And Quepasó Street was all hush, whispering about the crazy Colón family who had housed Hush, for no other reason than that she had shown up at their door.

Bobby arrived at the hospital and the attendants rushed Hush into the delivery room.

—Who’ll fill out her papers? asked the nurse. —Does she have insurance?

Don Chan and Bobby looked at each other. And said, —Yes. —No.

—Are you the father? she asked Bobby.

—Yes, I’m the father. He begged them to take care of her any which way they could. He wore the thin blue paper gown with pride. Donned the gloves, wore the cap, and held Hush’s hand and told her to push. —I love you, Hush, he said, not believing the words were coming out of his mouth. Not believing his tongue had found its place. —Push, woman, we’re having a baby.

The Colón family stayed in the waiting room while Hush pushed the overdue baby out of her body.

—How long has it been? Esperanza asked.

—The doctors said seven hours. They say the baby is too big.

—Should we call her mother? Esperanza asked, wondering if Hush’s mother cared.

—Let’s wait, Don Chan said. We’re her family now. And for once, Esperanza listened. She listened to Don Chan and sat, feeling worried, excited, and impatient all at the same time.

Eighteen hours had passed, Hush pushed and pushed, and Bobby was wide awake, pepped with coffee and cola, holding Hush’s hand and telling her about their future house in Castle Hill. Telling her how hard he had been working and about the marvels of the Internet. —Imagine a new world called cyberspace, with super malls, lounges, clubs, schools. We’ll never have to leave the house again. And that once she turned eighteen, they would get married, if she permitted it to be so.

—Will you marry me, Hush? The words were coming out of his mouth, pushing their way out with a certain desperation while he saw the blood drain from Hush’s face as she pushed.

—Yes, Hush, said. —Yes! she screamed, pushing and crying.

And Hush admired Bobby’s fine-looking face. The same face she had known from a very young age. And there he was, loving her, wanting to be with her forever. She thought about the way Bobby took care of her and let her do as she pleased without reprimanding her. The way he welcomed her into his home and was very decent to her.

—Yes, Bobby.

Bobby squeezed her hand. Or was Hush squeezing his? And the doctor told her to push one more time and then realized that no amount of pushing would make her child come out into the world. So they put her under.

—Are you sure about this? Bobby asked as the doctors hurried around Hush, in preparation for cutting her open.

Consuelo Colón was born on the night of a full moon. Hush never came out of her sleep. The doctors were baffled. The procedure had been simple. There was nothing unusual about their efforts. But Hush’s breath stopped and her heart slowed down until it ceased.