Amanda in Spain: The Girl in the Painting

by Darlene Foster

  La Pedrera was close by, on the corner of a busy street. The building looked completely out of place amongst the other office buildings and apartment blocks. There wasn’t one straight line on the building. It looked all wavy and uneven as if it was made out of play-dough. People walked on a roof which seemed like a child’s playground with interesting shapes and colours. Obviously a popular place, a long line up of tourists waited to get into the building.

  “Oh no,” said Amanda. “How will we get in without a ticket?”

  “I think I know a way,” answered Francisco. “Let us go around to the back.”

  Amanda and Leah exchanged skeptical looks but followed him anyway. A large chain link fence surrounded the back of the building. Francisco led them to a spot where the chain link was cut. He pushed it open to let the girls through when someone shouted, “Hey you! What do you think you are doing?”

  ‘Oh no. This is can’t be good,’ thought Amanda.

  “Hola Diago! It is me, Francisco. I wish to show my friends this place but I did not want to wait in line with all those crazy tourists. You don’t mind if I show my friends Barcelona’s most special attraction, do you?”

  The grey-haired man, holding a rake in one hand and pruning shears in another, gave a lopsided smile and said, “This is okay, I guess. You have done some work for me before and I know you are an honest man. Go ahead but do not tell anyone I said so, okay?”

  “Gracias Amigo.”

  Chapter 17

  “Whew, that was close,” Leah whispered in Amanda’s ear.

  Once inside the building, they found themselves in a semi-dark, circular room surrounded by six floors of apartments. They could look straight up to the roof. Wrought iron leaves crawled along the balconies making it look outdoorsy.

  “How are we ever going to find Dona before Paddy and his thugs find her? How do we know for sure she is in here?” wondered Amanda out loud.

  “We don’t. I just know what I overheard.” Leah readjusted her ponytail elastic.

  Behind a lace curtain on the second floor something moved. Amanda thought she saw curly chestnut hair. “I think she’s up there.” She pointed to the window.

  “Follow me,” said Francisco as he started to run up a set of stairs.

  “He does seem to know his way around here,” assured Leah.

  On the next floor they entered a fully furnished apartment. Except the furniture looked old; like something you would see in a museum.

  “This is for the tourists. It is like it was one hundred years ago when he built the apartment new. No one lives here now. Is this the room you thought you saw some person?” asked the young man as he motioned to a small room off to the side.

  The room they entered consisted of a single bed, covered in a red bedspread with a large, white lace doily on top. Under the bed sat a chamber pot. On the wall, a wooden rack with a little black velvet dress trimmed in lace, and a small white sailor suit, hung from hooks. They looked like doll clothes and Amanda realized this would have been the children’s room. She looked out the lace-curtain covered window down into the interior courtyard where they had been a few minutes earlier. “Yes, I am sure this is it.”

  “Shhh. What’s that noise?” Leah bent down to look under the bed. “She’s here,” Leah whispered and gestured to Amanda.

  Amanda looked under the bed. “Dona, what are you doing? Come out from under there.”

  “I can’t,” a little voice croaked. “They know I am here. I am too frightened.”

  “We will get you out of here and somewhere safe,” assured Amanda.

  She took hold of Dona’s hand and pulled her out from under the bed just before some tourists entered the room. They squeezed past the sightseers in the narrow hallway and entered a large room with a black and white tiled floor that looked like a huge checkerboard. Francisco spotted the older man from the Almede Street apartment.

  “Come, quick – this way,” he signaled to the girls as he disappeared into an alcove. The girls followed him up a set of spiral stairs. Amanda kept looking behind her but no one followed them.

  After going up and up in a spiral for some time they emerged into sunshine. Amanda rubbed her eyes. Was she dreaming? They seemed to have entered a scene from a sci-fi movie. Marvelous shapes dotted the uneven roof top. Some looked like swirly topped ice cream cones, others like helmeted soldiers and others like many-eyed, space creatures. ‘Who ever built this must have been crazy,’ thought Amanda.

