Song of the Mockingbird: My Journey with Josefina

My feet can’t resist the music. I grab Josefina’s hands and we go out into the shadows behind the house. From a window, a square of light and the sounds of music and feet pounding the ground pour out. Josefina shows me the steps, and I stumble and almost fall on her, and we burst into laughter. I’ve missed having a friend to clown around with. And I’ve missed being surrounded by music. I don’t want to leave these things behind when I leave Josefina’s world. and then a thought strikes me— maybe I don’t have to.

Through the window, we hear everyone clap as the music ends with a flourish. Josefina and I look at each other and clap, too. I look at my friend, who’s arranging her rebozo breathlessly. I try to fix her warm face in my mind. I realize that being friends with Josefina hasn’t made me forget Danielle, just like having Tía Dolores in Josefina’s life hasn’t made her forget her mamá. I don’t have to lose one friend just because I have another.

I turn to Josefina and say that I’m ready to find my way back home now. Josefina looks at me, surprised. Have I remembered how to get home? I nod. I say that I’ve remembered the most important things.

Josefina smiles and catches me by the arms and we swing around again, bathed in the warm light from the window, our feet carried on the wave of music itself.