A Night at La Rosa Negra

By Luna Patchouli

Chapter One

My name is Oceania Miller, and I'm 17 years old. I'm fluent in English and Spanish, even though I've never been to a Spanish speaking country in my life. I've only been in my dreams and through the words of my Pen-Pal Manolo Sanchez, and my grandmother, Katey Miller.

I sat in Spanish class, looking out the window and not really paying any attention to verb conjugation. I decided to take Spanish on a whim, and ended up being chosen for a Pen-Pal program with kids my age from Cuba.

I was paired with a guy named Manolo Sanchez from Havana. The letters came in English, and were sent in Spanish. They were normal letters describing where we lived, what our families were like, and so on. But even after the program ended, we kept talking. Soon we started talking to each other via video calling, and he was even more handsome than the photo he sent me at the beginning of the program.

He had jet black hair and skin the color of warm caramel, his eyes were framed by long lashes that I expressed my jealousy on to make his laugh. Oh his laugh was just as beautiful as his voice that was dripping in a thick accent. He had visited me for a week and a half last summer here in Miami, and on the day he left he told me he was taking me with him as he placed a hand over his heart. I smiled with tears in my eyes as I placed my hand atop his and told him I was keeping him here.

We kissed at the airport before he got on the plane back to Cuba. I remember spending the whole night crying. The teacher's voice brought me out of my reverie. "Alright class, before the bell dismisses you for the day, I have an announcement." Everyone stopped their clattering and looked at the teacher curiously. "The school is planning a trip to Havana, Cuba for all the students taking Spanish One and Two, so if you're interested please come take a form before leaving."

At the bell, I stood and retrieved the yellow sheet of paper before making a beeline for home. Running into the kitchen, I saw my grandmother sitting on the couch watching her old reel. We used to watch it often when I was a child, and she would tell me the love story between her and her Cuban dancer, Javier Suarez.

"Gran?" I asked, not wanting to disturb her reminiscing. She looked at me with eyes that were at once happy and sad, tears brimming them. Gran had always had such kind blue eyes. "Gran, my school is planning a trip to Havana."

Her eyes widened in curiosity, "That should be fun." She told me. "You'll be able to see Manolo again as well."

I nodded, giving her the paper to read. "Gran I want you to come with me. The trip needs chaperons and…" I trailed off, looking at a much younger Gran in the arms of the one and only Javier Suarez. "I think… you should go out and find your Javier."

Gran smiled and shook her head, "No, he's probably forgotten all about me. Probably married with children and grandchildren…"

"Gran." I said firmly, grasping her attention. "If anything you've told me is true, he hasn't forgotten you. In fact I think that would be physically impossible. You never forget your first love." She only looked at me. "And so what if he has children or grandchildren, you do." I gestured to myself dramatically, which made her smile. "Gran at least think about it. Please."

She nodded and brought me into a hug, and we sat there on the couch watching the old reel of Gran's last night as The Queen of La Rosa Negra.