Mission Libertad

by Lizette M. Lantigua

  “No, he is isn’t good with plants,” Luisito said.

  “How about construction?” she asked.

  Luisito shook his head.

  “Well, what does he do?” she asked, puzzled.

  “He is a medical doctor,” Luisito said.

  “A doctor! I would have never thought of that,” she said. “I was sure I saw him bagging groceries the other day at the supermarket.”

  “Yes, that’s him. It’s his part-time job. He works in a doctor’s office in the morning. He is also taking more English classes and planning on getting his … ugh … licencia?” Luisito answered.

  “You mean license?” Sherry offered.

  Luisito nodded and smiled.

  “Well, good for him!” Mrs. Jones said. “Say hi to Rosie for us.”

  Sherry waved, and she and Mrs. Jones walked out the door as Luisito held it open for them. He replayed their conversation in his head. He hoped he had spoken English correctly. Then he remembered he needed to call Sonia to pick him up. He asked permission to use the phone.

  At that moment, Mr. Alvarez walked in the door and looked in his direction.

  “Hey, Cubanito!” he said, patting him in the back. “Tomorrow we will be talking about the weather and vegetation of Cuba.”

  “Great!” Luisito said. He walked out into the hallway and toward the main door to wait for Sonia. He saw a girl with long, curly, brown hair updating the bulletin board. She was just putting up a flyer when all the rest slipped out of her hands and fell across the hallway. Luisito ran to help her.

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling at Luisito. “Aren’t you the Cuban refugee?”

  “I guess so,” Luisito said, not liking the tone of the word refugee.

  “I am Cristina,” she said swinging her ponytail. “My family is from El Salvador. Why don’t you join the Spanish Club? We meet every Tuesday after school.”

  “I am trying out for basketball,” he said. “Thanks, anyway.”

  “Is Sherry your girlfriend?” Cristina asked.

  “We are friends,” Luisito said.

  “Is this the first time you have met her mother?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “I see … well, according to my mother, Mrs. Jones doesn’t like Hispanics too much,” Cristina whispered to him.

  “You mean … ¿que nos mastica pero no nos traga?” Luisito said, not liking where the conversation was heading. The Spanish saying “she can chew us but not swallow us” meant she had a subtle prejudice against foreigners.

  “That’s what my mother says,” Cristina said. “But you didn’t hear it from me.”

  Luisito waved good-bye to her and left quickly. He wasn’t sure if what this girl had said about Mrs. Jones was true, but she had looked at him rather strangely. When Luisito arrived home, he could hear his family all cheering at the TV set. He wondered what sport they were watching.

  “Ese Reagan se la comió!” Miguel said.

  “What did Ronald Reagan eat?” Tommy asked.

  “That is an expression,” Rosie said laughing. “It means he is incredible!”

  “What an inspiring speech!” Elena said. “I hope he becomes president.”

  Luisito went to the kitchen to see what was for dinner today. It was his mother’s turn to cook, and she was following a recipe she had found in Rosie’s cookbook. Rosie was beside her helping to chop up green peppers and other vegetables for the sofrito, or marinade.

  “It’s fricassee de pollo tonight,” Elena said proudly.

  “Good, I like chicken,” Luisito said.

  “How was your day?” Elena asked.

  “It was good. I met Sherry’s mother,” he said.

  “Well, you don’t sound too happy about that,” Rosie said.

  Luisito explained what his classmate had told him about Mrs. Jones.

  “Who told you that?” Tommy asked as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Just someone from school,” Luisito said.

  “It may or may not be true,” Rosie said, pausing in her work. “Mrs. Jones has always been very nice to me, but I’ve never dealt with her socially.”

  “Don’t believe everything you hear, son,” Elena said. “You have to know people and make your own judgments.”

  Luisito poured himself a cup of milk and drank it while food was being prepared. His thoughts then turned to Sherry and her family. Would they not like him because he was from a different country?

