Amanda in Spain: The Girl in the Painting

by Darlene Foster

  “I will see you at the Castle in Alicante tomorrow. Gracias mi amiga.”

  “That means, thank you my friend,” explained Amanda.

  “I know what it means,” retorted Leah as she stomped ahead.

  ‘Oh, oh,’ thought Amanda. ‘Leah must be annoyed with me.’

  Chapter 8

  Amanda, Leah and Leah’s mom walked along the seafront in the bright, sunny city of Alicante the next morning. People strolled along the palm tree lined esplanade, as if they had no particular destination in mind.

  Amanda looked down at the path. “Wow! These designs are way cool. I love the colours and patterns. This wavy design makes me dizzy.”

  Leah’s mom explained to Amanda that the black, white and red tiles represent the colours of Alicante and that more than six and a half million of the tiny tiles were laid in the promenade.

  The promenade ran alongside the white, sandy beaches of the Mediterranean. Amanda’s eyes drifted over to the water dotted with boats. She imagined being on one of the boats bobbing up and down in a sea of blue Kool-Aid. On the other side of the path, perched on the top of a mountain, loomed the Santa Barbara Castle.

  She woke from her daydream to hear Leah say, “Mom wants to do some shopping so we’re going to the castle ourselves.” Leah didn’t seem to be mad at her anymore and did a good job of arranging for them to get to the castle without her mom.

  Mrs. Anderson walked the girls to an opening at the bottom of the mountain and then said goodbye. They walked through a long dimly lit tunnel right into the middle of the mountain where they entered an elevator that took them to the top.

  “This is kind of weird,” exclaimed Amanda.

  “It’s better than walking all the way up,” replied Leah.

  A spectacular view greeted them at the top. On one side, the Mediterranean Sea looked never-ending and the even more intense blue made it difficult to see where the water ended and the sky began. The boats were now tiny white specks. On the other side of the castle was a view of the city of Alicante with terracotta tiled roofs and stone houses mixed in with modern high-rise buildings.

  “What is that round thing?” asked Amanda.

  “It is the bull ring.”

  “Do they still have bull fights?” Amanda shuddered.

  “Oh yes, the tourists like to see them.”

  “Have you been to one?”

  “Heavens, no! I have no desire to see a bull being killed,” stated Leah in a matter-of-fact tone.

  Amanda was glad she wouldn’t be attending a bull fight. She didn’t like to see animals suffer.

  The castle consisted of many levels, with uneven stone stairs between them, and roped-off areas with stairs descending into darkness. It smelt old and musty.

  “Do you think that’s where the dungeons are?” Amanda shivered in spite of the warm sun.

  “Do you think your little friend will show up?” asked Leah, ignoring her question.

  Amanda couldn’t help thinking that perhaps Leah was still a bit mad at her.

  On the third level they discovered a turret that stuck out over the sea. “This must’ve been the lookout tower. From here they could almost see to Africa.” Amanda, mesmerized by the view, thought about what it would have been like to sit there all day watching for enemy ships. “This is way cool isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, right,” said a disinterested Leah as she looked around for Dona. “There she is.” She pointed to a girl huddled in a shady corner with eyes that darted back and forth. As the girls approached her, she shrank back into the corner pulling her hoodie over her face.

  “Shhh. I think someone followed me here.”

  Amanda looked around. There was only the three of them that she could see. They put their arms around Dona and led her to a spot under a palm tree by a broken wall.

  Dona began to shake and cry. “I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

  “You can trust us to help you.” Amanda didn’t feel as confident as she sounded and Leah looked dubious.

  “Where is your pony now? Do you know?” asked Amanda.

  “I think Pedro is in a barn outside of Alicante. The man, who took him, sells horses to the circus. Pedro would hate being part of a circus. If I don’t get him back, I don’t know where in the world he will end up. They say that man beats his horses.” She cried onto Amanda’s shoulder.

  Just then a boy came around the corner. Dona tensed.

  “He works for the man who took Pedro. We must leave.”

