Immacula is often late for school because she has to get her younger sisters ready as well as herself. Whenever one of Immacula’s sisters is sick, Immacula must stay home. This is why she is often absent from school.

Immacula’s landlord has repeatedly told Mrs. Cadet that he does not like the idea of minors being home alone so much. He is worried that without adult supervision, the girls could damage his property. Last night he threatened to throw them out or call the authorities if Mrs. Cadet does not change her situation.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17

I called Moy. A girl answered the phone and then passed it to him.

He said Manman had called him earlier that day, too. They had talked about his decision to live on his own and he felt that, slowly, Manman was accepting it.

“So you’re never coming back to live with us?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” he said.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18

I wrote this letter to Papa the night I saw him cry. Today I gave it to him.

Dearest Papa,

Granpè Nozial once told me that God’s tears can save us as well as drown us, but man’s tears can hurt no one. With all respect to Granpè Nozial, maybe he was wrong. At least just a little. Your tears hurt me very much.

Papa, while we were apart, I cried both tears of joy and tears of sadness. On the days before I was to come see you, I cried both.

Papa, even if you feel that we don’t know each other so well anymore, please know this: We love you very much and when you were gone we missed you every day. I know this is true for you as well because you never stopped telling us in your cassettes. Perhaps it is harder for you to tell us now, without an ocean between us, but I know in my heart that it is no less true.

These are the things that you and I now share. Since I have been here in New York, I now know what it is like to live an ocean away from people you love, to not be able to see them or talk to them whenever you want to. I know what it is like to not be able to share with them your reactions to the places you are seeing, the things that are happening in your life, the ideas that are in your head, the progress you are making as well as the difficulties you are facing. I have felt what it is like to watch a loved one in pain, even to blame yourself for the pain, without being able to do very much about it.

Papa, I appreciate all you have done for us and one day I hope to make you proud. I know we cannot return to the past and be the way we were in Beau Jour, but whatever family meant there and whatever it means now, I know we can be that, too.