  “Oh no!” Amanda nudged Leah and pointed to Paddy in the crowd. Francisco saw him too. Without a word, they each took hold of Dona’s hand and ran behind what looked like a huge, Imperial Storm Trooper. Dona trembled. “You are okay,” Amanda put a protective arm around the young girl. “We can hide here for a while.”

  Paddy searched the crowd with a scowl. He walked toward the figure. Everyone tensed. There was no other way but to jump off the roof and it looked a long way down. Just then a large family arrived and stood in front of the sculpture to get their picture taken.

  Amanda popped her head up over a couple of children and saw Paddy walk away toward another sculpture. Snap! Went the camera. ‘I hope I won’t be in their photograph,’ thought Amanda.

  They sat behind the sculpture for a few more minutes just to be sure Paddy was gone. Amanda couldn’t help asking what the weird figures on the roof were all about. Francisco explained that the figures were actually chimneys and served a purpose.

  Leah gave Amanda an annoyed look and said, “Seriously Amanda, how could you even think of asking stuff like that at this time?”

  “Sorry. I thought it would take our minds off the situation.”

  Francisco looked over the edge of the roof and reported, “It seems our nasty friends have given up and left the building. I see them walking down the street. I guess they did not find what they were looking for.”

  Dona started to cry, “Why do they not leave me alone? They have my pony and now they want me. What have I done?”

  “We will take you back to the hotel with us and you will be safe.” Amanda gave the young girl’s hand a reassuring squeeze. ‘This must be what it’s like to have a little sister to look after,’ she thought.

  Leah looked at her watch, “O-M-G, we had better get back to the hotel. Mom and Dad will be having a perfect fit. I’m surprised they haven’t sent out a search party!”

  Chapter 18

  The hot midmorning sun beat down on Amanda, Leah, Dona and Francisco as they made their way through the crowded street, back to the hotel. “Wow! Look at that.” Amanda spotted a house covered in blue scales. “Does anyone live there?”

  “No, it is another Gaudi house. It is Casa Batlló,” answered Francisco.

  This house was more ornate and colourful than La Pedrera. “What do you mean a Gaudi house? Will someone please tell me what you are talking about?”

  Leah rolled her eyes at Francisco who started to explain. “Gaudi is Spain’s most famous architect from a hundred years ago. He had a big imagination and wealthy people gave him money to build unique houses. This was built for the Batlló family.”

  Amanda wanted to see what was inside such an intriguing house. “Can we go inside?”

  “Amanda, don’t be ridiculous. We have to get back to the hotel and let Mom and Dad know we are alright. We have to keep Dona safe.” Leah sounded impatient and a bit cross.

  “Sorry,” mumbled Amanda. “I meant another time.”

  Francisco tensed. Coming toward them, on the opposite side of the street, were Paddy and the older man, searching the crowd. The young man motioned to the girls to follow him down a back lane. ‘Where is he taking us?’ thought Amanda. ‘This is a dead end street.’

  They faced a small doorway. Francisco turned the latch one way, then another, and after three more turns, the door opened. He pushed the girls inside and closed it with a thud.

  “Where are we?” asked Amanda.

  “You wanted to go inside Casa Batlló. Well, here we are, Senorita
.”

  “O-M-G!” was all she could say as she surveyed the scene in front of her.

  They were at the bottom of a staircase with railings in the shape of seahorses. The ceiling looked like a huge clam shell and the stained glass windows with bubbles floating in them made her feel like she had entered an underwater world.

  Francisco pointed to the crowded entrance. Paddy and his accomplice were arguing with the security guard who would not let them in the building. ‘They must have spotted us?’ thought Amanda in a panic.

  “Follow me.” Francisco started up the staircase.

  The higher they climbed, the blue tiles covering the walls became lighter, until at the top, they were a pale sky blue. They passed through another door and found themselves on yet another strange rooftop, much like a Disney fantasy land.

  ‘What fun it would have been to live here and play hide and seek,’ thought Amanda as she looked around in amazement. Her eyes turned to Dona and she came back to reality. The young girl looked like she was going to faint. “Are you too hot?”

