Free Flight to Freedom by Ana Veciana-Suarez Page A

closely at his face to see if he was making fun of me, I was surprised to find tears in his eyes. Then he said very softly, “I suppose you will want to get married in Los Pasionistas.” That is the church in our old neighborhood in Cuba, but I was actually thinking of Saint Michael’s, our new church. I didn’t say anything, but I wish Papi would stop making comments like that. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t know exactly why. Maybe it is because I feel he should not worry so much about what is behind and think instead of what is ahead. Sometimes when Papi says certain things aloud, Tío Pablo tells him it won’t do him any good to live in the past. It is the exile’s curse, my uncle says, to always be looking over your shoulder.
Sunday, 10th of December
    I have a secret! Tía Carmen and Efraín are teaching Mami to drive. They made me promise to not tell, and I won’t. Never. Not even Ileana knows. Of course I don’t know what Mami will drive. We do not have a car.
    Besides, she needs a lot of practice. She drives around the neighborhood only for a couple hours while Papi is training with his militia group. She always makes sure she’s home before he gets back.
Tuesday, 12th of December
    Abuelo Tony was taken to the hospital today. There is something wrong with his heart, and doctors must do something to it to make it better. I asked if that meant he was getting a new heart, like that man we read about in the newspaper, but Abuela María said no. He gets to keep his own, with some fixes. I am worried about him. He looked so pale before he left and he seemed to be out of breath all the time.
    I wonder how my brother is feeling. Is he doing anything dangerous in the army or is he working in an office, comfortable and safe? I know he is Mami’s biggest worry. The other night I heard her tell Tía Carmen that sometimes she feels as if she abandoned her son in Cuba. Tía Carmen told her not to think such foolish thoughts. Mami had to leave with the rest of the family because the Freedom Flights are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Soon Pepito will joinus, my aunt insisted. I hope so. I love my brother more now that he is far away. I think it is true what grown-ups say about distance making the heart grow fonder.
Thursday, 14th of December
    I am so proud. Today when we went to visit Abuelo at the hospital, I served as a translator for Mami. I understood everything the nurses and volunteers at the information center told me. Mami was impressed, too. I had already noticed I was improving my English because I just zip through the Nancy Drew books. I am ready for something more difficult.
    You have to be sixteen years old to visit the patient rooms, but I snuck in with Mami. Abuelo did not look well. He seemed to have shrunk, and he was all wrinkled. He slept during our entire visit. I am worried about him. Maybe he does need a new heart.
Saturday, 16th of December
    Ileana wanted me to sneak out with her again tonight. She said a whole group of students from her schoolare planning to have their own Christmas party at a construction site and maybe I would meet a boy I liked. She says I look old enough to be a ninth or tenth grader. I wouldn’t go, though. What if we get caught? But now I’m sorry I didn’t. It is almost midnight, and she is not back. If I had gone, she probably would’ve returned by now.
Monday, 18th of December
    Today Tommy came to the house with another girl. He pretended that he had never met me. The three of them worked on a school project about the thirteen American colonies. Ileana draws well, so on a piece of poster board she sketched a farm scene from a book Tommy borrowed from the library. He was very nice. And, in daylight, I could also tell he was handsome. His hair is long, but not as long as some of those rock ‘n’ roll singers like John Lennon or Mick Jagger. I could tell Mami liked him despite the hair because he