Chương 20: La máquina celeste lo aplasta todo

"I think it looks fine." Robin gave Una a look she would never forget. She had barely needed the scissors. His hair came away between her fingers, easy as cotton from a boll. The rest, she cleaned up with Hector's straight razor. Two dollars saved. She'd only nicked Robin once. Not bad for the first head she'd ever shaved. The paleness of his scalp and the shadows under his eyes made him look so much older.

"I'll just stay inside and paint birds."

"Good. You need the practice," Una said. Robin blinked. She stared back. I won't let you sit around feeling sorry for yourself. You have friends, food, a roof over your head. That's more than a lot of people. So you're sick, so what? All my friends are gone, Robin. Hector is gone, Lucinda too. It won't be long for me, either. The time you have is precious. Don't waste it. Una let the words grind inside her, unsaid. They were not things one could say to a sick child.

She mopped a spot of shaving cream from behind his ear.

"I'll be there with you, the whole time. I'm bringing the chessboard," she softened her tone.

"I hate aspirations. It was so bad last time."

"This storm will pass. When you make it through the other side, you'll be so strong. There won't be anything you can't do," Una promised. She needed it to be true. Robin ran his hand over his shaven head, trying to get used to the feeling.

"Everyone will look at me," Robin realized.

"And what will they see? A hincha (superfan) for Cruz Azul."

"Huh?" Una took her surprise from under the table. She'd wrapped it in the comics section from yesterday's Albuquerque Journal. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"Go ahead," she said. Inside the box was a brand new cap. A badge was embroidered above the bill: a blue cross in a white ring upon a crimson field. Six stars arched above, one for each championship victory. The letters read 'DEPORTIVO CRUZ AZUL'. Robin gasped.

"Don't lose that." Una grinned. There was no danger. Robin turned the cap over in both hands. He marveled as if it was a jeweled crown.

"Where did you get this?"

"A hat shop at the Winrock mall. The owner is from Veracruz. He sells hats for all the Primera División clubs. You know, that hat might need a seventh star, come June. Your boys are doing well this season."

"Of course they are." Robin puffed up with pride.

"La máquina celeste lo aplasta todo. (The blue machine crushes everything.)" The shadows flew from his face and Robin was a boy again. The hat was worth its weight in gold. He rushed off to admire himself in the bathroom mirror. Una practically had to drag him away to get him in the car. * The queen hung free on the E file, ripe for her knight. Una's thoughts darted ahead to the bishop behind and the rook on the eighth file. It was a trap! She looked up at Robin.

He could keep the smirk from his face, but not his eyes. There was more: if she ignored the queen, he could follow up with his other bishop. It was no good, she….

"This is taking forever," Robin said. Una shot him a withering look, thinking he meant the game. He glanced up at the nurse's station. He meant the process. Dr. Suarez had been so insistent they come in right away. Now that they had, everything was in slow motion. It reminded Una of the army. Hurry up and wait.

"It will pass. Focus on the game," Una said.

"I did. Your move, Tita," Robin smiled again.

"A month ago, you couldn't tell rooks from bishops." Una shook her head and wondered how she'd gotten into this mess. If she wanted to know, the composition book was right beside him. The insufferable jodón (pest) recorded all their moves in his DIARIO, just as she'd taught him.

"You could always surrender," Robin suggested.

"You're talking crazy," Una said. She turned her eyes back to the board to look for a way out.