Read Mission Libertad for Free Online

Rosie’s luggage was turnedover to a clerk at the airline booth. Luisito was amazed at all the different people he saw and the way they were dressed. Teenagers were reading colorful magazines. Three children played with something in a box. The oldest boy looked about twelve years old. He carried the box and all the others talked to it. Luisito was curious as to what animal was in there.
    He overheard the family speaking in Spanish, although they had an accent he had not heard before. The kids spoke in English among themselves.
    â€œÂ¡Mira!”
said the boy, pointing to the box he held in his hands.
    â€œ
Si
, what is it?” Luisito asked. He stared into a box but saw only a stone.
    â€œIt’s my new pet rock,” said the boy, smiling.
    â€œWhat is the boy saying?” Elena asked Luisito.
    â€œHe said that’s his pet rock,” Luisito whispered to his mother, and he rolled his eyes.
    â€œOh, how unusual. Stay close to us, Luisito,” she said nervously.
    They walked down a long hall until they reached a row of what looked like movie theater seats.
    â€œWhen are we ever getting on the plane?” Luisito asked.
    â€œOh, but we are on the plane, Luisito,” Rosie said, smiling.
    â€œWhat do you mean? How did I get on?”
    â€œYou didn’t realize it, but when we were walking down the hall we were getting on the plane,” Rosie explained. “Here, push up the window shade so you can see the takeoff.”
    Luisito had never been on a plane before. He was a little scared at first. However, it all seemed much safer than the raft he had been on. After some chatting, three packs of peanuts, and two sodas, Luisito landed at Baltimore-Washington International Airport with his family.

8 OCHO
    Relatives and friends greeted them at the airport with posters and bouquets of flowers. Luisito was blinded by camera flashes. Women of all shapes and sizes hugged him and pinched his cheeks. Men greeted him with pats on the head and slaps on the back. There were hugs and tears all the way to the parking lot. Instant cameras spit out green pictures that were fanned until dry to produce images of his family.
    Luisito never realized he had so much family! Back in Cuba, there were only his parents and Abuela. No one else. He was now part of a clan with many kids his own age! Rosie introduced him to each family member and explained how they were related. It was too much informationat once, so Luisito decided that for now he would just smile and nod. Finally, he was introduced to Rosie’s husband, José, son, Tommy, and daughter, Sonia.
    José was tall and muscular with premature gray in his hair that complemented his youthful face. He spoke some Spanish but much more English. He said he came from Cuba when he was five years old. He had a contagious laugh and a carefree attitude. He mentioned that he was an architect and had designed his own house. Luisito had never really thought of anyone doing such a thing. The only construction projects he knew of in Cuba were the hotels built by foreigners.
    Luisito observed how the luggage swirled by and passengers would quickly pick them up.
How could they tell which was theirs
, Luisito thought, when all the luggage looked the same to him? During the car ride to Rosie’s home, the adult conversation revolved around the different ways Abuela could legally come to the United States. Luisito listened quietly for about an hour, until they arrived at a house with a well-manicured lawn. More people came out the door to greet them, many of them women who bore a resemblance to his Abuela. Some of them snapped pictures; others were too busy hugging to remember to take pictures.
    When Luisito entered Rosie’s house, a rich blend of seasonings in the air greeted him. He followed the pleasant aromas to the kitchen, where pots and pans were full of good things to eat. He watched as busy hands cut up vegetables and sprinkled spices for salads,