  The girls started to run down the uneven, stone stairs. Amanda’s swollen ankle made it hard for her to keep up. “You guys go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

  Leah held Dona’s hand as they fled down the stairs and out of sight.

  Amanda looked behind her, she couldn’t see anyone. Convinced the young man hadn’t spotted them, she limped around a sharp corner. There in front of her stood the person they had been running from. Amanda was about to scream when he placed his hand over her mouth and pulled her into a dark stairwell.

  Her heart pounded and she gasped for breath as she looked down the stairs that disappeared into darkness. ‘He better not take me down there,’ was all she could think.

  Amanda remembered Dona’s trick and bit into his palm. The young man immediately removed his hand. “Who are you?” they each said in unison.

  “I asked first,” said Amanda.

  “Well, no. You did not. But I am Francisco.” He nursed his hand. “I mean you no harm.”

  Up close, his large dark eyes and curly black hair made him quite cute. He had a manly smell and his blue T-shirt showed dark patches under his arms.

  “I’m Amanda.”

  He didn’t seem very threatening actually. He appeared to be only a couple of years older then herself.

  “Why are you following us?”

  “I know where they are keeping Pedro. I want to tell Dona I will help her get her horse back.”

  “Can we trust you?”

  “You must – if you wish to get the pony back.” The young man pushed his curly hair back from his face.

  “Dona said you work for the man who took him.”

  “Yes, I do. But I found out how mean he is. I clean the barns. I know how to get in and out.”

  After a few minutes a familiar voice said, “Amanda, where are you?”

  “Pssst. I am over here.”

  Leah stepped back, “In the dungeon?”

  “Sort of. This is Francisco. He can help us get Pedro back. It’s okay, we can trust him.”

  Dona looked worried.

  “Look Dona, I can help you, if you please will let me. I still work at the barn but I plan to quit. That man is evil. I know he is doing some illegal things. Meet me in the hay field outside the barn tonight and we will get Pedro out. I promise.”

  “Si,” agreed Dona. “I am not dancing tonight.”

  “I will see you tonight at ten o’clock, after the sun is down.” Francisco turned to leave. Amanda’s eyes followed him as he walked away.

  Leah followed Amanda’s eyes. “Seriously Amanda, just because he’s cute doesn’t mean we can trust him.”

  “I will try anything to get my pony back,” said Dona.

  “I guess it’s worth a try,” Leah sighed as she pulled her blond hair away from her face into a ponytail.

  Amanda thought, ‘I better not be wrong about this guy or Leah will kill me.’

  Chapter 9

  “How do you suppose we’re going to get to a field at ten o’clock tonight? Honestly Amanda – you always agree to things without thinking about it first. What is wrong with you?” Leah pulled a fresh T-shirt out of a drawer in the bedroom they shared.

  “Sorry. I just want to help Dona. She seems so young and helpless. Didn’t Francisco say the barn was just outside Torrevieja and didn’t your parents say they were going there to visit friends tonight? We could ask to go along and be dropped off at the beach. There are rides and a kiosk there, and an ice cream parlour.” Amanda pulled a folde
d piece of paper from her jeans pocket. “Here – Francisco drew me a map showing how to get to the stables from there.”

  Leah grabbed the map from her and looked surprised.

  “See, I do think things out – smarty.” Amanda said.

  Leah shook her head, “What will we do with a pony once we get him out of the barn? Take him to the timeshare and keep him in our bedroom? You can clean up the mess he’ll leave.” She wrinkled her nose.

  “Francisco has arranged a truck and a horse trailer. He’ll drive Pedro and Dona to her father’s place.”

  “Seems like he’s thought of everything.” Leah brushed her hair. “Sure hope you are right about him.”

  At nine o’clock the evening remained warm with a slight breeze coming off the water. A hive of activity greeted the girls when they were dropped off in front of the Ferris wheel. In Spain people had dinner late, around eight or nine o’clock and most of the activity started after the sun set. Leah’s parents arranged to meet them at the ice cream parlour at midnight. They had exactly one hour to get to the hay field. Amanda studied the hand drawn map. It didn’t look far.