  22 VEINTIDOS

  That Friday, Luisito rushed to the gym to see the list of who had made the basketball team. There was a big crowd so he couldn’t see the list. Some of the guys left quietly; others were high-fiving and congratulating each other. Luisito waited patiently for his turn to see the list.

  “Hey, Lewis!” Paul called to him. “You made the team, man.”

  Luisito felt a great relief.

  “You too?” Luisito asked. He already knew the answer because Paul was one of the best players at the tryouts.

  “Yep, can’t wait to start winning!” Paul said, very excited.

  Finally, Luisito had joined a school team. He would have his first practice next week and soon, maybe, new friends. He desperately wanted to fit in.

  He looked down the hall and saw Sherry coming with books in hand to check the list. Maybe she was looking for his name, Luisito hoped.

  “I made it!” Luisito said as she approached.

  “That’s great!” she exclaimed. “I knew you would.”

  “Hey, some of us are going to the movies tomorrow. Want to come?” Luisito said.

  “I’d love to!” Sherry said. “Maybe after the movie we can have sodas at that shop where everyone goes.”

  “Great!” Luisito said. “I will call you for your address. Wait. Why don’t you just give it to me now?”

  Sherry gave him her address. Luisito waved and walked down the hall feeling a little taller.

  All during school the next day, Luisito could not stop thinking about going to the movies with Sherry.

  Luisito went through dinner in a daze. He showered, ate, and dressed in a polo shirt that he borrowed from Tommy and his own blue jeans and sneakers.

  When they got to Sherry’s house, Sonia stayed in the car and Luisito rang the doorbell. Sherry opened the door. She was wearing a light green dress and her hair was pulled up in a ponytail with a white ribbon. The green picked up the color of her eyes.

  “For you,” Luisito said, giving her a small bouquet of flowers he had just picked up at the grocery store.

  “That is so sweet!” Sherry said, smelling the flowers. “Are we ready to go?”

  “I think I should speak to your mother first,” he said.

  “Oh, okay,” she said turning around. “Mom,” she yelled inside.

  “Yes?” Mrs. Jones stepped to the door in an apron.

  “Mrs. Jones,” Luisito said. “How are you?”

  “Fine, thank you,” Mrs. Jones said, a bit puzzled.

  “A group of us are going to the movies and later we will have a snack. I will be bringing Sherry back at about nine.”

  “Good. Although it’s not a school night, I like her to be back early,” Mrs. Jones said.

  “Oh, Mom,” Sherry said, turning to hand her the flowers Luisito had given to her. “Can you put these in water? Lewis gave them to me.”

  Mrs. Jones smelled the flowers and for the first time Luisito saw Mrs. Jones smile.

  “How lovely,” she said and waved to Sonia in the car. “Have fun now!”

  At the movies, Luisito bought a bucket of popcorn and two sodas. They decided to see a comedy that had just been released. When the movie was over, they all went to the soda shop at the corner of the plaza. Everyone sat down in a booth: Tommy, Allen, a girl named Emily, her next-door neighbor Tracy, and Sonia, who was going to drive them home. There was no room for Luisito and Sherry, so they sat at another table not too far away.

  “I am so full from all the popcorn and soda,” Sherry said. “Why don�
�t we split a cheesecake?”

  “That’s good,” Luisito said.

  “Can we please have one cheesecake to share?” Sherry told the waiter, who nodded and hurried to the kitchen.

  He returned with a slice of cheesecake and two forks.

  “Mmm, this is good,” Luisito said. “I never had cheesecake in Cuba.”

  Luisito told Sherry the stories his grandmother used to tell him about Cuba and how different it was before he was born.

  “Tell me about your escape again,” Sherry said.

  Luisito recounted his journey, the storm, the broken motor, and his long hours of rowing. He told her how glad he was to be in this country but how he missed his grandmother and the friends he left behind.

  “Oh, Lewis,” she said, “you know what I like the most about you? That you don’t take anything for granted. You enjoy everything, even cheesecake!”

