Fiction

You’ve surely heard La Llorona trying to lure you in. She wants to hold your head underwater as you check out the scene at night. But la gente caught on with La Llorona’s wailing and sobbing. You say, “Yup, not getting into that river.” So La Llorona got wise. She’s …

I devour my tamale—the savory pork oils warm me. I let go of all senses but tasting—then knees pummel my back, knocking the wind and food from my mouth. “Away! Gah!” Charlie says, pinning me to the floor as I …

The Coco Man threw me into his sack just like my parents said he would—all for being mean to my sister and not praying. That frigid Noche Buena, the rough burlap chafed against my skin, and I kicked and punched. He lashed me with his whip. I wore myself out and …

After you and David rocket-boosted me from the trampoline, I flew up and up into las nubes. I landed on one. It looked like vanilla ice cream that late afternoon. And it felt like a chilly pillow. In the distance there was a tunnel. All made of nubes. I crawled …