Change of Route

Karla was alone. She was thinking about what her friend had said that Sunday. The reason it bothered her was because it was true. She had no hobbies. Everything she wanted to do or did had to pass through a filter. Once, she had been invited to see Harry Potter at the theater. Her mother forbade it. If she wanted to watch television, it also had to pass through that hateful filter.

If she wanted to watch Naomy’s favorite soap opera, her mother would begin a lecture about appearances, about the way Anahí dressed, or Dulce María’s horrendous hair.

When she happened to be home alone one day, she managed to watch that cartoon featuring a trio of travelers catching wierd animals. She liked the design of one of them. Her mother was scandalized and reminded her what their names meant.

This had cost her many friendships, and now, over a simple fight, she had managed to end up alone. It was a strange, odd sensation. Without Lucía’s help, studying was much more difficult. Without Naomy’s antics, everything was monotonous—and without Emily… that feeling of doing something dangerous, even if it was just a simple game, no longer existed.

"Is something wrong, Karla?" her mother remarked, seeing her daughter looking worried. "You know you can tell me."

"I had a fight with my friends," Karla said without hesitation.

Mother and daughter were at the table, finishing their meal. Karla had barely tasted the lemon sorbet her mother had brought specifically for her.

"And what are you waiting for?" the mother asked Karla, who didn't understand what she meant. "Friendship is important at your age."

"But Mom..." Karla interrupted. She was afraid to take the first step.

"Forgiveness is the foundation of any friendship," the mother commented without losing her patience. "Don't wait for your friends to do it."

By Thursday, Karla saw Lucía and Naomy talking in the classroom. They weren't laughing. They looked worried. She took two deep breaths to calm her nerves and approached her friends.

"Good... morning..." Karla said, looking at her friends, who turned to see her. "Did you study for today's exam?"

Naomy and Lucía smiled, grateful that Karla had finally returned. They mentioned they had already studied for that day's exam. But Karla knew her friends well enough. She confronted them, asking what was happening.

"We know you, Karla; you’re only going to..." Naomy began to say but was stopped by Lucía.

"If you're asking, promise that you’re going to get involved," Lucía said seriously. The morning bell rang, and the teacher entered. "Promise it."

Karla said nothing. The teacher asked everyone to take their seats, and the class began. It wasn't until recess that they told her what was going on. Naomy explained a plan.

"Invite Dita to lunch?" Karla asked incredulously. She hadn't expected that, after reuniting with her friends, they would decide to approach the most obnoxious person they knew. "What for?"

"She's in trouble," Lucía responded. "She asked me for help. And before you say anything, the Bible surely says something about helping others."

Karla said nothing. She knew what her friend said was true. She agreed to help, if only to stay with her friends. And so it happened. With the help of Lucía's mother, Norma, the friends invited Dita and Anna to have lunch. Although they were hesitant, the invitation was accepted.

"We don't have plans today," Anna commented nervously. Looking at her daughter, she continued, "Dita told me about Lucía when she came to our house. We can go."
Anna smiled and looked at her daughter with a gaze that only Dita understood. 

The young girl looked at the floor, knowing what she had to do. Yes, she was going to eat; she was excited to go to a new friend's house. But the visit to the bathroom was mandatory.

During the trip, Lucía saw Dita's cell phone. It was the first time she had seen one up close. They talked a bit about the subject, and Dita showed her some technical details on how to use it.

Dita trembled slightly when the phone rang due to an SMS message. It was Javier; he wanted to know where she was. Lucía saw how she shook, how she hesitated to answer.

"You aren't obligated to answer him," she whispered to Dita.

"But..." Dita tried to complain, still trembling. She began to type the message. Lucía stopped her.

"Today you are with us, not with him," Lucía explained calmly. "Nothing happens if you don't answer."

Dita didn't insist. With some fear, she put the phone away in her backpack. Dita trembled. She was feeling how the phone wa vibrating. She got more nervouss without the ring tone. Her anxaious was so obvious. Her body feel the painn, the hands of Javier and his whispers. 

Javier liked to whisper in her ear things she didn't like, moments that surely will happen in the future. She even could crys and shout. Her mother only will be watching wih pity offering no help.

For the rest of the way, it was Lucía who led the conversation. They didn't just talk about school, but about music, television, and other topics. Thanks to that, the atmosphere relaxed. For a moment Dita relaxed

Anna’s cell phone rang. Upon answering, loud shouting—surely from Claudio—could be heard. He could be heard reprimanding her. Anna mentioned that they had to go to the municipal theater already to rehearse with the costumes.

Irritated, Lucía's mother snatched the phone from Anna and began to shout. She spoke about how to treat a person, saying there would be no rehearsal with Dita that day, and to leave it for another time. She said Dita needed to be with her friends. She hung up and turned off the phone.

"You must make yourself respected, Anna," Norma commented to Anna, who was trembling. "Don't let anyone treat you that way. Today is for having fun, not for someone to order us around and shout."

Finally, after a few minutes, they arrived at a small restaurant—Lucía’s favorite—so the friends could spend time together. Anna was starting to panic looking at the menu: fried chicken, burgers, mashed potatoes, sodas, and desserts like ice cream or pastries.

"Dita..." Anna whispered timidly. Norma had made her feel inferior. "We have to go. Claudio is waiting for us."

Anna stood up and, under the excuse of Claudio's call, tried to leave, but Dita remained seated.

"Mom... please," Dita begged. Lucía stayed quiet, as did her friends. Norma watched the interaction between the mother and daughter.

Anna was shaking; Dita looked at her mother with a gaze that said she wanted to stay. Anna knew she couldn't make a scene right there, so they stayed. They ate while talking about the remaining exams, the vacations, and the plans they had.

Karla excitedly mentioned that she would go with her family to Iztapalapa to see the Passion of Christ. She invited Dita and her mother, saying it would be fun. Dita smiled. Although she wasn't religious, she had always been curious about that event.

"It's time to go," Anna sentenced after a while. "Come on, Dita, let's stop by the bathroom before we go home."

Anna was smiling confidently. It was an expression Dita didn't like; it will hapoen again: the pain of the stomach and the acid in her mouth. And also that disgusting taste in his mouth and tongue . She stood up and followed her mother. With a gesture, Lucía's mother pointed mother and daughter and inmediatly Lucía and Naomy get up and followed Anna and Dita

"Why do they have to follow them?" Karla asked Norma.

Emily listened intently. She didn't understand what her friend’s mom meant either, until she remembered something Naomy had told her. Anahí had gone through a difficult stage with food.

"It's possible that Anna is encouraging her daughter to engage in unhealthy behavior," the woman explained to Karla. "Lucía is worried about her new friend, and now I understand why."

Anna, Dita, Naomy, and Lucía returned to the table. Dita's mother looked agitated, frustrated, and angry. Discreetly, Lucía listened to her mother:

"Don't leave Dita alone," she whispered as the rest of the group headed to the car. "She needs help. Don't leave her alone."