Chapter Nine: Rio de Janeiro:

We’re still in the south, only we’re going east. Here we are in sunny Brazil. Tonight is going to be a lit party. Ana got a job at a small club around circus time. Her friend helped her get the job.

“Are you serious?” Ana asked over the phone.

“Yeah,” her friend said. “It’s only going to be for three nights. The party will be lit.” Ana thought about this for a moment.

“Is the pay good?” she asked.

“Hell yes!” they said. “Are you in?” The DJ broke into a huge grin.

“Hell yes!” she shouted. Of course, she was going to see her family and other friends for Christmas. That’s why she was going back to Brazil.

She made it back by evening. Her family was already waiting for her at the airport.

“Ana!” her grandmother said. “We’ve missed you so much! How have you been?” The old lady rushed forward and hugged her. Ana nervously chuckled.

“Fine, mi-ma,” she said. “You’re looking well too.” The old lady let go and looked up. The cousins ran over to the pair. Ana waved both hands at them all.

“Hello everyone,” she said. How many people were here in this airport related to her? Ana gave up counting them. She just accepted that she was home.

That first day wore her out. So much food and chatter. Ana could barely keep up with the conversation. She thought that her head was going to spin off.

“Are you alright?” her mother asked. Ana quickly nodded at her.

“Yeah, yeah,” she said. “Just give me a minute.”

“Here,” her mother said. “Drink this.” She handed the younger woman a glass of water. Ana picked it up and took a drink.

“Better?” her mother asked. Her daughter nodded.

“A little bit,” she said.

“Dinner’s ready!” the grandmother called from the dining room doorway. Everyone got up and rushed to the table. Ana took her time following behind. This trip was going to be nothing but food. She doubted that she would be able to wake up from a food coma before the year was over. Her mother squeezed her hand. Ana turned her head.

“It’s okay,” she mouthed. The DJ gave her a little smile. At least there were going to be two things to keep her afloat through this summery Christmas. Her mother and this DJ gig. She hoped that the latter would be worth the money. Who was she kidding? Of course, it was going to be worth it. She just needed to survive her family for the next couple of weeks.

Her mother dragged her towards the dining room. The whole time she had a huge smile on her face.

“Your grandma and I made something special for you,” she said. Ana nervously laughed.

“Really now?” she asked.

“Uh-huh,” her mother said. She pulled her daughter over to the table and sat her down. Ana looked up as she tried to calm down. She already knew that the first course was coming. The DJ knew that the only way she was going to leave the table was if she was rolled away and up the stairs. Ana shut her eyes and wished herself luck.