It was a childhood friend of Papa’s, Franck, who sent him the invitation papers. Franck has several restaurants in New York and offered Papa work at one of them. Papa was supposed to go for only a few months, but then he stayed.

Three years ago, Papa’s friend Franck sent invitation papers to the American consulate for Manman, Moy, and me. We have already had all of our physical examinations, and as soon as we receive word from the consulate, we will be able to join Papa in New York.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

Tonight we had a rain shower. Thérèse and I were doing homework together when the rain began. When I was younger, I used to be afraid of lightning and thunder so I would hide under a sheet during rain showers.

When Papa was here, he and Moy would soap themselves then rush out in the rain in their underpants. Thérèse and I wanted to go out for a rain bath, but Manman would not let us.

Moy went out rain bathing but hurried back inside, saying the rain was too cold. There were bits of hail the size of rice grains in it.

Thérèse was so happy to see Moy in his underpants that she laughed and laughed, her laughter sounding even louder than the rain pounding on the tin roof.

I love to hear Thérèse laugh. It is a very free laugh. Thérèse never covers her mouth when she laughs. She just lets it out with all her might. Her whole body bounces. Her neck twists. Her chest rattles. Her hands wave wildly in the air, as though they were dancing.

Manman says that Thérèse laughs like someone who was raised with pigs and donkeys. I believe Thérèse laughs like someone who thinks she may never laugh again.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25

Manman was very tired today when she came home from the market. This happens to her sometimes. She gets so fatigued that her bones ache. Her head still aches, too.

Before she went to bed, I made her some ginger tea and Moy boiled a yam for her. I could tell she didn’t have much of an appetite, but she ate the yam because it was one of the few times that Moy has ever put pot to fire.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

Manman has decided to skip the market tomorrow. Instead we are going to the city to visit my father’s sister, Tante Rose.

We have not seen Tante Rose since the summer. Madame Auguste will not have class next week, on All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Dead, so we are going to the city. While we are gone, Granmè Melina and Granpè Nozial will look after the fields and the cows for us.

I am glad we are going to see Tante Rose even though I don’t especially like the city.

“There is city family and there is country family,” Manman often says. “Granmè Melina and Granpè Nozial are your country family. Tante Rose is city family.”