Santiago and me read them, Lety?”

  “I’ll print some out for you.”

  Soon, Dr. Villalobos swaggered into the room, smiling over the mix of English learners and summer campers gathered together. He crossed the room to shake hands with Mrs. Camacho and surprised everyone when he started speaking Spanish to her. Brisa’s eyes grew wide.

  “Dr. Villalobos speaks Spanish, too?” she asked Lety.

  “I had no idea,” Lety said, and then she giggled after listening for a bit.

  “What’s he saying?” Kennedy asked.

  “They’re talking about the animal profiles and Lety’s idea,” Brisa said, and then she laughed. “His accent is funny, but his Spanish is good. Right, Lety?”

  Lety nodded. Dr. Villalobos spotted Lety and waved her over. Lety walked over with Eddie and Brisa. Once there, Mrs. Camacho put an arm around Lety’s shoulders.

  “I’m so proud of you,” she said. “Lety’s one of our best students. I’m not surprised that she’s writing animal profiles and starting new programs.”

  Lety looked up at Mrs. Camacho’s light brown eyes and smiled back.

  “She always has good ideas,” Eddie said.

  “That’s because kids who learn new languages are natural problem solvers, Eduardo,” Mrs. Camacho said. “Just like you.”

  “I know that,” Eddie said. Lety patted his head like he was a puppy.

  “Welcome, everyone!” Dr. Villalobos faced the entire group. “Welcome to Furry Friends Animal Shelter!”

  A sudden tingle went up and down Lety’s arms, leaving her with goose bumps. Her idea to bring her friends from school and the animals at the shelter together was really happening! Brisa must have sensed her excitement because she gave Lety’s hand a squeeze.

  Soon, the campers and the ELL students were split up into four groups. One group, led by Dr. Villalobos and another adult volunteer, went to the Bow Wow Zone to read to the big dogs like Finn and Riley. Hunter waved to Lety as he left with this group. Another group, led by Alma, went to the small-dog room. Finally, the last two groups followed Daisy into the Feline Friends room, clutching books in their hands.

  Students laid out carpet remnants in front of the cages and opened their books and slowly began reading. Brisa read to Kiwi, who was the last remaining cat of her entire litter. Kennedy read Irish folktales to a large cat who was eight years old and showed no signs of finding her forever family. Eddie read paint swatch after paint swatch to a litter of white kittens who reached out their little paws to him and mewed impatiently. Lety gazed over the group reading to the cats, feeling proud when she felt someone’s stare. Spike was on the other side of the glass door, looking in at her. Lety got up and went outside to where he sat perfectly straight. She shook her head at the idea that anyone would think he was too wild. He wasn’t too wild. He was perfect!

  “You want to hear a story, Spike?” she asked. As if Spike understood and really wanted a story, he wagged his tail and twitched his ears. Lety swooped him up into her arms and pressed her face against his fur.

  “I’m going to read to you a story about this beautiful princess and warrior in ancient Mexico. Would you like that?”

  Spike yelped excitedly. Lety knew this was dog language for: “Yes, read to me.” She grabbed a picture book from the donation box, sat down on a chair in the reception area, and began to read.

  “We’re going to be on the news!” Kennedy shrieked.

  Lety took a deep breath as the news van parked outside the shelter.

  “Now, don’t worry, Lety,” Dr. Villalobos said. “They want to hear all about the program. You’ll be fine as long as you speak from your heart.”

  At first, Lety had tried to get out of the interview, but Dr. Villalobos wouldn’t have it. He said she deserved the credit, but Lety was nervous about speaking on TV. She smoothed down her teal-blue camp shirt.

  “It’s just sometimes when I get nervous, my accent comes out,” Lety said to Kennedy and Hunter.

  “So what?” Hunter said. “I like the way you talk.”

  Brisa rushed out of the cat room toward them with a picture book in her hand. “You’ll never believe this, but Solo and Sinclair love books about fishes. So we need more books about sharks, swordfish, manatees, starfish. All the wonders of the ocean!”

