![]() Over the next few days, the SIM agents’ cars stay parked outside. Nobody will tell Anita anything-Anita’s older sister Lucinda says that nobody will talk because the SIM might be listening. She finally tells Anita that they live under a dictator, El Jefe, whom nobody likes, and that the SIM are after their missing uncle, Tío Toni. Washburn’s son, Sam, while Lucinda befriends his daughter, Susie.Īnita is confused-she thought that everyone loved El Jefe.Ī few days later, the American consul, Mr. The children return to school, where Anita learns that other countries have instituted an embargo (trade ban) against the Dominican Republic her teacher won’t explain why. Mysterious things continue to happen-for instance, Anita and Sam see that someone is living in Tío Toni’s house.Īround Christmastime, Anita celebrates her 12th birthday. When she gets a diary for Christmas and starts writing in it, she realizes that she’s in love with Sam. In January, school is postponed for several weeks because many of the American students are going home for President John F. Around this time, Anita finds out that some people are hiding from the SIM in embassies, and that others are being tortured in El Jefe’s prisons. Soon after this, Mami finally talks to Anita like an adult, explaining that Papi is fighting for their freedom. She also tells Anita that Tío Toni has returned, but Anita needs to avoid drawing attention to him for his safety. ![]() Finally, Mami asks Anita to stop writing in her diary they must be quiet and sneaky until they can escape. Meanwhile, Susie’s 15th birthday is coming up, and she talks her parents into throwing her a big quinceañera party. Around this time, Tío Toni begins eating meals with Anita’s family and hosting groups of men at his house. On the night of the party, a line of Volkswagens comes up the drive. Mami sends Anita to warn Tío Toni that Mr. Smith (a codename for El Jefe) is here, which makes Anita feel very grown up but also very afraid. Later, when she and Papi arrive at the party, they salute El Jefe. The next morning, Lucinda receives roses from El Jefe-he often rapes young girls, and Lucinda seems to be his next target. Washburn devises a plan to get Lucinda out of the country, but Tío Toni doesn’t think it’ll work. He and Papi then discuss killing El Jefe, which Anita finds disturbing. However, Papi he tells her that they’re not just killing El Jefe-they’re carrying out justice. That night, Anita sleeps in Lucinda’s bed in the morning, she discovers that she’s gotten her first period. She’s a señorita now-but Anita doesn’t want to grow up now that she knows what El Jefe does to señoritas. On the day that Lucinda leaves the Dominican Republic, Anita is distraught and frightened. That same day, Anita’s teacher announces that school is closing, and Anita spends the rest of the day in bed, feeling disoriented. That afternoon, Papi sits with Anita and tells her to be free and fly. Washburn-soon begin meeting every night outside Anita’s window.
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