WITNESS-Part V

WINTESS-Part V

The blue-gray expanse of sky illuminated the stark landscape.  The trees looked like black sticks and the grass was white under a layer of ice and snow.  Going through the gangway had chilled me to the bone and I shook like a plucked wire.  My skirt and sweater weren’t up to the task of keeping me warm.  Our breath came out in white puffs that reminded me of Papi smoking a cigar.

Love had brought us to this cold place.  Love of family.  When my parents inquired with the nice Americanos that ran the Catholic Charities, they were told that my brothers and sisters had been sent to foster families in Chicago.  Mami and I didn’t speak a word of English, but most folks we met had treated us kindly.  I was weary from all the travel, hungry and now so very cold.

I laid my head on my father’s shoulder as he carried me through the cold tunnel out to the terminal.  Ahead was noise and confusion.  People were greeting their loved ones as they left the plane.  I could hear the screamed “Mami! Papi!” from somewhere in the crowd and then we were a mass of arms and legs, tears and laughter, hugs and pats.  Mami and Papi cried tears of joy as they held all of us.  Mel had grown a foot.  He was now taller than Emi.  Tata and Yeye had long hair.  They were all dressed in heavy coats, scarves, hats, boots and there were gloves poking from their pockets.  I was passed around to the boys, but Tata held me the longest.  Even Yeye looked happy to see me. 

We were introduced to the foster parents.  Emi and Mel had gone to live with a kind and generous Cuban family that had emigrated in the 1950’s.  Tata and Yeye were living with a wonderful American family.  I saw my angel peak out from the edge of the group.  One blue eye winked at me and sent me a wide smile that told me that everything would be okay now.  There wasn’t a soldier in sight.