The Blue Line Read Online Free Page A

uncomprehendingly at her little sister. Their father tried to explainthat La Boca, the noisy neighborhood where Mama Fina lived, with its old port and nightlife, wasn’t really suitable for children. Julia held her older sister’s gaze for a long moment, as if to give herself courage. Then, in a clear and final voice, she said, “I’m staying here.”
    It was the first adult decision of her life.
    Anna sided with her little sister. In a way, she understood better than anyone just how much Julia needed her own space. She also sensed intuitively that Julia would blossom at Mama Fina’s.
    The family moved into their house. By way of marking the beginning of their new life together, Mama Fina enrolled Julia in the parish school and took her to the cinema for the first time to see a Cantinflas film. The movie theater seemed enormous to Julia, with its white pillars flanking the entrance and its heavy red velvet curtain with gold tassels. The film posters showed a funny little man with a ridiculous mustache and baggy pants who seemed to be inviting her in. Mama Fina had made her wear a sailor dress for the occasion and a white coat. Julia was worried she would get it dirty. She also had on a round hat with a trailing dark blue ribbon that tickled her neck. A gaggle of similarly dressed children were racing around the lobby and jumping from the grand staircase as they waited for their parents to finish buying candy.
    A man wearing a small flat hat and a red uniform decorated with a long row of gold buttons went past, ringing a bell. The gaggle of children dispersed, and Mama Fina led Julia into thedarkness of the huge air-conditioned theater. She handed her a little paper bag filled with popcorn, which Julia didn’t want because she was thirsty more than anything. The beam of a flashlight directed them to two seats in the center of the theater. They slipped into their places, apologizing. The giant screen lit up and Julia felt overwhelmed by its presence. Hypnotized, she followed the movements of the little man with the silly mustache, unable to understand why the other children were laughing when she felt like crying.
    â€œDid you like it?” Mama Fina asked as they walked out of the theater.
    Julia thought for a moment, then turned to her and asked solemnly, “Was it real, Mama Fina?”
    â€œNo, it’s a movie.”
    â€œBut when I see movies . . . they become real afterward.”
    â€œWe’ll have to have a proper talk about this!”
    â€”
    One evening, when Julia had finished her homework, Mama Fina took her by the hand. “Come with me. I want to have a word with you.”
    She led Julia through the narrow streets of La Boca, along a familiar route that led to the church. They sat down on the low wall at the entrance. Intimidated by the solemnity of the occasion, Julia didn’t dare open her mouth. After several long minutes of reflection, Mama Fina turned to Julia, looked her straight in the eye, and began, weighing her words: “This is avery important moment, in your life as well as mine. I’m going to tell you a big secret—the one my father’s mother told me sixty years ago, before we left Italy. I was exactly the same age as you, because you’ll be six in a few days’ time.
    â€œYou told me that before the boat accident, when you were playing on the steps, you fell into the ‘silver water.’ You were very scared because you couldn’t breathe, and then you saw things in your head that scared you even more. You were very angry because nobody seemed to understand.
    â€œWhat happened to you, my grandmother used to call it the ‘inner eye.’ It’s a gift. Like a special present. Only a few girls in our family receive it. . . . I did, and so have you, but nobody else. We don’t know who gives us this gift; we only know it’s always a bit difficult to pass it on.
    â€œIf you want to give