My grandfather tells me:
Malia’s mom, Mrs. Agbayani, is the daughter
of Emelita and Enrique Urbano.
Enrique was an inventor—and a good one!
He came a few years earlier,
on a different ship
before all of us.
While he was waiting for Lola,
he was working, inventing.
But in the years of saving money
the laws changed, and it wasn’t easy for them to come anymore,
so the only way to make it was on one of the last boats. The Calypso.
We met Emelita when the Calypso stopped in the Philippines.
Enrique had sent for her.
He coughs. It was such a long journey.
My grandfather stares at me.
I try to listen the best I can.