Without a word, she takes Julián’s hand and leads him to the mermaid parade, where they join in the celebration. After a moment of apprehension, Julián’s relief is palpable when Abuela, dressed in blue, returns to present him with a beaded coral necklace. From the gauzy window curtain he fashions a tail and strikes a pose-only to be discovered by a towel-wrapped Abuela, who promptly walks away. Once they’re home, while Abuela takes a bath Julián removes his clothing, tucks fern leaves and flowers into a headband, and kneels on the vanity to apply lipstick. He discovers a tail where his legs had been, and accepts a coral necklace from a large, blue fish to complete the look. Wide-eyed Julián drifts into a fantasy: submerged in water, his hair lengthens as he sheds his tank top and shorts before being swept up in a stream of sea creatures. Riding the train on their way home from the swimming pool, Julián and his abuela see women clad in elegant, mint-green dresses trailing tail fins: mermaids.
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