Letters from Cuba

This summary includes the following letters: “Agramonte, March 1, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 2, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 7, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 10, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 14, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 17, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 21, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 24, 1938,” “Agramonte, March 25, 1938,” and “Agramonte, March 28, 1938.”

Señora Graciela invites Papa and Esther to dinner again—Esther thinks she feels guilty about the way Señor Eduardo treated them. Esther learns about Juan Chang’s history. Juan came to Cuba by himself 10 years prior. He married a Black lady, but she died in childbirth. Francisco, Juan’s nephew, came to Cuba to keep him company. Señora Graciela, a Catholic, purchases the rest of Papa’s statues so they can watch over Emilia. She gives Esther another of Emilia’s old books: Simple Verses by the poet José Martí. Esther enjoys the poems. She relates to Martí’s words: Though she is from Poland, Esther feels like Cuba could be home. Esther recognizes the power of words and books.

In Havana, Papa and Esther pick up sandals to peddle. They visit a fabric shop owned by Rifka Rubenstein, another Polish Jew. Esther eagerly gets fabric and sewing materials to sew dresses for herself, Ma Felipa, Manuela, and Señora Graciela.