A/N: Here's the next chapter, telling when Maria came to America. R/R please!
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CHAPTER II: A Warm Welcome
I moved to America from Puerto Rico in January of 1958, a whole year after my older brother, Bernardo, set sail to try his luck. He lived with an uncle of ours in Manhattan, worked two jobs, then, when he had earned enough money, sent tickets home for all of us to follow him. Papa, Mama and I spent a week on the boat alongside other families. They were both so excited about living in New York and fantasized about having an air-conditioned home and steel refrigerators. I was mainly excited about seeing snow for the first time and going off to another country. Anita, my brother's girlfriend and childhood sweetheart, always sent letters telling me of the huge buildings that made up Manhattan and how the lights were all brighter than the stars. She went away two weeks after Bernardo did to stay with him and, after not having seen the both of them for over a year, I missed them terribly.
Papa was so proud of Nardo, especially since Bernardo was his eldest child and only son. Every chance he got, he bragged to people about my brother and how he was living the American dream while the rest of us were stuck in San Juan, sweating. I always thought Papa and Nardo were alike in so many ways. They were both bursting with pride and confidence, but sometimes could get so hot-tempered. Papa couldn't control himself when someone commented that Papa was too drunk on the idea of the American dream that he couldn't see that Bernardo was probably too occupied with his own fantasies in New York and will eventually forget about sending tickets for us. It was an implication that my brother wouldn't even remember that we were waiting for his 'go' signal and abandon us. Papa jumped on the man and knocked his front teeth out. Was he ever so haughty when, the next day, our boat tickets for New York arrived along with a short letter from Bernardo, telling us what time and what ship to board. Papa announced its arrival to the whole of San Juan.
"That donkey dared to insult me and my son?" Papa puffed. "Let him see this now. We're leaving for New York!"
It wasn't long when were finally on board when he realized how much he disliked boats. He began cursing loudly about the very idea of moving before we were even a mile away from the docks of San Juan. Mama and I laughed at him. Papa was always very funny even without him trying to be.
Our ship was very crowded and offered very little breathing room whenever one was inside the cabins. I preferred to be out on deck by the bow of the ship, squinting my eyes and wishing that the Statue of Liberty would suddenly slowly appear from the fog. I would be out there everyday while Mama tended to Papa and tried to soothe him. On the last day, I was the very first to see the famous statue.
"Look! Look!" I shouted, after I realized I wasn't dreaming. "America! America!"
People suddenly started to rush to where I was and I was almost in danger of being crushed, but I didn't even notice. I was so happy being there, seeing as the Statue slowly began to get clearer and clearer then bigger and bigger. Everyone was cheering and yelling, even Papa, who forgot all about his motion sickness.
It was January 7th, 1958. We were finally in America.
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Bernardo and Anita met us at the docks after our papers were stamped on. I didn't realize how cold it was in New York and kept shivering from underneath my thickest sweater as I waited for Papa and Mama to be finished with having their immigration papers stamped on. I kept a wary eye on the crowd, searching for my brother, my fingers aching from the cold.
"Maria!"
I heard a voice call out, a voice I hadn't heard in a year. I turned frantically, trying to locate where it had come from.
"Maria!"
I could hear the laughter in his voice and I found myself smiling like I never smiled in a long time. I scanned the crowd, but al I could see were people in all sorts of clothes, jostling each other to make room.
"Maria!"
And then I saw him. The crowd parted like the Red Sea did for Moses and I saw Nardo, tall, handsome and dashing than ever, in a long coat and scarf with Anita by his side in a warm poncho. Both had smiles on their faces.
"Bernardo!" I cried out happily as soon as I caught sight of them. "Anita!"
They hurried over to where I was, laughing and looking like a pair of schoolchildren. As soon as I was within reach, Bernardo scooped me into his arms, lifted me and twirled me around. I laughed, loving the feeling of being with my brother again. Suddenly, I didn't feel so cold anymore.
"Oh Maria," Bernardo said as he set me down. "Mi bella bella hermana, Maria,"
He hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead. I hugged him back.