  They arrived at a park where they planned to meet Dona. The park was spooky in the twilight, with tall posts that looked like totem poles scattered around. Some with weird faces peering down and others with carved animals and mythical figures. Amanda wanted to know why the poles were there and what they meant, but didn’t dare ask Leah who seemed preoccupied, and in a hurry. She didn’t want to make her angry again.

  Dona waited by a pole with an Egyptian face. Spanish graffiti surrounded the bottom. ‘I guess teenagers make a mess all over the world,’ thought Amanda.

  The sun had almost set as they made their way to the field. On a hill, in the distance, a black silhouette of a huge bull stood against a blood red sky. No one was around except for some horses grazing in a field nearby. Dona looked hopeful but then said, “No – Pedro isn’t one of them.”

  They arrived at a field dotted with piles of hay, smelling like freshly cut grass. The girls waited for Francisco near a large haystack.

  “Achoo!” Leah sneezed.

  “Bless you,” said Amanda.

  “Achoo! Achoo!” Leah’s eyes were red and her nose ran as she dug through her jean pockets for a tissue. “I have hay fever. Achoo! I can’t stay here for very long. Achoo! Achoo!”

  ‘So much for being quiet,’ thought Amanda.

  Francisco came around the haystack. “Here you are. I thought maybe you not be coming. Follow me, quickly.”

  He zigzagged across the field from haystack to haystack with the three girls close behind. When they reached a long, low, red barn he motioned with his arm, “In here. Shhh – be quiet.”

  ‘I sure hope Leah doesn’t start sneezing again,’ Amanda thought as she looked back at her friend holding a tissue over her nose.

  Dona spotted Pedro and began to run to him. Francisco caught her arm and whispered, “Not yet.”

  He looked around, and when he was sure there was no one about, he opened the stall holding a brown pony with soft eyes and an ivory mane. Dona put her arms around the horse’s neck. “I am here for you Pedro. Do not be afraid.”

  They took the horse out of the barn and retraced their route, zigzagging back across the field from haystack to haystack. ‘This is going well,’ thought Amanda. She looked over at Leah and saw her nose begin to twitch. Leah tried desperately to hold back a sneeze but out it came anyway.

  “Achoo!” It had to be the loudest one yet.

  “Hey – you there! Where are you going with that horse?”

  “Just taking him for his walks in the pasture, Senor.”

  They kept walking, not daring to look back. They could see the truck and horse trailer in the distance. ‘If we just keep going we will be out of here soon,’ thought Amanda as her heart beat faster and faster.

  A dark image came between them and the truck. Even in the dark, it was obvious the man was large. A large man – with a ponytail. “Where do you think you are going with my horse? What is the meaning of this, Francisco?”

  “This is Dona’s horse and you know it.”

  “This horse belongs to me and this is none of your affair. Let go of the reins – now!”

  “I will not. Let us past.”

  The man raised his fist and hit Francisco in the face. The young man crumpled to the ground.

  Dona screamed. A frightened Pedro reared up and knocked the man down with his front hooves.

  Amanda froze and Leah kept sneezing.

  Chapter 10

  They looked a sorry sight when they walked into the ice cream parlour. Leah’s eyes were red and her nose was running and Amanda limped in behind her. The walk back seemed to take forever. No one said a word. Amanda, convinced Leah was mad at her for trying to rescue Pedro, also had a feeling Leah thought she was mad at her for sneezing at the wrong time.

  “Where have you two been?” asked Leah’s mother.

  “You look like you’ve been through the wars,” said her dad.

  “Oh, we just got a little lost and Leah’s hay fever started to act up,” replied Amanda as she picked up a menu. “I sure could use some ice cream.”

  That night, just before they fell asleep, Leah said, “I’m sorry I kept sneezing.”

  Amanda replied, “That’s okay. I’m sorry I dragged you to the hay field.” After a couple of minutes she said, “Poor Dona. She looked devastated.”

  “Yes, she sure did. She will probably never get her pony back now,” answered Leah.

  “Probably not.”

