HILDA E UNIC E BURGOS GABY D’AL E SSANDRO illustrated by The Cot in the Livin g Room
In memory of my mother and her loving babysitting skills. –H. E. B.
In memory of my dear cousin Alex. –G. D.
The art for this book was created digitally. Text set in LTC Goudy Oldstyle Pro. Cover and book design by Jasmin Rubero.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Penguin Young Readers Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. Text copyright © 2021 by Hilda Eunice Burgos. Illustrations copyright © 2021 by Gaby D’Alessandro. All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, by arrangement with Penguin Young Readers Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Printed in the U.S.A.
ISBN 978-1-338-88644-3
SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
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Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
The Cot in the Livin g Room
illustrated by GABY D’AL E SSANDRO
HILDA E UNIC E BURGOS
SCHOLASTIC INC.
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I wish I could sleep on the cot in the living room. But Mami says it’s for guests.
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“What’s so great about that cot?” my sister asks. I lower my voice to a whisper. “It would be so much fun to have the whole living room to myself! I’d stay up late and play, look at the tiny cars outside, maybe watch TV and sneak into the kitchen for an extra cookie or a little dulce de leche.”
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My sister shakes her head. “I just like to sleep at night.”
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On Friday, I help Mami snap the sheets onto the cot’s comfy mattress. They’re still warm from the dryer, and they smell like my bubble bath. Mami smooths over the top sheet until there isn’t a single wrinkle left. She finishes everything off with one of her handmade quilts and our fluffiest pillow.
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“Who’s coming tonight?” I ask. “Raquel.”
Boring . She never plays with me.
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Raquel’s dad is working the night shift at the hospital. So she gets to sleep on the cot in the living room.
“Do you like dominoes?” Papi asks. “We can make a maze.”
Papi never lets me build with the good dominoes.
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“No, thank you,” Raquel says in a whisper.
“Will you keep the lamp on?” Raquel asks. “Don’t worry, mi amor,” Mami says. “It doesn’t get very dark in here.”
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I wish my room had a big window to let in the lights from the George Washington Bridge. It’s not fair.
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We change the sheets again the next day. Edgardo’s mom is singing tonight. She won’t finish until three a.m. So he gets to sleep on the cot in the living room.
He’ll probably get crumbs all over it again. “Are you hungry?” Papi asks. “I can make you a snack.” I’m not allowed to bring food into my room. Edgardo shrugs. “Mami packed this for me.”
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“Do you know my mom’s good-night song?” “I don’t, papito,” Mami says. “But you can sing it to this little guy.”
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He gets a snack and my toy?! It’s not fair.
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Little Lisa’s grandmother drops her off on Monday after dinner. She’s cleaning offices all evening, until way past bedtime.
So Lisa gets to sleep on the cot in the living room. I hope she doesn’t wake us up in the middle of the night again. “Do you like cartoons?” Papi asks. “I can change the channel.” But I’m watching that!
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Lisa shakes her head.
When her grandmother peels her away, she sticks to Mami like cotton candy. “I don’t fit in this little bed, preciosa,” Mami says. “But I’ll rub your back until you fall asleep, okay?”
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Mami turns off the TV and I go to my room, where there is nothing to watch. It’s not fair.
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No one comes over on Tuesday. “Can I sleep here tonight?” I ask Mami. “But you have your own bed.” I tell her that my sister snores. Which is true.
Mami shrugs. “Okay,” she
says.
We put warm sheets on the cot, and I smooth them over until there isn’t a single wrinkle left.
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My parents kiss me good night, then turn out the lights. I hear their bedroom door close. There’s nothing good on TV now, but that’s okay. This night is going to be perfect because I’m finally sleeping on the cot in the living room.
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But this mushy pillow isn’t mine.
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And there are monsters in here. Something is growling in the kitchen.
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“Mamita, what’s the matter?” Thank goodness Mami is back! She holds my hand and walks down the hall with me. We slip into my room and I fall asleep to the music of my sister’s snoring.
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It’s Wednesday and Raquel’s dad is working the night shift again, so she has to sleep on the cot in the living room. All by herself. She must really miss him. It’s not fair.
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“There isn’t much extra space in our room,” my sister says. “But there’s just enough,” I tell her. She agrees.
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The cot fits perfectly. And so does Raquel.
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Sometimes, the best way to be a better nei g hbor is by ima g inin g how it feels to sleep on the pillow next door.
This edition is only available for distribution through the school market.
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