Luisito walked downstairs slowly. He wondered if he was actually doing the right thing. But who better to trust than Rosie, who had been so kind to him and his parents? Downstairs he found José sleeping in the reclining chair and Rosie glued to the TV set.
“Tía Rosa, I need to talk to you,” Luisito said as he sat beside her.
“What’s the matter, Luisito? Are you hungry?” she asked. “We have plenty of leftovers in the refrigerator.”
“No, no, it’s not that,” Luisito said.
“A girl problem?” she said with a smile.
“No, not that either,” Luisito said, grinning. “It’s about Abuela.”
“Oh, my dear,” she said, reaching out to pat his hand, “I know how you must worry about your dear grandmother, but she is not as frail as she may look. We are working on getting her papers so she can join us soon.”
“It’s not that,” Luisito said. “Please, don’t tell anyone. You promise?”
“Oh, my, Luisito,” she said now sitting up, “you have my attention. What is it?”
“Abuela needs me to get something done for Cuba. She is counting on me to accomplish something in Miami and I need your help,” he said. He told her the whole story, relieved that it was out in the open.
“Wow, your Abuela is really something!” Rosie said. “¡Increíble!”
“Why do you say it’s incredible?” Luisito said.
“She doesn’t ever give up. No matter her age or how many obstacles there are,” Rosie said. “She is a fighter!”
“Please don’t tell anyone,” Luisito said. “Tommy and Sonia know, but no one else can find out.”
“Why can’t you ask your parents?” Rosie asked.
“Abuela told me not to tell anyone, and I think she was afraid that my parents would not let me get involved. They were always afraid in Cuba that it could be dangerous for me,” Luisito said.
“Are you afraid now, Luisito?” Rosie said.
“No,” Luisito said, very confident. “Abuela taught me that if you are sure you are doing the right thing you don’t need to be afraid.”
“Yes, but . . .” Rosie started to say.
“Abuela says the Bible is full of quotes telling us not to be afraid,” Luisito added.
“Abuela taught you a lot about the Bible, didn’t she?”
“Not really. She taught me mostly with her example,” Luisito said. “My parents didn’t want her to have a Bible around the house or say things to me that I would repeat to others and get in trouble.”
Rosie let out a big sigh of resignation. “Let me think more about how I can get you to Miami. Don’t worry, we won’t let Abuela down.”
“It’s for Cuba,” Luisito said, smiling.
“That’s right!” Rosie said. Luisito gave her a kiss, glanced at José, who was still sound asleep, and ran upstairs, feeling much better.
¡Ay, mi Dios querido! Rosie said to herself. My dear God, how am I going to get Luisito to Miami without telling his parents the whole story? I’m going to have to do a lot of praying so you can show me the way!
The next morning was Sunday. Luisito woke up early, eager to go to Mass. He felt happier and almost lighter, as if a big weight had been taken from his shoulders.
The family headed to church together. Luisito understood the Mass much better each time he went. His favorite part of the Mass was when the priest elevated the Holy Eucharist and the bell rang.
On the way to Mass, he looked at some of the neighbors’ cars parked in front of the house. They were probably sleeping in. Imagine being allowed to go to Mass and just not wanting to go, he thought. How different from Cuba! So many people there wanted to go but felt it was too dangerous.
“Tommy, why do you suppose Steve and Allen don’t go to Mass? Are they Catholic?” Luisito asked.
“Yeah, but they are lazy. They go once in a while,” Tommy said.
“But I learned in the catechism classes I’m now going to that it is a sin not to go to Mass on Sunday. It breaks one of the Ten Commandments,” Luisito said.
“Maybe they don’t know that,” Tommy said. “Steve says he can always pray at home.”
“But he doesn’t receive the Holy Eucharist,” Luisito quickly answered.
“Yep, that is true,” Tommy said.
Luisito couldn’t wait to make his first Holy Communion. He was going to classes and was planning on receiving first Penance and first Communion by Easter of next year.
After Mass, they all went to buy some of the doughnuts that the Boy Scouts were selling in the church parking lot. As Luisito was munching on his glazed doughnut, he felt a tap on his shoulders.
“Hi, Lewis!” Sherry said, smiling.
“Hi!” said Luisito. “I was looking for you before Mass but I didn’t see you. Are you coming to the championship basketball game tomorrow?”
“Of course!” Sherry said.
They chatted for a few minutes about the game.
Then Luisito saw Sherry stare at someone in the crowd.
“What is it?” Luisito said.
“Nothing,” Sherry said, turning around to see if anyone was posing behind them. No one was there. “I thought I saw a man take a picture of us . . . anyway, what was I saying?”
Luisito and Tommy just looked at each other.