Lupe Wong Won't Dance

  He holds out a hand and my heart leaps. Is this his secret handshake?

  Suddenly, the cheers are drowned out by a techno beat and music. Fiddles screech out, and a voice with a heavy Southern accent wails, “Where did you come from, where did you go, where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

  Fu Li winks at me and pushes his hand even closer. “Ready to do this, Lupe?’

  “What did you—” I croak out, taking a tiny step back. “Now?”

  He takes my mitt and puts it on the top of my head. “Let’s show ’em how it’s done.”

  I shake my tingly hands out at my sides. “Okay, but I lead.”

  He laughs and pulls his arm back. I bow and hold out my hand. He curtsies and takes it. We promenade from the dugout, kicking our feet together in sync. The cheers of the crowd are so loud I can barely make out the tune.

  I glance up to where Mom and Paolo are supposed to be sitting above the dugout.

  But they’re not sitting. They’re dancing too.

  A few guys are stumbling around in sloppy do-si-dos.

  I spin Fu Li and he laughs. We dance toward the mound.

  “Where did you come from, where did you go. Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?” twangs again.

  Fu Li smiles at me, and I see it. Just like in the picture where my dad’s holding the crab. I see the tiny wrinkles around Fu Li’s eyes too. Standing right there on the mound … I remember.

  My dad was no quitter. Fu Li’s smile is like Dad’s the first time I whistled. The same smile when I finger-painted my entire face and body. It’s the same smile when he would dance with Mom in the kitchen. And it’s the same smile he had when I hit my first baseball. I know Fu Li’s not Dad, but …

  I remember.

  I fight back the tears that are blurring my vision. This is even better than a secret handshake and hug.

  Fu Li takes my glove off my head and hands it to me, smiling. “Now throw some heat.” He turns and jogs toward home plate to catch.

  My dad is standing right beside me. I can almost feel him rustle my hair. Well, we got here together, didn’t we, Lupe? He steps aside to give me the room I need to play on the field he never got to.

  I whisper to myself, “Center your weight on the rubber. Be deliberate in your windup …”

  Even as I swallow ginger, trying not to cry, the crowd yells louder.

  It’s not as perfect as when I’ll be the first Chinacan or Mexinese girl throwing a no-hitter on this field.

  But it’s pretty close.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I am so thankful for many who in some way either supported me or helped Lupe’s story enter the world.

  First among them are Mom and Dad—Everything you taught me makes its way into my writing. I try to follow your example daily to love everyone, judge no one, and just be kind. Mom, I am forever grateful I was able to read this book to you and make you laugh a little before you left.

  To the love of my life, Mark. How on Earth among billions did I find my perfect partner in life, gardening, growing old, and writing?! You are my perfect person. God help our children as we get older!

  My Elena and Sophia: You are precious to me and inspire me daily in life and writing. Elena, your spitfire nature and tenacity will take you far in life. I just always want to be on your side. Sophia, your kind heart and beautiful soul will serve you well in life. You are both powerful, intelligent, lovely humans. How lucky I am to be your mom!

  My new kids, Bethany and Max, you make me proud and happy every day. I know sometimes the parents we end up with aren’t the ones we expected, but I am having a blast being yours. I love you both so much.

  My sister Melissa and cousins (Tom, Steve, Angie, and Rob), who made my childhood ridiculous, loving, and full of ideas to write about.

  My best friend, Mai Nguyen—We don’t need many. Just one. So glad I have you.

  There are many kinds of family. And now I have another. My writing family:

  The Papercuts: Cindy Stevens, Mark Maciejewski, Maggie Adams, Eli Isenberg, David Colburn, Jason Hine, Angie Lewis. What an eclectic group we are. I appreciate the weekly honesty and support we give each other’s work. I’d forfeit my color-coded critique pens for you guys!

  NICK THOMAS! Wow … what a strange meeting and magical journey. I am so grateful for your insight into making this novel richer and more heartfelt. You have taught me so much and done so with kindness and truth. I have thoroughly enjoyed this journey with you, friend! Not only are you an editor extraordinaire, you are a brave and thoughtful man. Onward!

  Allison Remcheck—You are a novel-whisperer and I am so thankful to have you for my agent, and now friend. You are what every writer dreams of discovering in someone to champion their work.