  “You know what I like the most about you?” Luisito said. “When I see you close your eyes to pray at church. I have never seen anyone my own age pray that way.”

  Sherry told Luisito how prayer had helped her cope with her parents’ divorce and how last year her parents had gotten back together.

  “It was painful,” Sherry said. “Prayer didn’t make the pain go away, but it helped me to know that God was with me.”

  “I understand,” Luisito said. “I am glad your parents are back together. You know if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling.

  23 VEINTITRES

  On Monday, Luisito hurried to the gym for basketball practice. The coach and his assistants had the students do layups, sprinting, and other drills. He also split them into teams and had them play a short game so they could practice their offense and defense.

  Coach Jerry explained the strength and weaknesses of each one on the team and how they needed to complement one another if they wanted to win this season.

  “Lewis, you have speed and you make good shots. Just work on your layups. Danny, don’t stop when you are dribbling. You will get called for a double dribble. Eric, bend those knees when you are going to take that free throw …” Coach Jerry continued.

  That week, Luisito practiced hard every day with the team at school. When he got home right before dinner he practiced some more with the hoop outside the house. He paid attention to all the plays Coach Jerry drew in his notebook. He understood the plays well since they were drawn.

  His first game was on Friday. The team won but he hadn’t played. He sat on the bench the whole game. This continued game after game. Luisito stopped telling his parents to come to the games because he hardly ever got called to play. Sherry came anyway, but it was embarrassing that he sat on the bench most of the time. He didn’t want to seem upset, so every game he smiled and cheered for his team, giving them high fives when they finished a quarter and listening attentively to all the plays. Paul told him that Coach Jerry rarely put in new players when the score was close, but if they were ever winning by a large margin, Luisito would definitely get a chance to play.

  During the playoffs Eric had broken his ankle and was in a cast, so Paul was their point guard for this game. The score was 20–18 in their favor in the first quarter. In the second quarter the score got closer and closer.

  They were now in the fourth quarter. The score was 40–38 and the other team was winning. Paul passed the ball to Ron, who tried to shoot, but his attempt was blocked by the other team. They tried the play again, and Paul was double-teamed before he could pass the ball. As he tried to break free he fell, twisting his ankle. Coach Jerry helped him to the bench while the crowd applauded.

  The coach asked for a timeout. The team huddled, and Coach Jerry motioned to Luisito. “Come over here, Lewis,” he said. “You’re going in.”

  Luisito jumped up and ran over.

  “Ron, you take over as point guard. Pass the ball to Lewis. Lewis, you get close and make that shot. We are not asking you to make a three pointer. Just help us tie the game,” Coach Jerry explained.

  The whistle blew and Luisito ran onto the court. The other team grabbed the ball and made their way down the court. Luisito found himself right beside the player with the ball. He stuck his hand out and grabbed the ball while the other player was dribbling. He sped all the way to the other end of the court. He glanced around and didn’t see anyone near him. He shot—and made it! All his team players rushed to high-five him. Now they were tied. After a timeout, the game started again, and the other team had the ball. They were running fast when Ron, who was in midcourt, swiftly took the ball from his opponent and threw it, making the shot seconds before the horn sounded. The Lions won by two points! They were going to the championship game!

  Coach Jerry congratulated each one of them for their performance.

  “Lewis, you were great! Good job. You used your instincts and that’s what counts. You got us in the game again,” Coach Jerry said, smiling.

  Sonia and Rosie came down the bleachers and hugged Luisito. They pointed to the movie camera. They had everything on film to show Luisito’s parents, who were at night class, studying English.

  As they were leaving, Luisito saw the local sports reporter who came to every game. He took notes on the games and even took pictures of the team. But that night, Luisito saw him toss his notebook in the trash can as he left. This man is no local sports reporter, Luisito thought. He is watching someone. The thought frightened him.

  24 VEINTICUATRO

  Luisito was very excited about the championship game coming up, but he was even more concerned about getting to Miami.

