She told me he’s still there. In Nicaragua, where they’re from. He made enough money to send over his wife and kids, but not enough money for himself. He works as a carpenter, Elida told me. We came over on a huge boat. And then on a train, and then by foot. It took about three weeks to get to New York City. We saw the most amazing thing, the most beautiful statue, la Estatua de la Libertad. It’s supposed to symbolize freedom, and even though it’s pretty, it reminded me that my papa wasn’t there to see it. We took a train from New York through Pennsylvania and then to a place called Ohio. From there we took another train to Indiana. Then, we walked all the way from Indiana to Chicago. We couldn’t afford another train, so we took about a month to walk here, stopping at cheap motels and houses along the way. I just hope that my papa will make enough money to come straight here without the long trek. Elida? ¿Sí, Esperanza? Why didn’t you wait, for your papa, so you could all come together? You see, Esperanza, life in Nicaragua was amazing. I had great friends at a great school, I was perfectly fine there, but my parents told me of this amazing place called America. They said our lives here would be ten times better. So of course we left as soon as possible, but we didn’t know that my papa would join us later. Apparently he had some trouble with the government there. It’s probably something with rent or taxes, but I’m not really sure. He wanted us to come now and he would come after. But sometimes, it feels like he isn’t going to come for us. I don’t know why, but I just feel like I’m not going to see him for a very long time. Elida Who Misses Her Papa 49 by Maya Mercadal ’31
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