  Thank you to my agency family at Stimola Literary Studio: Rosemary, Peter, Allison H. for supporting me. You are the backbone for so many!

  Thank you to all those at Levine Querido for giving Lupe a chance to chat with the world. Arthur A. Levine, what a solid family and gracious home you’ve created! Thank you so much for your guiding words and for being an advocate for voices that need to be heard. And huge gratitude to the rest of the team: Publicity Manager Alexandra Hernandez, Marketing Director Antonio Gonzalez Cerna, and Assistant Editor Meghan Maria McCullough for all the behind the scenes work you’ve all done for me and my book. You are one hard working group! Thank you for all you do and for your support. Go team LQ!

  Mason London, thank you for creating the cover art for Lupe which is far better than I could have ever envisioned. You truly captured Lupe’s spirit!

  Anamika Bhatnagar for catching errors and fixing details. You are pretty magical!

  Huge thanks to Maeve Norton, who designed this book. And Leslie Cohen and Freesia Blizard in Production at Chronicle Books, thank you for making this book so beautiful!

  The Society for Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)—There is no way to extend enough gratitude for all you’ve given me during this journey. Some of my favorite people in my life I’ve met because of you.

  Las Musas, thank for creating a welcoming, lovely community of escritoras. Your support and hermandad has been full of warmth in my writing world.

  Marissa Graff for sitting on my shoulder spouting editorial wisdom. I am so grateful to have met you along this literary road.

  To my writing mentor, Gloria Kempton, my guru in teaching me to ask the right questions to bring characters and story to life.

  Thank you to my beta readers who read Lupe’s story and helped to make it better. Melissa Koosman, Rob Vlock, Angela Albrecht, Rob Forsberg, Sophia Chow.

  To my online critique partners along the way whose tough writing love made me a better writer: Hiromi Cota, Orlyn Carney, Birgitte Necessary, Pam Fulton, Fred Campagnoli, Patti Albaugh, Maribeth Durst.

  To Connor, reader extraordinaire, for your perspective and feelings on making sure Niles was authentic to how you feel. I did my best to listen. You are already a cool young man, and are going to be a really cool grown-up.

  And to Liz LaFebre for expert insight and for introducing me to Connor.

  Lyn Miller-Lachmann, thank you for your expertise, feedback and taking time to help another writer learn. And might I fan-girl a bit. You are an amazing writer and storyteller!

  My teachers: Mr. and Mrs. Presho, Mrs. Arnoldus, Mrs. Griffin, and Uncle Ted—In some way you all encouraged me in the love of reading and books. There is no more precious gift you could have given a kid to discover a huge world beyond a tiny desert town. Thank you.

  Coach Jeannette Montgomery, Coach David Montgomery, and Dad. You encouraged love of the game, discipline, and hard work.

  And dear Reader, thanks for reading! If I could send you a private message that I hope this book imparts, this is it: Whatever you are, be that. Be your most sincere, unique, beautiful self. And as a boy in a book once said, “If you’re the real you, the right people will love you.”

  ABOU
T THE AUTHOR

  Donna Barba Higuera grew up dodging dust devils in the oilfields of Central California. She has spent her entire life blending folklore with her experiences into stories that fill her imagination. Now she weaves them to write picture books and novels.

  Donna eventually traded the dust of Central California for the mists of the Pacific Northwest. She lives there with her husband, four children, three dogs, and three two frogs. She is currently working on her debut picture book and next middle-grade novel.

  You can find her online at www.dbhiguera.com.

  SOME NOTES ON THIS BOOK’S PRODUCTION

  The art for the jacket was created by Mason London. The text was set by Westchester Publishing Services in Danbury, CT in Athelas, a typeface designed by José Scaglione and Veronika Burian in 2008 for TypeTogether, inspired by classic British typography and named for a healing herb in The Lord of the Rings. The display was set in Burford Rustic, a weathered and textured alternative to the Burford font family designed by Kimmy Kirkwood in 2015, inspired by her travels in Europe. This e-book was created by Westchester Publishing Services.

  Production was supervised by Leslie Cohen and Freesia Blizard

  Book jacket and interiors designed by Maeve Norton

  Edited by Nick Thomas