  “Are we going to Miami for Christmas?” Luisito asked one night at dinner.

  “I am not sure if your father can get time off from work,” José said.

  “That is true, Luisito,” his dad said.

  “I really want to go” Luisito said.

  “Don’t worry. If we can’t go now we will go for spring vacation,” Rosie said.

  Luisito quietly finished his dinner, pondering how to get to Florida.

  That night he remembered that Abuela always prayed when she needed to make a decision. He could try that as well. He closed his eyes and found himself praying to Our Lady of Charity and asking her to guide him to her shrine somehow. He opened his eyes and waited. He wondered how she would guide him. Would a limo suddenly be waiting at his door? Would God phone him? The thought made Luisito smile, but in all seriousness he didn’t know how our Lady could help him. For a minute the whole prayer thing seemed absurd, but all he could do was trust and hope that things would turn out right, just as Abuela trusted.

  He was getting sleepy. His body ached from the grueling basketball practices. As he lay there he suddenly realized that he couldn’t do this on his own. He needed to trust someone with his secret.

  “Tommy, are you awake?” Luisito asked.

  Tommy rolled over. “What is it?” he said sleepily.

  “Do you think Sonia could drive us to Miami?” asked Luisito.

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” he said.

  “Why not?” Luisito said.

  “Number one, Mom would kill her,” said Tommy, now wide awake. “Number two,” he said, pausing. “Number two doesn’t actually matter because, as I said before, Mom would kill her.”

  “It’s really important,” Luisito started explaining in a whisper. “Before I left Cuba Abuela whispered something in my ear.”

  Tommy was sitting up in bed with his eyes wide open. “What did she say?” he asked.

  “She told me it was very important to tell a particular Cuban priest in Miami these two things,” he said, pausing.

  “Well?” Tommy wanted to know.

  “First, she said to tell him Exodus 32:1–35, and then she said to let him know that his mother was waiting for him in Italy,” Luisito said, feeling a sudden relief to share that with someone.

  “Creepy!” Tommy said.

  “Why do you say that?” Luisito said.

&nb
sp; “Well, that was the same Bible verse on the sign of the man you saw on the street,” Tommy said.

  “No, no,” Luisito said. “I made that up. Sorry. I just wanted you to read that Bible verse to me. I wasn’t ready to tell you the secret just then.”

  “Why?” Tommy said. “What’s the big mystery? Tell my folks and then they would make sure to take us to Miami quickly.”

  “That would be easy, but Abuela also said not to tell anyone,” Luisito said. “I had to tell you because there is no way I can get to Miami without your help.”

  “Why would she say not to tell anyone?” Tommy said.

  At that moment, Sonia knocked on the door, then opened it without waiting for a response.

  “Hey, Tommy,” she said, “did you leave the phone off the hook?”

  “Oops, sorry,” he said, looking toward the phone stand in his room.

  “Great!” Sonia was visibly upset. “I’m sure he called me and couldn’t get through!”

  “Who’s he?” said Luisito to Tommy.

  “Beats me,” he answered and shrugged.

  “I heard that!” said Sonia as she stomped away.

  “Wait!” Luisito yelled. “We need to talk to you.”

  “I don’t think that is a good idea,” Tommy said.

  “Well, it’s the only idea I have right now,” Luisito said.

  “What mess did you guys get into?” Sonia asked, walking back into the room.

  Luisito told her about the secret and how she couldn’t tell anyone.

  “Of course, you can count on me!” she said, smiling. “This is the most exciting thing that has happened to me since William asked me to go to junior prom with him!”

  “I say we do like in the movies and set out on an adventure, just the three of us,” said Tommy, getting very excited.

  “Yes, brilliant idea. We can get into all sorts of trouble … or we could tell Mom and get the job done quickly,” Sonia said.

  “I hate when she is all practical,” Tommy said, making a face.

  “Well, what if she tells my parents and they don’t want me to get involved and I can’t carry out Abuela’s plan?” Luisito said.