  “We’ve done all we could do for her.”

  “I know. Good night Leah.”

  “Good night Amanda.”

  Amanda felt bad for Dona but felt better knowing Leah wasn’t mad at her anymore.

  The next morning they all went to the market in Playa Flamenca. The place buzzed with people and the stalls brimmed with all sorts of items for sale. Things like shoes, clothing, belts, purses, tablecloths, toys, food, vegetables and flowers.

  Amanda and Leah had fun trying on shoes of every colour and style. Polka dot wedgies, strappy sandals and pointy-toed spikes. They laughed and giggled as they wobbled on high heels and held on to each other to stop from falling over.

  “I sure could use a pair of stilettos like this to make me look taller.” Amanda tried to balance on the three inch heels.

  After having a difficult time deciding, Amanda settled on a bright yellow pair of flip flops and Leah bought a pair of navy blue, ballet slippers trimmed in white with a white bow on the side.

  They stopped for a refreshing café con leche decafinado. “I sure love these,” exclaimed Amanda.

  On the way out of the market, Amanda bought a packet of saffron threads for her mom, although she would be more likely to use them. She felt eyes on the back of her neck as she paid for her purchase. She turned around and saw Dona staring at her. Dona – from three hundred years ago. Dona – from the picture in Madrid. A younger Dona, wearing an ivory dress with a big skirt, red bows and black lace sleeves. Her hair was blonder and not as curly but it was definitely the same Dona. Her large eyes seemed to follow Amanda like a puppy begging for help.

  A chill went through Amanda even though it was midday and hot. She looked away.

  Leah leaned over. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Look behind me at the stall selling art prints.”

  “Wowza!” Leah exclaimed. “She sure looks like your little friend Dona. Those paintings were of the Royal family at the time. Do you think Dona is related to the Royal family? If she is, why then is she working at all those jobs?”

  As soon as they returned to the resort the girls went on the internet to see what they could find out about the picture and the royal family. They discovered that the picture was of nine year old Dona Margarita born in 1649, the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and Maria Anna of Austria. At only fifteen, she became the wife of Leopold I, Emperor of Austr
ia and King of Hungary.

  “O-M-G! Married at fifteen. If that were us, we would be married in three years!” Leah shuddered at the thought.

  That night Amanda couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned and couldn’t get Dona out of her mind – both the olden days Dona and the present day Dona. When she finally fell asleep she dreamt of Dona running after her horse, sobbing, just like the last time she saw her. Except she wore the fancy, old fashioned dress from the picture.

  Chapter 11

  Splat! Something soft and squishy hit Amanda’s back. “Yuck!” She turned around. Splat! Splat! Something hit her front. She looked down at her white T shirt, soaked red as if she had been shot. Splat! Another something hit her head and gooey liquid ran down the side of her face. She touched her face and looked at her bright red finger.

  It looked like blood but she didn’t feel any pain. What was going on? She looked up and saw two young boys with arm loads of red balls. Leah looked at her and laughed.

  “It’s not funny.”

  Just then a red ball came hurtling at Leah leaving a big crimson spot in the middle of her chest.

  “It’s Tomatina,” said Leah.

  “It’s toma – what?”

  “Duck!” shouted Leah just as more objects came at them like a flurry of red snowballs.

  The boys clearly enjoyed themselves as they continued to pummel the unarmed girls. Amanda and Leah dripped with red sticky juice that smelled an awful lot like tomatoes.

  Amanda put up her hand to catch one of the flying objects. Her years of playing baseball paid off. The red ball disintegrated in her hand, but not before she saw a tomato.

  Leah pulled her into an alley as Amanda asked, “Why are they throwing tomatoes at us? What did we ever do to them?”

  “We are in Brunol, it’s the last Wednesday of August – so it is Tomatina.”

  “What is this Tomatina?” asked Amanda again.

  “It is a tomato food fight. Everyone is given tomatoes to throw at each other. The Spanish love it and they do it every year here in the middle of this town. We must have walked into the edge of it. Can you not hear all the shouting and carrying on?”