Catalina Incognito: The New Friend Fix

Chapter 1 First Day

I have already slurped the last sugary drops of cereal milk off my spoon by the time my big sister, Coco, stumbles to the table.

She yawns and rubs her eyes, then asks, “You’re already dressed, Cat?”

“Of course I am.” It’s the first day of school, after all. Last night I spent two hours organizing my backpack, filling the pouches and pockets with freshly sharpened pencils, never used erasers, and notebooks with nothing but blank pages inside. Everything is perfectly put together.

Stuffing a backpack with new school supplies is one of my all-time favorite activities. Which means the day before school starts is one of my all-time favorite days of the year.

“But it’s so early.” Coco whines.

“It’s never too early to be prepared,” I answer.

Papi sets a bowl of cereal in front of Coco while I carry my empty bowl to the sink.

“Buenos días!” he greets her.

“Ugh,” Coco moans.

Baby Carlos, our little brother, bangs his palms against his high-chair tray, and Papi drops a few chunks of strawberry onto it. Carlos picks one up and mashes it in his fist.

Even though his sticky hands can’t reach me, I still take a big step backward. Just in case.

Mami walks into the kitchen dressed in purple scrubs, all set for her shift at the nursing home.

“Are you excited to start middle school?” she asks, ruffling Coco’s sleep-tangled hair.

Coco shrugs.

No one asks if I’m excited to start third grade. Maybe they think it will be just like any other year. Unlike Coco, I’m not going to a new school. But there will still be a new classroom, a new teacher, and- according to my best friend, and biggest rival, Pablo Blanco–a new kid. He heard all about her because his mom is the room parent.

Just one more reason to get to school early. Then I’ll get to meet the new girl before anyone else does. Even Pablo.

I check to make sure my double-knotted shoelaces haven’t come undone, then swing my backpack over my shoulder.

“See you later!” I announce.

Carlos gurgles and waves his gooey hand. Mami and Papi walk over to hug me goodbye.

“Have a wonderful day, mija,” Papi says.

“I can’t wait to hear all about it,” Mami adds, and kisses my forehead.

“Wait!” Coco’s mouth is full of frosted wheat squares. “What’s the hurry? Give me a few more minutes, and I’ll walk with you. Like always.”

My hand hovers over the doorknob. Coco and I used to walk to school together every day. But I never thought she actually wanted to.

“But we don’t go to the same school anymore, remember?” I say, turning the knob.

“We can walk to the corner at least,” Coco persists. “I’Il even let you ride my skateboard.”

Hmm. Coco has been teaching me to ride her skateboard all summer. But only in front of our house. She’s never offered to let me ride it anywhere else before.

Even Mami and Papi are surprised.

“Did you hear that, Kitty-Cat?” Papi asks. “Coco says you can ride her skateboard!”

I am tempted to tell Coco yes.

I am tempted to tell Papi to quit calling me “Kitty Cat.”

But, no, I decide. There isn’t time. I need to get to school. I only have one chance to be the first person to meet the new girl. Then I’ll get to introduce her to everyone else. Maybe our teacher will even pick me to show her around school.

“Thanks anyway, Coco,” I say. “Maybe tomorrow.” I am stepping out the door when Coco stops me again.

“You’re wearing that?”

My shoulders drop. I hoped no one would notice.

“Didn’t you say you were getting too old for all the kitten stuff?” Coco continues.

Slowly I turn around. Coco is pointing at the gray sweat shirt tied around my waist. Two kitten ears and a diamond-shaped patch of white fur are sewn to the hood.

“At least I don’t sleep in it too,” I say, pointing back at the old flannel shirt Coco never takes off.

Coco straightens the collar. “This shirt is lucky.”

“Well, this sweatshirt,” I answer, “is… special.”

“That’s right,” Mami says. She wraps her arm around my shoulders and squeezes. “Tía Abuela sewed the ears on herself. And I’m sure Kitty-Cat likes wearing it because she misses Tía Abuela. Isn’t that right?”

I nod. Tía Abuela is my great-aunt. Her name is Catalina Castañeda just like mine. She used to be a famous telenovela actress. Ever since she retired, Tía Abuela spends most of her time traveling the world. She doesn’t come to our house on the hill in Valle Grande very often, so I do miss her.

But that’s not the only reason why this sweatshirt is special.

On her last visit Tía Abuela gave me a musty old sewing kit in a red velvet pouch. Inside is a needle and a spool of silvery thread. They don’t sew regular clothes, though. They create magical disguises. Like this sweatshirt. As soon as I zip it up and pull on the hood, I’ll look exactly like an actual cat. Over the summer I even used my disfraz to solve a major mystery. So far I haven’t shared the secret of the sewing kit with anyone.

