“You are absolutely right,” Dylla said as she added more herbs to the beans. “What do you think, Anna?”

I looked up in surprise. “I, um…That is…”

Maria elbowed me in the ribs. “In this house, we value a woman’s opinion.”

“‘Value’?” Carlos smiled mischievously. “I don’t think I would be able to stop the opinions even if I tried.”

Maria threw a dishrag at her father, which he blocked just in time by raising his newspaper.

Dylla smiled reassuringly at me. “Come now. You’ve got to have an opinion. Please share.”

“We’ll only judge you if it’s the wrong one,” Carlos joked.

“Well, I feel…” I began, looking at the friendly, expectant faces. “That it’s our government’s responsibility to take care of its people first.” I took a breath, feeling my thoughts start to come out faster. “In taking care of its people it must make sure that the people can earn a decent living, not to make them rich, per se, but enough so that they can feed themselves. The imports from other countries, whether it is jerky or something else, should be the expensive products. Not what is made here.”

“Well said!” Maria exclaimed.

“Why, Maria, I do believe you have been a horrible influence on this poor girl,” Carlos teased. “I don’t think I have ever been prouder to call you my daughter.”

Laughing, Maria hugged her father. I laughed along with them. I felt proud that my opinion had been so well received, but at the same time, I felt a twinge of pain in my chest. Why couldn’t my family be this open and friendly?

The door burst open and a group of men spilled through, led by Francisco, Maria’s fiancé. Francisco saw himself as the leader of Laguna’s rebels. The son of poor freed slaves, he was eager to make a name for himself, and battling against the Brazilian Imperial government was the most expedient way to make it happen.

“You’ll never believe it!” He hugged Maria before standing in the middle of the room. “The great Giuseppe Garibaldi is coming to Laguna!” Maria squealed with joy before wrapping her arms around Francisco’s neck.

“This is such wonderful news!” Carlos exclaimed. “He will liberate Laguna. Where did you hear about this?”

“My friend is a sailor on his ship. He sent a letter ahead of them. They just finished a campaign in the north and are moving south. He’s bringing with him the North American John Griggs and his fellow Italian Luigi Rossetti.”

“Carlos, go get the wine,” Dylla requested, wiping her hands on a towel. “The one we have been saving for a special occasion. Tonight, we celebrate.”

I made my way to Maria, who was beaming, and leaned toward her, whispering, “Who is Giuseppe Garibaldi?”

She turned to me, her face full of shock. “You don’t know who the Great Garibaldi is?” Maria questioned me so loudly that everyone stopped talking and turned to look at me as the heat of embarrassment rose up my neck and into my cheeks.