The Red Umbrella

Lucia and Frankie have been in Kendall for five days. With regimented daily routines and no privacy, Lucia feels like a prisoner. At 8:00 p.m., the lights go out for bedtime in the girls’ dormitory. In Cuba she would just be finishing dinner with her Mama and Papa at that time. After saying goodnight to Angela, Lucia climbs into her bunk to discover that Frankie is hiding under her covers. They whisper to one another quietly. Frankie is miserable, and he wants Lucia to write to their parents about it. Although Lucia is also unhappy, she does not wish to add to her parents’ struggles. Lucia agrees to let Frankie stay the night because it would be impossible to sneak him back to his dormitory. She sleeps soundly next to her brother for the first time since leaving Cuba, and she dreams of home and her mother’s cooking. She wakes when two figures approach her bed and discover Frankie.

Mrs. Eckhart and Mr. Ramirez, the manager of the boys’ facility, discuss what to do with Frankie. Mr. Ramirez tells Lucia that this is Frankie’s fourth time attempting to sneak out, and Frankie knew there would be consequences. Mrs. Eckhart says Frankie will have to go to the Cuban Home for Boys, which is far away and would limit Lucia’s visits with him to once a week. Lucia begs the administrators to reconsider.

In their discussion Mr. Alvarez discovers that Lucia and Frankie are the children of Fernando Alvarez. Papa helped Mr. Ramirez at a low point in his life when he needed assistance. Papa even bought medication for one of his children, which inspired Mr. Ramirez to pursue a career helping children. With this new information, Mr. Ramirez suggests that Lucia and Frankie be sent to live with a foster family in Nebraska so they can stay together. Lucia and Frankie agree immediately. The next morning Lucia barely eats breakfast, feeling nervous about the change. She says goodbye to Angela, and the two girls agree to get in touch as soon as they return to Cuba. Lucia says that maybe Angela can attend her quinces, her 15th birthday party, in November.

Lucia and Frankie wait for several hours in Chicago for their connecting flight to Lincoln, Nebraska. She imagines the beach, sand, and salty air she will find after arriving at her destination in Grand Island, Nebraska. She does not know where Grand Island is or realize that it is not actually an island. There is a tense moment in the airport when Lucia sees two men in trench coats. She imagines they are Chicago mobsters, like she has seen in American movies.

When they arrive in Nebraska, the airport is nearly deserted. Lucia and Frankie see an older couple holding a sign with their names on it. The older couple are the Baxters, Lucia and Frankie’s new foster family. Mrs. Baxter is a blond lady who talks too fast for Lucia to understand her, and Mr. Baxter does not speak at all. Mrs. Baxter “has read some horrible things about what’s been happening in Cuba,” and she says Lucia and Frankie “don’t have to worry about going back to Cuba” (192-93). Lucia clarifies that they will go back “when things get better, and Mama and Papa send for us” (194). After driving through miles of cornfields, Lucia learns that Grand Island is not really an island. Mrs. Baxter says she will teach the children English each day to help prepare them for school. Frankie falls asleep in the car, and Lucia daydreams about what her parents are doing back in Cuba. She wonders it Papa has found work, if they are getting involved in the rebellion, or if they are trying to assimilate into the system. Finally, Lucia wonders if she and Frankie “will be stuck here forever” (196).