Letters from Cuba

This summary includes the following letters: “Agramonte, April 12, 1938,” “Agramonte, April 15, 1938,” “Agramonte, May 5, 1938,” “Agramonte, May 23, 1938,” “Agramonte, May 26, 1938,” “Agramonte, June 14, 1938,” “Agramonte, June 23, 1938,” “Agramonte, June 24, 1938,” and “Agramonte, June 28, 1938.”

Esther and Papa now keep their earnings in Rifka Rubenstein’s safe box. Rifka loves Esther’s dresses, saying they rival those from the elegant Havana department store El Encanto. Rifka orders many more dresses, and Esther privately decides to add a label to each one, reading “Designs by Esther” (103).

After getting matzo from a local synagogue for Passover, Esther and Papa visit El Encanto. The store caters to wealthy people. The dresses in the window do not have the elegance and comfort of Esther’s designs. A guard tells Esther and Papa to move along.

Esther wants to invite Doctor Pablo, Señora Graciela, Juan Chang and Francisco, and Ma Felipa, Manuela, and Mario José to Passover seder. Papa is skeptical because none of them are Jewish and none of them mix socially, but he agrees. Everyone is awkward at first, and Esther worries she made a mistake. Señora Graciela tearfully apologizes for Eduardo’s behavior. Papa explains that their Hebrew ancestors were enslaved in Egypt, which surprises Ma Felipa, who was also enslaved. Señora Graciela apologizes for her family’s history of enslavement at the sugar mill. Juan Chang notes that Chinese people were also enslaved there. They eat the symbolic seder foods and pray that enslavement is truly over. Esther recites a José Martí poem expressing her gratitude for their friendship.

Doctor Pablo wants to ensure that the Nazis do not come to Cuba. Francisco suggests starting the Anti-Nazi Society of Agramonte, and the others agree. Mario José declares that he and the workers at the mill can strike. Señora Graciela vows to support the workers against her brother. Doctor Pablo references the cultural anthropologist Fernando Ortiz, who taught the importance of understanding others’ cultures.

As Esther’s friendships with Manuela and Francisco grow, she learns more about them. Mario José is saving to send Manuela to school to be a teacher. Manuela dreads leaving her family but feels that her late mother encourages her. Francisco shows Esther more of his beautiful drawings. Francisco’s true name is Li Qiang, which means “strong,” but Francisco goes by his Cuban name. He does not feel he deserves to be called strong because he misses his mother and sometimes cries. Esther also cries but knows it is not from weakness, but love. Esther realizes how much she has changed since coming to Cuba.

Esther and Papa take the new batch of dresses to Rifka Rubenstein, but Rifka does not like that Esther added a label naming herself as the designer—Esther must remove them. A sophisticated, well-dressed lady enters the shop, inquiring about Esther’s dresses. The lady, Isabel de la Fuente, works at El Encanto and wants to show a few dresses to her supervisor and possibly sell them in the store. Isabel wants to know who designed the outfits. Esther, thrilled, points to the label. Rifka confirms Esther is the designer. Isabel invites Esther and Papa to El Encanto in a few days. Rifka calls Esther lucky, but Esther says “pooh, pooh” like her Bubbe says to ward off bad luck when she gets a big compliment.

Esther makes a new, white wraparound dress to wear for their meeting with Isabel. Papa pays for a photographer to take Esther’s picture. Esther is surprised at how confident and grown-up she looks. Esther and Papa feel out of place in ritzy El Encanto, where they take their first ride on an elevator. Isabel, however, is excited to offer Esther a contract—but because she is an underage refugee, it must be a secret: Papa’s name must be on the contract. El Encanto will pay three times what Rifka paid for the dresses. The dresses will also carry a label with Esther’s name. All Esther needs to do is design and create samples; the dresses will be sewn in a factory. Esther and Papa are ecstatic, celebrating with a walk by the sea, which seems to tell Esther her family will join her soon.

Rifka cautions Esther not to become too proud. Esther appreciates that Rifka gave her a start in the business and promises to continue to make dresses for her. Rifka warns Esther not to forget she is a Jew. Esther knows she is a Jew but also knows she can keep her culture while learning about others. Rifka gives them newspapers in Yiddish that talk about the Nazis’ cruelty toward the Jews in Austria.

Señor Eduardo comes to Papa’s house again, barges in, sees the newspaper, and thinks it is in code and that Papa is conspiring against Cuba. He wants Papa’s money. Eduardo hits Papa, who falls to the floor. Esther screams for help, and Mario José arrives. He tells Eduardo to leave. Eduardo objects. He grew up with Mario José, and Ma Felipa once saved his life. He warns Mario José not to let the judíos come between them. Doctor Pablo tends to Papa. He is ashamed of Eduardo and wants Cuba to live up to José Martí’s dream of multicultural harmony.

Mario José organizes a strike at the sugar mill. Manuela, Esther, and Francisco watch supportively. They hope the strike helps the workers get treated more fairly. The workers all join the Anti-Nazi Society. Señor Eduardo arrives on horseback and blames Esther for the strike. Her friends support her. The workers stay firm. Eduardo returns after speaking with his sister and offers them a raise. He agrees to stop harassing Papa and Esther. Esther sees how solidarity can create social change.

Papa and Esther, no longer embarrassed about going to El Encanto, take new designs to Isabel. Esther is thrilled to see her dresses in luxe fabrics but sad that only rich girls can afford them. They earn a large amount of money to add to their savings. Rifka is happy that Esther loyally continues to make dresses for her to sell.