"I missed you so very much," he told me in Spanish.
"I missed you too. Oh, you don't know how terrible I felt, having no one to tease and argue with,"
I was almost in tears as I spoke and my brother laughed as he wiped a stray tear away with his finger.
"Don't cry, little girl. We're a family again. I promise I will never ever leave you," he told me, smiling.
"It's a good thing all of you are finally here," Anita said in good humor. "I don't think I can stand any of your brother's complaining abou my cooking any longer,"
We all laughed.
"Oh Anita, I've missed you too…" I said, embracing her. She returned my embrace fiercely.
"As did I," she said. "It was like losing my arm and my leg. Nardo is so hard to win against when I'm alone,"
I almost burst into tears again, knowing exactly how she felt. Anita was like the sister I never had. We'd known each other since childhood and she'd always been there to take my side, even though she was the same age as my brother. When they both left, I never felt so lonely my whole life.
"Bernardo! Mijo! Anita!"
We all whirled around at the sound of Papa's booming voice. Papa and Mama had caught sight of us and were smiling in a way that their faces could crack. Papa, a big man with a barrel chest and pipes for arms and legs, and Mama, delicate and beautiful like a budding flower. I saw the joy in Papa's face and the overflowing happiness in Mama's as they gazed at Nardo. I saw too how Bernardo's face lit up. He enjoyed the special place he held in our parents' hearts. Being their only son, he knew how special he was to them.
"Mama! Papa!" Bernardo rushed to them and lifted their hands to his forehead, a sign of respect. Papa gathered him and held him close to his chest. Mama was almost crying. Papa was red in the face. Anita and I joined them.
"Oh hijo, how different you look! So tall and handsome!" Mama exclaimed, touching Bernardo's face as if she weren't sure he was real. My brother gave her a kiss on the forehead as soon as Papa let him go.
"I only got it from the best," he said, smiling. Mama slapped him playfully and Papa laughed.
"A, Tio Diego, Tia Carmen, that hijo of yours is the newest heartthrob in Manhattan. Why, I have to really stick to him to tell the other Puerto Rican girls in this city that he's mine!" Anita joked. Mama and Papa agreed.
"I will never see a more perfect match for my son than you, Anita," Mama commented. "Nardo, have you been taking care of her?"
"Oh of course, Mama. Just yesterday I had to fight off two dogs that were trying to get her attention," Bernardo replied mischievously. Anita reached out to slaphis arm.
"Oh Bernardo…" she said, rolling her eyes.
"I'm glad hijo to see that you have once again proven yourself to be who I expected you to be. And I'm glad also that you and Anita are both well," Papa got a mischievous look on his face, similar to that of Bernardo's. "When will our lovely flower be a Mrs. Bernardo Diego Miguel Javier?"
"Oh Diego…" Mama said.
We all laughed.
"Are you cold, Maria? Here take my coat and scarf. I should've told you about the weather in January," Bernardo said, takng off his coat and draping it over my shoulders.
"Oh Bernardo you don't have to. I'm fine, really…" I tried to say, but my brother had already put his coat on me.
"You were never a good liar, Mika. I can see you shaking," he said, taking his scarf off. He gave me a smile.
Mika. I had missed that name. I smiled back, warmer than ever. Bernardo fastened the scarf comfortably around my neck. Anita gave me an affectionate hug.
"C'mon, let's go home before we all freeze to death," Bernardo invited. He had an arm draped over my shoulder and one over Anita's. Mama and Papa walked side-by-side, our papers in hand. My brother took care of our luggage. I gasped when I caught my first glimpse of the tall skyscrapers, looming over the city like giant, silver monsters. Anita and Bernardo laughed.
"Welcome to America," said my brother, kissing my forehead again.
"It's beautiful," I said breathlessly. I had never seen a more magical place. I was so glad I could almost burst! I was in America! I was going to be living in New York, the finest city in all the world!
I went on tiptoe and kissed Nardo on the cheek, just to show how grateful I was to him for bringing us there.
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A/N: 'Javier' Bernardo and Maria's last name. R/R please! Next chapter up soon!