Before she left on her latest adventure, Tía Abuela warned me that the magic would only be as strong as my stitches. Since I’m still learning, I haven’t been able to sew a new disfraz yet. That’s why I’m stuck with this one. Even if I am getting too old for all this kitten stuff.

I look down at my watch. “Better go,” I say. “You know how I feel about being late.”

Mami and Papi shudder. Even Coco stops. arguing.

I smile to myself and scamper down the front porch steps and out to the sidewalk. Once I’m a few houses down, where I’m sure my family can’t see me, I duck behind a mailbox.

I look left and right to make sure no one is watching. I put on the sweatshirt and zip it to my chin. Then I lift the hood over my head. A chill runs up my spine.

I stand and glance down at my shadow on the pavement. It’s not the shadow of a girl anymore. It’s the shadow of a cat.

I am incognito.

Chapter 2
The New Girl

I prowl Valle Grande Elementary School, hoping to catch a glimpse of the new girl before anyone else does.

I dart from behind the drinking fountain to a playground bench. Peering out from underneath, I watch kids pose for pictures next to the school sign. Red and gold balloons bob on either side of it, and black letters on the front spell out “Welcome Back!”

The B is a little bit crooked, though. Someone should have used a ruler! I wish I could ignore it, but I can’t. In fact, I am so distracted that I don’t notice Mr. Clark, the school custodian, walking toward me with a push broom until he’s crouch ing right in front of my nose.

“You don’t belong here,” he says gently. “Someone might be allergic.” Uh-oh. I scramble backward, then dash for the school garden.

“Hey, wait!” Mr. Clark calls after me.

I dive between two tomato plants and hide behind a tangle of leaves. Luckily for me, someone drops a thermos full of macaroni and cheese on the ground, and Mr. Clark stops to help clean it.

I let my breath out slowly and shakily. That new girl better get here soon. I need to change out of this disfraz before the bell rings-and before I get caught.

Finally I spot her: a girl about my age who I’ve never seen at school before. She has two long braids, round glasses, and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose.

But she isn’t alone. She’s walking-and talking! with Jazmín Galindo, another third grader. How could Jazmín have met the new girl first? Even worse, Pablo is speeding toward them!

I’m about to leap from the garden box, when I remember I am still incognito. As quickly as I can, I yank off my hood and pat down my hair. When I’m certain no one is looking, I climb out.

By the time I catch up with Jazmín and the new girl, Pablo is already introducing himself. Or, at least he’s trying to.

“Buenos días,” Pablo says, holding out his hand. “I’m Pab-”

Instead of stopping, Jazmín walks even faster. “Come on.” She takes the new girl by the wrist and pulls her toward the third-grade classroom, leaving Pablo and me behind.

Pablo folds his arms. He’s wearing his usual crisp, white guayabera and gleaming white sneakers. “That was not very polite,” he says, watching Jazmín and the new girl hurry away from us.

I shake my head. “It certainly was not.”

Then Pablo sniffs. He wrinkles his nose. “You smell like a tomato.”

I huff. “Don’t be ridiculous.” But when Pablo looks away, I shake out my hair just in case there are any more tomato leaves stuck in there.

We walk together the rest of the way to class.
Ms. Coleman, our new teacher, has placed a small clay flowerpot on each desk. Our names are painted on them, and instead of a plant inside, there are a pair of scissors, a glue stick, and a cactus-shaped bookmark that says Keep growing!

Very well-organized! I think.

I find the flowerpot with my name on the desk behind Pablo’s. Alphabetical order! I can already tell I’m going to like Ms. Coleman.

As I sit down, I sneak a glance at the new girl’s desk in the next row over, right in front of Jazmín’s. Her flowerpot says “Esmeralda.”

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around. “Have you met the new girl?” Aaron Chu whispers.

“Not exactly,” I say. “Have you?”

He shakes his head. “No, but on the way to school this morning, I saw her leaving Jazmín’s house.”

Pablo spins around. “She was at Jazmín’s house?”

The bell rings before Aaron can answer. Everyone stops talking. Pablo and I turn to face Ms. Coleman, who is smiling in front of the whiteboard.

“Good morning, third graders,” she says. “I hope you’re as excited as I am to start this amazing year. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. But I want to take a moment to welcome one student in particular. Everyone, meet Esmeralda. She’s new to our school this year.”

All of us look at the new girl. Her cheeks turn pink, and she twists one of her braids around her finger.

“Esmeralda, we’re so glad you’re here,” Ms. Coleman says. “Would you like to stand and tell us all a little about yourself?”

Esmeralda doesn’t answer. She stares down at her lap and keeps twisting her braid.

Some kids start to whisper. Pablo looks over his shoulder at me. Qué pasa? he mouths.

I shake my head. I have no idea what’s going on. Maybe she’s just really nervous?