Letters from Cuba

This summary includes the following letters: “Agramonte, April 12, 1938,” “Agramonte, April 15, 1938,” “Agramonte, May 5, 1938,” “Agramonte, May 23, 1938,” “Agramonte, May 26, 1938,” “Agramonte, June 14, 1938,” “Agramonte, June 23, 1938,” “Agramonte, June 24, 1938,” and “Agramonte, June 28, 1938.”

Esther and Papa now keep their earnings in Rifka Rubenstein’s safe box. Rifka loves Esther’s dresses, saying they rival those from the elegant Havana department store El Encanto. Rifka orders many more dresses, and Esther privately decides to add a label to each one, reading “Designs by Esther” (103).

After getting matzo from a local synagogue for Passover, Esther and Papa visit El Encanto. The store caters to wealthy people. The dresses in the window do not have the elegance and comfort of Esther’s designs. A guard tells Esther and Papa to move along.

Esther wants to invite Doctor Pablo, Señora Graciela, Juan Chang and Francisco, and Ma Felipa, Manuela, and Mario José to Passover seder. Papa is skeptical because none of them are Jewish and none of them mix socially, but he agrees. Everyone is awkward at first, and Esther worries she made a mistake. Señora Graciela tearfully apologizes for Eduardo’s behavior. Papa explains that their Hebrew ancestors were enslaved in Egypt, which surprises Ma Felipa, who was also enslaved.