The Red Umbrella

Lucia waits for Papa to get home so she can go to the dance. He is running late, and Lucia is worried about missing her first dance. Tio Antonio arrives in his brown convertible. He is also waiting for Papa, but he agrees to chaperone Lucia so Mama can look after Frankie until Papa comes home. Mama gives Lucia her diamond earrings to wear for the evening. On the way to the Yacht Club, Lucia askes her uncle, “What’s patria potestad?” She heard this phrase from her parents, but they will not tell her what it means. Antonio explains that “some people have this crazy idea that Castro wants kids to be property of the state” (101). He acts like this notion is ridiculous, and Lucia agrees with him. Antonio stays in the car to smoke rather than going inside the club with Lucia.

Lucia meets Ivette at the dance. They spot Manuel, who immediately asks Lucia to dance. After dancing, they get drinks and discuss the revolution. Manuel sounds “like all the other brigadistas” to Lucia, and she starts to lose attraction for him until he whispers in her ear, “you’ve just got to say what they want to hear” (106).