  “Maybe we can collect books at the Wags and Whiskers event,” Hunter offered.

  “Good idea,” Lety said. “We can ask the reporter today to mention it.”

  The reporter from the local station was a petite brunette with rosy pink lips and cheeks. The campers rushed up to her for an autograph as soon as she arrived until Dr. Villalobos ushered them away. She and the cameraman set themselves up inside the cat room to take footage of the Reading FUR Friends program in action.

  At one point, Lorca took an interest in the camera and swiped at it with his paw, which made everyone laugh.

  After they took their footage of the campers reading to various animals, the reporter talked to Lety and Hunter.

  “How did you come up with this idea to read to the animals?” the reporter asked Lety.

  “I had a friend who wanted to volunteer at the shelter, but she also wanted to practice her English at summer school. I thought this program, Reading FUR Friends, would be a way to do both: improve reading while helping the animals.”

  “And you?” The reporter turned the microphone to Hunter. “What are you reading to the dogs today?”

  “I have a book here called La Gallinita Roja. Did I say that right, Lety?”

  “Really good.” She smiled. It was a book she had known as a child, but she never expected Hunter to have a copy.

  “Why Spanish?” the reporter asked.

  “My friends, like Lety, want to practice English, but I think it’s important that we all try to learn new languages.”

  “And do the dogs like your Spanish book?”

  “That’s the cool thing. Dogs and cats don’t care what language you speak or read. They just want to hear your voice and be close to you. That’s all that matters.”

  “There you have it! This young lady, Lety Muñoz, has really started something wonderful at Furry Friends Animal Shelter, and kids like Hunter Farmer are making it a purrfect success! Don’t forget the Wags and Whiskers Community Fest event this weekend. Stop by to donate a book, read to a furry friend, and maybe adopt a new member of your family. I’m Amanda Velasco with Channel Five News.”

  “Good job, you two,” she said. “You know, my daughter and I adopted a kitten from here. His name is Secret. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to read to him. You’ve truly inspired me.” As she rushed off to shake hands with Dr. Villalobos and Daisy, Lety grabbed Hunter’s book.

  “Where did you get this?” she asked.

  “My grandma got it for me. She knows I want to learn Spanish.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure; this
way I can talk to you in Spanish and the other kids at school who speak Spanish. I want to try at least. You think it’ll work?”

  Lety opened the book. Even in Mexico, she had never owned a book in Spanish. Books were too expensive for her family to buy. She gazed over the Spanish words that now seemed so far away, like her home in Tlaquepaque. Hunter watched her.

  “I’ve never owned a book in Spanish.”

  “What? That’s nuts! You want to borrow it?” Hunter asked. “Or if you want, we can read it together?”

  Lety smiled at him, trying not to blush. The more time she spent with Hunter, the more he surprised her with his kindness.

  “Okay,” she said, just as Dr. Villalobos approached them.

  “Fantastic job on the interview. Can I speak to you both in the cat room?”

  Inside the cat room, Daisy held Lorca.

  “We found Gunner,” Dr. Villalobos announced, but he said it in such a serious manner that Lety sucked in her breath. The tone of his voice didn’t sound like it was total good news.

  “Is she okay?” Hunter asked.

  “Yes, she’s perfectly fine,” Daisy said in the same serious tone that Dr. Villalobos used. “Our friend in Wichita shared your picture with all of the animal shelters. As soon as he did, one of the shelters recognized Gunner,” said Daisy. “Unfortunately, they reported that a family with two boys adopted her a week ago.”

  “What?” Hunter said. His face flushed ruby-red so fast that Lety wanted to reach out and grab his hand, but then he put his hands up over his face in disbelief. “Adopted?”

  “We’re so sorry,” Daisy said.

  “Look, Hunter, I’ve already spoken to the director at the shelter. I explained everything. And he’s willing to speak to the family on your behalf. We both believe that if the family knew the situation with Gunner, they’d give her back to you. I think it’s worth a try.”

  This made Lety feel better. Surely, if the family knew the truth about how Gunner had been taken from Hunter, they’d understand.