  “No, I am used to the hot sun,” replied Dona.

  “Perhaps you’re hungry?” asked Leah as she put her arm around the younger girl to steady her.

  Dona looked down and didn’t answer.

  “When did you last eat?”

  “Two days ago – I think.”

  Leah looked at Amanda, “We need to get her something to eat.”

  Amanda dug in her back pack and discovered a squashed granola bar. She handed it to Dona, “Maybe you can eat this until we get back to the hotel.” ‘If we ever get back,’ she thought just as an ominous shadow covered them.

  Chapter 19

  “Which one of you would like to come with me?” said Paddy with a menacing smile.

  Dona looked down and shivered, holding on to the granola bar as if it were the only thing that could save her. Leah sighed.

  “Leave – us – alone. Leah’s dad knows we are here and is coming to get us any minute. He’s bringing the police with him.” Amanda looked right into the large man’s eyes. “You are so busted man.”

  Paddy looked around. “I don’t believe you, you lying brat.”

  “I don’t care. You will not hurt Dona you – you big bully.” Amanda stood between the large man and Dona. Paddy pushed Amanda aside and reached for the younger girl. At that moment Leah let out a blood curdling scream bringing some tourists and a security guard immediately to the scene. Paddy released Dona and turned to run in the opposite direction. Amanda stuck out her foot and Paddy came crashing down in front of her with a thud. Paddy’s buddy disappeared into the crowd.

  “Let’s get out of here!” said Francisco as he led the girls once more through a small doorway and down some stairs into a room not much bigger than a closet. The room contained an assortment of trunks and boxes. Francisco opened up one trunk, pulled out a monster costume and threw it over to Leah. “Put this on.”

  “Seriously? You want me to wear this, this awful thing?”

  “We have to get out of here without any more troubles. Do you have any better ideas?”

  “Okay.” Leah pulled the hideous costume over her head.

  He threw Amanda a dragon costume. Dona walked over to a trunk that said “Disney” on it. She opened it up and pulled out a Minnie Mouse costume. “I can wear this?”

  “Of course. It should fit you.” Francisco pulled on his demon costume.

  A few minutes later a dragon, a monster, a demon and Minnie Mouse entered the hotel and walked up to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson talking to a police officer and Lorenzo, the hotel manager. Leah’s mom gasped.

  “It’s okay Mom, it’s just me,” said the monster as she took off her dreadful head.

  “Are these the missing children, Senora?” asked the police officer.

  “Yes, we are,” said the dragon as she struggled to take off her head. “You must get to Casa Batlló as quickly as possible, Officer. There is a bad man there who steals horses and little girls.”

  “What have you girls been up to?” asked Leah’s distraught father.

  “We will tell you everything, Dad. But first we need to eat something.”

  All four of the children tried to fill in the story while they ate a late, hearty breakfast.

  “We just can’t leave you two out of our sight, can we?” sighed Leah’s mom.

  “How can we get you home young lady?” Leah’s dad smiled at Dona who just finished off her third croissant.

  “I want to go home, but first I need to get my pony.”

  Chapter 20

  The police officer returned to the hotel and reported that both men had been apprehended. “We have been looking for these men. They have been suspected of illegal gambling, kidnapping and horse stealing. We have you young people to thank for leading us to them. Gracias.”

  He turned to Dona and said, “Señorita Hernandes, your father is waiting for you at the horse barn. We have ordered a limousine to take all of you there if you wish.”

  Everyone piled into the long, stretched out, fancy car.

  “I have a lot of questions,” said Amanda as they drove away.

  “Like we are surprised,” responded Leah, with a smile.

  “Francisco, how did you know how to get into Casa Batlló and how did you know where the costumes were?”

  The young man grinned, “My boss, the man who gives me work as a street performer, he also manages both Gaudi houses. He gives me work as a yard keeper and cleaner too. So I know the code to get in the side door. He keeps the costumes in the room at Casa Batlló and we often get changed there. It was handy today, was it not?”

