Josefina’s Book Excerpt
From Happy Birthday, Josefina
Josefina bent over her friend. “Let me see your arm,” she said. Gently, Josefina took Mariana’s arm in her hands. She couldn’t help gasping when she saw two tiny holes where the snake’s fangs had sunk in. The wound was an ugly purplish color, and it was already beginning to swell. In her mind, Josefina heard Tía Magdalena’s voice saying, “If you don’t get the venom out right away, it can kill you.” Josefina spoke with urgency to Mariana. “We’ve got to get back to the pueblo,” she said. “We need help.”
Mariana tried to stand but dropped back on her knees. “I can’t . . . I can’t go that far,” she said in a hoarse whisper.
Josefina’s heart twisted with fear. She knelt down and something hard in her pouch thunked against her. It was the globe mallow root Tía Magdalena had given her. Without hesitating, Josefina took it out. She crushed the root between two rocks and spit on it to make a pasty. Then she pressed it against Mariana’s arm where the snake had struck. She squeezed Mariana’s arm gently to bring the venom up. Mariana whimpered, but she didn’t pull away.
Again and again, Josefina pressed the crushed root against the wound. Again and again, she pressed Mariana’s arm. Again and again and again . . . Josefina knew she had to stay calm, but she had to fight against a rising feeling of panic. The globe mallow didn’t seem to be working! Mariana’s arm was still swollen and bruised looking. Oh, how long would it take? What if she was using the root the wrong way? Perhaps she had misunderstood. What would happen to Mariana if the venom poisoned her blood? If only someone would come to help!
