Book Preview: Beyond the Gardens by Sandra C. Lopez
Today I am excited to share the first chapter of the book Beyond The Gardens by Sandra C. Lopez.Title: Beyond the Gardens
Author: Sandra C. Lopez
Original Publication: October 27, 2009
Summary From Goodreads:
She was a shy artist, who was afraid to blossom into the beautiful flower she was meant to grow into.
At the age of 18, Esperanza Ignacio begins her college years at an upscale Los Angeles art school, where she studies to fulfill her long-term dream in Animation. But she soon learns the truth to the old folktale: "you can take the girl out of the barrio, but you can't take the barrio out of the girl." Even though she's getting financial aid, Esperanza works a part-time job during her break from classes just to make ends meet. Her roommate, Anna, is what she calls a "chicana from Beverly Hills" because of the rich daddy and the new car she got for her quinceaera.
Things get a little confusing for Esperanza when an old friend comes
looking for her, hoping to start a meaningful relationship. But is Carlos
the right guy for her? She never even considered him to be anything more than a friend since high school. Then comes Jake, a gorgeous mechanic, who shares her passion for books and loves her for who she is. What's a girl to do?
Strength and determination help pave the way for the future. And, as she approaches her graduation, she is faced with a difficult decision: should she leave Los Angeles and leave behind her family, her home, and everything she's known? Ever since she was born in the California barrio of Hawaiian Gardens, she's always had to look over the fence, wondering what she's been missing. Now she's taking a flying leap over to see what's beyond the little barrio. What's beyond her family, her friends, and her past? What's beyond the little nothing town, where dreams don't exist? What's beyond The Gardens? Is it life, love, a future? The story of Esperanza is finally concluded in this wildly entertaining and heart-warming sequel.
And now, here is your sneak peak:
Chapter
1
As the evening sun was settling over the small hills, I
steadily
hiked along the concrete path that led into
the center
of the campus quad. I hung to the strap of my
book bag
with a light wind sweeping through the air, then
walked
past the student store and the food court. The garlic
aroma of
chicken chimichangas was overwhelming and
floated
around seamlessly. My god, did it smell good. I
almost
wished I had five bucks to waste.
Instead, I
ignored the aching grumble in my stomach
and moved
on.
The dorms
were located on the outskirts of the school
next to a
highway that was often busy at this time of day.
When I
reached Da Vinci Hall, I passed along a few students
bundled in
a corner with large pads sketching the scattered
trees on
the forefront of the breaking dawn. I had missed the
elevator
going up just as the doors were closing. Damn.
Exasperated,
I punched in the button for the next one.
But the
wait was so long I decided to just forget it and
took the
stairs instead.
Crossing
down the hallway, I fumbled inside the withered
pocket of
my jacket for the keys. I unlocked the door and
then
stepped into a tiny cubicle, where I hit my knee passing
by the end
table. At that point, I couldn’t decide whether the
furniture
was moving closer or the room was just shrinking.
I limped
across the room and dropped my bag on
a nearby
chair. Then I took off my cap and tossed it
aside. Oh,
what a day, I thought while my fingers stroked
through
the thick strands of my dark hair. I couldn’t believe
I stayed
up half the night to study for a quiz the
teacher
decided not to have after all. What a shame. I was
really
looking forward to it, too.
After
spotting my bed just a few feet away, I fell on
top of it
landing on a soft pillow that cradled my head.
Humble
sighs trickled through as the evening sun cast a
mild
afterglow through the shiny window, shadowing the
room with
a tinted orange. I yawned while the soothing
warmth
poured across my tanned face. Then I closed my
eyes as a
tranquil slumber soon began to take its course.
Suddenly,
the door quickly slammed open, and I instantly
bolted
upright.
“Hey, good
news you lucky people, I’m here!”
“Jesus
Christ!” I yelled, responding to the triumphant
arrival of
my roommate, Anna.
She looked
at me with cavalier naïveté. “Oh, were you
sleeping?”
“No, I
wasn’t,” I answered. “I was just trying to, that’s
all.”
“Well, as long as you weren’t sleeping.”
Casually humming,
she
sauntered back into the hall and returned with
several
large shopping bags. Most of them looked like
they
weighed more than she did.
“Been to
the mall, lately?” I asked.
“Just for
the last half hour.”
“And
that’s all you got?”
“Well, I
couldn’t really get much because I had to come
back for a
class.”
“Oh, of
course.”
I watched
as Anna closed the door behind her so she
could peek
at the mirror nailed in the back. She twirled
around a
few times, checking out all the angles of herself.
Then she
fluffed her short, reddish-brown hair, which was
decorated
with bright, silver streaks. Under closer inspection,
she turned
from side to side and caressed the light,
delicate
skin on her face. She checked out everything from
the
straight arches in her eye brows to the rich, glossy
color of
her lips. Oh, brother, I thought as I reclined back
into
position.
There was
just no doubt about it. Anna Zapata was
the “Chicana from Beverly Hills.” She,
technically, came
from
Orange County, but she was possessed by someone
in Beverly
Hills. Note: Anytime you see the word “hills”
in a city
name, you just know it’s a fancy, ritzy area packed
with
people, who just have too much money. For example,
Anaheim Hills, Woodland Hills, Chino Hills, Beverly Hills.
Need I say
more?
“Do you think I need to add another streak?”
Anna
asked
suddenly.
“Another
streak?”
“Yeah,
right here near my bangs.”
“Well, I
don’t know,” I answered. “I think you wouldn’t
look any
different.”