  “Yeah, it sure was. Thanks bud.” Amanda punched him on the arm.

  “And you, Leah, how did you learn to scream like that? That was so not you.”

  “It seemed a good time to use some of my acting techniques. I guess those acting classes paid off Dad.” She looked at her dad and winked.

  “I think you deserve an academy award for that!” said Amanda and everyone in the limo laughed.

  “What about you and your ninja trick?” asked Leah. “A little thing like you – tripping up a big guy like him? That was pretty amazing as well. Maybe we could get a double award.”

  “One more thing –” started Amanda.

  “Just one more, I don’t believe it.” Leah giggled.

  “Very funny, Leah.”

  “Seriously though, Dona, how is it you look just like the girl in those paintings? I am dying to know.”

  Dona blushed, “Well, my mother is descended from the Royal family from a long time ago. We are no longer considered royal but I guess I was lucky to look like the princess. It comes in handy when I am doing the street performance.”

  “Why do you think Paddy and his gang were after you?”

  “I guess they thought my family has money but we don’t. We are ordinary working people like everyone else. But I am sure my father would have found some money if I had been kidnapped.” The young girl paled and shuddered.

  Amanda was sorry she asked one question too many which turned the atmosphere so solemn. “Well, you are okay now and here with us. Look – there is a barn and it looks like Pedro is there with a gentleman.”

  Dona’s face lit up with a huge grin. “Poppa and Pedro!” She almost opened the door of the limo before it came to a complete stop.

  Senor Hernandes, Dona’s father, was very grateful to everyone for helping his daughter and bringing her back to him safely. He invited everyone for dinner at his casa that evening. Dona kept hugging and stroking her pony. “Oh my Pedro, I thought I would never see you again.”

  That evening after dinner, Dona gave Amanda a beautiful carved box. Inside it was a silver locket. “Thank you, this is awesome,” said Amanda as she put it around her neck.

  She opened the locket. On one side was a picture of Dona and on the other, a picture of the girl in the painting. She looked up at Dona and said, “Thank you.”

  “Gracias hermana may
or,” said the young girl.

  “That means, thank you big sister,” whispered Francisco.

  Amanda gave her Spanish little sister a big hug and made her promise to email her regularly and come to visit her in Canada someday. She promised there would be no running and hiding from bad guys.

  “I’ll believe that when pigs fly,” laughed Leah.

  Francisco bent down to give Amanda a quick hug as he said goodbye. “I hope we can stay friends. Can I email you as well?”

  “Of course.” Amanda felt her face go red.

  Later that night Leah said, “I’m not sure how I’ll be able to go back to my boring life when you go home.”

  “Your boring life? You’re the one who gets to travel all over the place with your parents. I am the one who has to go home to ‘Boringville’.”

  “Oh. Didn’t I tell you?” Leah’s face lit up. “I will be going to boarding school in England. Hey, maybe you can come visit me during spring holiday.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  ‘England in the spring would be awesome,’ thought Amanda as she started making plans for another trip to a country she had often dreamed about but never visited.

  The End

  About The Author

  Darlene Foster is a youth employment counselor, an ESL tutor for children, a wife, mother and grandmother. She loves travel, shoes, cooking, reading, sewing, chocolate, music, the beach and making new friends. Her 13 year old grandson calls her “super-mega-as-woman-supreme”. She was brought up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where she dreamt of traveling the world and meeting interesting people. She lives on the west coast of BC with her husband Paul and their two black cats, Pumpkin and Monkey.

  Her website is www.darlenefoster.ca.

  Also by Darlene Foster

  Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask

  Amanda Ross is an average twelve year old Canadian girl. So what is she doing thousands of kilometres from home in the United Arab Emirates? It's her own fault really, she wished for adventure and travel when she blew out those candles on her last birthday cake. Little did she know that a whole different world awaited her on the other side of the globe, one full of intrigue, mystery and folklore. A world with a beautiful princess, a dangerous desert and wonderful friends.