Flight to Freedom by Ana Veciana-Suarez

Author:Ana Veciana-Suarez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Saturday, 6th of January

Jane loved the gift. We do not have a record player, so we could not listen to it, but she said that as soon as she got home, she would play it on her mom’s.

Her grandparents, who are visiting for the holidays, brought her to the house, but only for a little while. They are very old, older even than mine. They have white hair and blue eyes the color of the sky and both dress the same, like twins, in blue jeans and in cowboy shirts. Every summer they take Jane on a car trip, and they want me to come along when school’s out. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? I would do anything to be allowed to go. Maybe I can start working on Papi now!

Jane’s grandparents were surprised I was not a Negro. They said they thought all the people from the Caribbean islands were Negro. I explained that many are, but my great-grandparents came from Spain. This got me thinking about how people from different countries really do not know much about each other. When I first got here, I thought all los americanos would be very tall and blond. I thought they would eat only hamburgers. But I discovered that is not true. Like Cubans, americanos come in all sizes and colors. They eat different foods, and the language sounds different depending on who is speaking. Mr. Fixx, the physical education teacher, has an accent that Jane says comes from the South. He sounds very different from Jane’s grandparents, who lived in a place called Pittsburgh until they retired.

For Three Kings’ Day, I received a new limecolored dress from Mami and Papi. It is to be worn only for church or special occasions. Tía Carmen and Tío Pablo got me a very pretty blue pant-skirt (just like the ones everyone at school is wearing) and a matching blouse. From Abuela and Abuelo, I received talcum powder and a bottle of an Avon perfume called Sweet Honesty. It smells wonderful. Abuelo Tony then teased me about being so pretty and smelling so good that all the boys would fall at my feet. If he only knew that they do not even know I exist. Besides, all of them are so short, and they act so silly.

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