“Would you
get up and look,” she insisted.
“Why, I
can remember what you look like.”
“Will you
just look.”
“Okay,
fine,” I said with a roll of my eyes.
With a
discouraging grunt, I hoisted myself up and
leaned on
the tips of my elbows. I cocked my head in her
direction,
straining to give her a glance. My face crinkled
in
confusion as I attempted to drum up an opinion.
“Well?”
she persisted.
“Well,
uh—”
“Be
honest.”
“Honestly……you’d
look the same.”
“Oh, no I
wouldn’t.”
“Yes, you
would.”
“No, I
wouldn’t.”
“Yes, you
would.”
“Oh, what
do you know?”
I
collapsed back on the bed with a loud murmur under
my breath.
“Can’t you
see that one streak will add balance to my
bone
structure?”
“No, I
clearly don’t see that,” I said.
“Obviously.” She looked back at the mirror.
“Maybe I
should
just start all over with a brand new color. What do
you think
about that?”
“Why don’t
you just go back with the color God gave
you?” I
asked.
“Well,
that kinda presents a problem,” she said. “See, I
sorta
forgot my original hair color.”
“Are you
serious?”
“Nope,
I’ve been dyeing my hair for years, and it just
sorta
slipped my mind.”
“Well, why
don’t you ask your mom then?”
“Are you
kidding?” she responded. “Who do you think
taught me
how to dye my hair? My mother couldn’t find
her own
roots if she was digging for gold.”
“Okay,
point well taken,” I mentioned. At least now I
knew where
her obsession with hair started from.
“Ya know,
I think I will add that extra streak,” she
said.
“Whatever
you say.”
“And while
I’m at the salon, I’ll get a manicure, pedicure,
and a
facial,” she added. “I’ll just beautify all this
even
more.”
“Are you
sure you’re Mexican?” I asked once again.
“For the
last time, I am Mexican,”
she replied in defiance.
“Yo sé hablar español y todo. I just
don’t listen to Spanish
music or
eat spicy foods. Why, don’t I sound Mexican?”
“Nope.”
“I resent
that,” she said. “I would stay and fight
you on
that, but I gotta go get my facial, manicure, and
pedicure.”
“So, back
to the mall you go?”
“That’s
right,” she said. “Oh, and while I’m there, I
might as
well get that cashmere blouse I was thinking
about
buying but didn’t. See ya.”
With giddy
excitement, Anna glided out of the room.
Finally!
Now where was I? Oh, yeah, I was trying to
relax.
I lied
there and closed my eyes, gradually reacquainting
myself
with the peaceful and quiet sounds around me.
At some
point, I actually wondered whether or not I went
deaf. But
I didn’t. There was absolutely no noise. Wow,
this was
nothing like home back in the barrio, I thought.
Back home
I had the raucous sounds of police helicopters
flying
overhead to lull me to sleep. But not here.
Sounds of
the barrio didn’t
exist. I haven’t heard screeching
tires
against the harsh gravel of the streets, or the sounds
of drunken
cholos clashing
with shattered beer bottles. Up
until now
I figured I’d be stuck with those noises for the
rest of my
life. It was amazing. I mean, I’ve heard about
lawns
being greener on the other side of the fence; but it’s
another
thing to actually sink your feet into that beautiful
grass and
wiggle your toes in it. Could I really have done
it? I
wondered. Could I have gotten myself away from
the other side and made it all
the way here—at the Atkins
Art
Institute, the place I’ve been working so hard to get
to ever
since I saw Bugs Bunny as a kid? Could this be a
dream?
Yes, it was a dream—it was a dream come true!
After
conquering the world of high school as a kid
and
cherishing the last few moments of summer with
the people
who meant the most to me, I can now say
that I had
finally made it. I did it! I was here, standing in
the middle
of a whole new adventure, ready to begin the
grand
odyssey of college life, ready to discover the answer
to the
question that’s been nagging me for years: What’s
beyond The
Gardens?
Ever since
I was born in the small town of Hawaiian
Gardens—a
California barrio that a lot
of the locals referred
to as The
Gardens— my life always had barbed
wire
around it, and I just couldn’t get through. I was
caged like
a raggedy, flea-infested dog, always snuggled in
a dirty
corner while surrounded by the foul stench of that
filthy
pound. I would look at the world through steel bars,
wondering
what it would be like to be on the other side.
Was there
some other life beyond those gates? Was there
something
better over that fence? I never knew; I’ve always
just
wondered. And I kept on wondering even when we
moved to
East L.A., where I was only transferred from a
smaller
cage to a bigger one—my curiosities still the same
though. I
knew I was going to die if I stayed right where
I was. I
knew it was never going to get any better unless I
got out.
Well, now, I was a dog that had gone free. I finally
escaped my
cell. I have passed the gates of limitations,
running every
step of the way, ready to discover what I
have been
missing all my life. I was now going to see this
new world
through fascinated eyes and finally mark my
territory
wherever I go. What changes await me? What
will I
find? Who will I meet? How will the next chapters
of my life
going to end this time? Or were they going to
end at
all? Maybe my ending will turn out to be a brand
new beginning. I couldn’t
wait to find out!
To read the
full story of Beyond the Gardens by
Sandra Lopez, copies are available here:
Barnes &
Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-the-gardens-sandra-c-lopez/1018883886?ean=9781432746988
For more
information, visit the author’s website at www.sandra-lopez.com
or connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandra-Lopez/173657042664609
posted by RandomlyKait @ 5:08 PM
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