“You know, sometimes you look just like your father, only much more beautiful, of course.”
“You don’t think Dad is beautiful?”
“No, your father isn’t so beautiful, but he’s a real man.”
“And I’m a real boy, like Pinocchio wanted to be.”
“Yes, baby, you’re a real boy.”
“Why isn’t Dad with us so much anymore?”
“He’s very busy, Roy, you know that. His business takes up most of his time.”
“When will I see him again?”
“We’ll go to Havana in two weeks and meet him there. You like the hotel where his apartment is, remember? The Nacional?”
“Will the little man with the curly white dog be there?”
“Little man? Oh, Mr. Lipsky. I don’t know, baby. Remember the last time we saw him? In Miami, the day after the big hurricane.”
“We were walking down the middle of the street that looked like it was covered with diamonds, and Mr. Lipsky was carrying his dog.”
“The hurricane had blown out most of the windows of the big hotels, and Collins Avenue was paved with chunks of glass.”
“Mr. Lipsky kissed you. I remember he had to stand on his toes. Then he gave me a piece of candy.”
“He was carrying his tiny dog because he didn’t want him to cut his paws on the broken glass. Mr. Lipsky said the dog was used to taking a walk every morning at that time and he didn’t want to disappoint him.”
“Mr. Lipsky talks funny.”
“What do you mean, he talks funny?”
“He sings.”
“Sings?”
“Like he’s singing a little song when he says something to you.”
“Sure, baby, I know what you mean. Mr. Lipsky’s a little odd, but he’s been a good friend to your dad and us.”
“Does Mr. Lipsky have a wife?”
“I think so, but I’ve never met her.”
“I hope when I grow up I won’t be as little as him.”
“As he, honey. As little as he. Of course you won’t. You’ll be as tall as your dad, or taller.”
“Is Mr. Lipsky rich?”
“Why do you ask that, baby?”
“Because he always wears those big sparkly rings.”
“Well, Roy, Mr. Lipsky is probably one of the wealthiest men in America.”
“How did he get so rich?”
“Oh, he has lots of different kinds of businesses, here and in Cuba. All over the world, maybe.”
“What kinds of businesses?”
“Lots of times he gives people money to start a business, and then they have to pay him back more than the amount he gave them or pay him part of what they earn for as long as the business lasts.”
“I guess he’s pretty smart.”
“Your dad thinks Mr. Lipsky is the smartest man he’s ever met.”
“I hope I’m smart.”
“You are, Roy. Don’t worry about being smart.”
“You know what, Mom?”
“What, baby?”
“I think if I had to choose one thing, to be tall or to be smart, I’d take smart.”
“You’ll be both, sweetheart, you won’t have to choose.”
“Do you know what Mr. Lipsky’s dog’s name is?”
“Sky something, isn’t it? Skylark, that’s it, like the Hoagy Carmichael song.”
“I bet he’s smart, too. A dog named Skylark would have to be very smart.”