Unopened Letters//Adopted by Lin-Manuel Miranda//Book One

7_...Skip A Few

December 1, 2015

I stare at the wall. I don't want to give up hope the way Ali has. Or Justin. But soon enough, I feel I will. Every foster kid does. I'm 14 now and still there's been no hope.

I begin to sing. I sing Everything I know.

"In this album, there's a picture
Of the ladies at Daniela's
You can tell it's from the 80s by the volume of their hair
There's Usnavi, just a baby
'87, Halloween
If it happened on this block
Abuela was there
Every afternoon I came
She'd make sure I did my homework
She could barely write her name
But even so
She would stare at the paper and tell me,
"Bueno,
Let's review.
Why don't you tell me everything you know?"
In this album there's a picture
Of Abuela in Havana
She is holding a rag doll
Unsmililng, black and white
I wonder what she's thinking
Does she know that she'll be leaving
For the city on a cold dark night?
And on the day they ran
Did she dream of endless summer?
Did her mother have a plan?
Or did they just go?
Did somebody sit her down and say,
"Claudia, get ready,
To leave behind everything you know."
Everything I know
What do I know?
In this folder there's a picture
Of my high school graduation
With a program, mint condition
And a star beside my name
Here's a picture of my parents
As I left for California
She saved everything we gave her
Every little scr*p of paper
And our lives are in these boxes
While the woman who held us is gone
But we go on, we grow
So
Hold tight, Abuela, if you're up there
I'll make you proud of everything I know
Thank you, for everything I know."

After I sing that. I sing it again and again. Over and over.

"In this album, there's a picture
Of the ladies at Daniela's
You can tell it's from the 80s by the volume of their hair
There's Usnavi, just a baby
'87, Halloween
If it happened on this block
Abuela was there
Every afternoon I came
She'd make sure I did my homework
She could barely write her name
But even so
She would stare at the paper and tell me,
"Bueno,
Let's review.
Why don't you tell me everything you know?"
In this album there's a picture
Of Abuela in Havana
She is holding a rag doll
Unsmililng, black and white
I wonder what she's thinking
Does she know that she'll be leaving
For the city on a cold dark night?
And on the day they ran
Did she dream of endless summer?
Did her mother have a plan?
Or did they just go?
Did somebody sit her down and say,
"Claudia, get ready,
To leave behind everything you know."
Everything I know
What do I know?
In this folder there's a picture
Of my high school graduation
With a program, mint condition
And a star beside my name
Here's a picture of my parents
As I left for California
She saved everything we gave her
Every little scr*p of paper
And our lives are in these boxes
While the woman who held us is gone
But we go on, we grow
So
Hold tight, Abuela, if you're up there
I'll make you proud of everything I know
Thank you, for everything I know."

I guess part of the reason the song is so near and dear to me is that it's like me telling my parents that I'll make them proud. Which I want to. I want to make my parents proud. I love them. I'm sure I won't ever stop. I glance out the window as Lin and his wife walk by. I knock on the window. They turn. We make eye contact. I wave, they wave back.

"Naomi White! Get your ass down here!" I follow Darla's voice and go to the kitchen. "Here's your peanut butter and Nutella sandwich and jello cup for lunch. You can eat in your room. Don't come down until the inspector comes in an hour. Dress like we care."

"Yes Darla."

"Good. You know what to tell them about your face?"

"I got beat up at school."

"Good girl. Now go." Darla shoos me away and I go.

~~~

When the inspector leaves, everything goes back to normal. Darla beats on us and sends us away. I hope I get out soon."

Guys, it's going to get longer from here! Hooray!