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Authors: Ana Veciana-Suarez
Tags: Fiction
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with Jane because she was absent. She and her mother left early to drive to Tampa for tomorrowâs holiday, when los americanos roast a big turkey and give thanks. After lunch, Patricia told me that I should be careful of girls like Jane. She says Americans call Cubans âspicsâ because they speak Spanish, and they also sing a song called âRow, Row, Row Your Boatâ behind our backs. The boat-rowing song is sung in rounds, and it has something to do with the Cubans who float over in rafts. I donât believe Patricia. That sounds awfully mean, to make fun of people because of the way they come to this country.
Thursday, 23rd of November
This is the Thanksgiving holiday, on which we show our gratitude for all the good things God has given us. TÃa Carmen seasoned the turkey last night and began roasting it very early this morning. She also made something called stuffing. The wife of the owner of the Laundromat showed her how to do all this last year. I had never eaten turkey, and do not like it much. It tastes like very dry chicken. Papi says that in Cuba turkey is called guanajo, and of course we all laughed until we had tears in our eyes because you call a person guanajo when he is silly and foolish. I did not like the stuffing either, but I very much enjoyed something called a sweet potato casserole that EfraÃnâs boss sent home with him. It is similar to our boniato. So good!
We had black beans and rice, too, my favorite, and Abuela MarÃa baked a flan. EfraÃn said we should have had something called pumpkin pie because that is the typical dessert of this holiday. Tomorrow he will buy one and bring it home. So many different tastes! So many new things! I wish sometimes not everything was so new. Itâs nice to have old things, tooâholidays and friends and places you know so well thatthey are already inside your heart. I like it when things are comfortable and familiar.
After dinner, Ana Mari told us the story of the first Thanksgiving. She learned it in school. Then she showed us drawings from her art class of the people called Pilgrims. It was very interesting.
Saturday, 25th of November
Big fight. Huge fight. Ileana wanted to go to a party, and Mami said that she could. That was two days ago. Then Papi found out and he said no, absolutely not, because he does not know the friend giving the party or her parents. Mami then convinced Papi that Ileana deserved to go because she is sixteen, seventeen in less than a month. Mami planned to go as a chaperone, but when Ileana found out about this, it was like someone had let all the chickens out of the coop. Even Abuelo Tony got into the argument, but Iâm not sure which side he was on. Thatâs how bad it was.
Ana Mari and I were told to play in the backyard, but we listened through the open windows as much as we could. In the end, Ileana did not go to the party. TÃa Carmen said she was being hardheaded, which istrue. TÃa Carmen says that we must adjust to the new ways slowly, and we should let Papi do the same little by little. She suggested that Ileana take a chaperone for the first few parties. Then, as he gets used to new customs, Papi might allow her to go places with EfraÃn, who would be a good protector. But Ileana will not have anything to do with the idea. She said she would be the laughingstock of the school because nobody takes chaperones. That is not true because Patriciaâs older sister does, but I did not dare open my mouth. Ileana cried and cried. Her eyes were puffy like a frogâs.
Tuesday, 28th of November
We are moving to our own house. Yes, yes, we are! We will be renting a two-bedroom house that is just around the corner from this one. I have not seen it, but Mami says it is well kept but small. Who cares? At least we wonât be living like sardines anymore, taking turns at the dinner table and wiggling and jiggling when somebody is in the bathroom and we have to relieve ourselves.
I
Thursday, 23rd of November
This is the Thanksgiving holiday, on which we show our gratitude for all the good things God has given us. TÃa Carmen seasoned the turkey last night and began roasting it very early this morning. She also made something called stuffing. The wife of the owner of the Laundromat showed her how to do all this last year. I had never eaten turkey, and do not like it much. It tastes like very dry chicken. Papi says that in Cuba turkey is called guanajo, and of course we all laughed until we had tears in our eyes because you call a person guanajo when he is silly and foolish. I did not like the stuffing either, but I very much enjoyed something called a sweet potato casserole that EfraÃnâs boss sent home with him. It is similar to our boniato. So good!
We had black beans and rice, too, my favorite, and Abuela MarÃa baked a flan. EfraÃn said we should have had something called pumpkin pie because that is the typical dessert of this holiday. Tomorrow he will buy one and bring it home. So many different tastes! So many new things! I wish sometimes not everything was so new. Itâs nice to have old things, tooâholidays and friends and places you know so well thatthey are already inside your heart. I like it when things are comfortable and familiar.
After dinner, Ana Mari told us the story of the first Thanksgiving. She learned it in school. Then she showed us drawings from her art class of the people called Pilgrims. It was very interesting.
Saturday, 25th of November
Big fight. Huge fight. Ileana wanted to go to a party, and Mami said that she could. That was two days ago. Then Papi found out and he said no, absolutely not, because he does not know the friend giving the party or her parents. Mami then convinced Papi that Ileana deserved to go because she is sixteen, seventeen in less than a month. Mami planned to go as a chaperone, but when Ileana found out about this, it was like someone had let all the chickens out of the coop. Even Abuelo Tony got into the argument, but Iâm not sure which side he was on. Thatâs how bad it was.
Ana Mari and I were told to play in the backyard, but we listened through the open windows as much as we could. In the end, Ileana did not go to the party. TÃa Carmen said she was being hardheaded, which istrue. TÃa Carmen says that we must adjust to the new ways slowly, and we should let Papi do the same little by little. She suggested that Ileana take a chaperone for the first few parties. Then, as he gets used to new customs, Papi might allow her to go places with EfraÃn, who would be a good protector. But Ileana will not have anything to do with the idea. She said she would be the laughingstock of the school because nobody takes chaperones. That is not true because Patriciaâs older sister does, but I did not dare open my mouth. Ileana cried and cried. Her eyes were puffy like a frogâs.
Tuesday, 28th of November
We are moving to our own house. Yes, yes, we are! We will be renting a two-bedroom house that is just around the corner from this one. I have not seen it, but Mami says it is well kept but small. Who cares? At least we wonât be living like sardines anymore, taking turns at the dinner table and wiggling and jiggling when somebody is in the bathroom and we have to relieve ourselves.
I
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