Serafina's Promise Read online

  a basket of dirty laundry

  on her head.

  Bwa sèch, I answer.

  I find my water bucket

  and together we walk

  to the ravine.

  What stands on four feet

  but cannot run?

  That’s easy, I say. A chair!

  Julie Marie laughs

  and shakes her head.

  Non! A table.

  I fill my bucket

  and wait for Julie Marie

  to finish washing.

  We hang wet clothes

  and collect firewood.

  When Julie Marie’s basket

  brims with dry branches,

  I balance the bucket on my head

  and we walk home.

  School starts next month, Julie Marie says.

  Have you thought about

  talking to your manman again?

  Not really, but maybe I should.

  Our baby will be here soon

  and the coin jar is starting to fill

  with garden coins.

  Papa says Mr. Pétion might even buy

  some of our vegetables!

  Julie Marie smiles,

  and I remember all the plans

  we had before the flood—

  to both go to school,

  to both become doctors,

  and to one day open a clinic together.

  I remember the promise

  I made to myself and to Granpè.

  Something stirs inside my heart.

  My faraway dreams are floating back!

  When I get home,

  Manman is on her bed,

  groaning.

  Serafina! she says.

  Her face glistens

  with tiny beads of sweat.

  Prese! Hurry!

  Get Julie Marie’s mother.

  Manman! Are you sick?

  Prese! The baby is coming!

  What about the midwife?

  There’s no time, Serafina!

  Prese!

  I run down the path that leads

  to Julie Marie’s house.

  Julie Marie’s mother is outside,

  a baby in one arm,

  a wooden spoon in the other.

  Prese! Prese! Gogo is in the city

  and our baby is coming!

  Julie Marie comes outside

  carrying her brother Michel.

  She sits him in the dirt

  and takes the baby

  and the wooden spoon.

  Her mother hurries inside her house

  and brings out a handful

  of rags and the top of an old tin can.

  Prese! Prese! she says. Let’s go!

  As we hurry down the hill,

  Julie Marie calls after me,

  You’ll be a wonderful big sister!

  By the time we get back,

  Manman is holding a small,

  wrinkled baby.

  Come see your brother Gregory,

  she says weakly.

  I kneel beside her.

  What can I do to help you,

  Manman? I whisper.

  Julie Marie’s mother gives me

  a soft, clean cloth.

  Bondye bon, Marie Rose,

  your son is beautiful.

  A long, slippery cord stretches

  from Gregory to Manman.

  While I gently wipe

  Manman’s face,

  Julie Marie’s mother

  cuts the cord

  with the top of the tin can.

  Then she takes Gregory

  and wraps him

  in a clean blanket.

  Hold your brother

  while I sweep and freshen

  your mother’s bed,

  she says, shooing me outside.

  I sit on a large rock.

  Hello, Gregory, I whisper.

  I hold his face

  close to mine.

  His eyes are closed

  like a baby kitten’s,

  and he has a musty smell,

  like the leftover scent

  in Gogo’s basket of herbs.

  Gogo says you’re a blessing.

  Please bless our family.

  Gregory’s tininess

  tugs at my heart.

  I think about Baby Pierre.

  I promise, Gregory,

  I’ll do my best

  to make sure

  Manman eats.

  I promise to do

  everything I can

  to keep you safe.

  The next day,

  Papa brings home

  two sweet potatoes

  for us to fry.

  Gogo makes Manman

  tizann, a special

  healing herbal tea.

  Manman smiles happily

  at Gregory’s round,

  wrinkled face.

  Papa turns the washtub over

  and beats out a happy song.

  The sun rises,

  the sun sets,

  little by little the bird

  builds its nest!

  Gogo takes my hand.

  We sway our hips

  and flutter our arms

  like parade dancers.

  Gregory is a blessing!

  My heart floats,

  and my belly is stuffed

  with sweet fried joy!

  When Manman washes up

  in the mornings,

  I hold Gregory

  and sing him songs.

  Manman and Gogo tell me

  how helpful I am,

  what a good big sister.

  Day by day,

  Manman grows stronger

  and happier.

  Gregory’s tummy

  is quickly becoming round

  as the mango.

  After I help Manman with Gregory,

  I meet Julie Marie at the ravine.

  Sometimes I wash clothes too.

  While we work, we talk about Nadia

  and say prayers for her and her family.

  We talk about our clinic

  and try to decide what to call it.

  In the afternoons,

  when Julie Marie finishes her chores,

  she helps me in the garden.

  She can’t come every day,

  but when she does,

  the afternoon passes quickly.

  We pick and bundle the best herbs

  and vegetables,

  some for Manman and Gogo

  to sell in the city,

  some for Papa to bring to Mr. Pétion.

  Julie Marie helps me clear away

  the pebbles and weeds that could choke

  my fragile peppermint plants.

  As soon as they grow,

  I’m going to bundle them in ribbons

  so Manman can bring them to the city too,

  I tell Julie Marie.

  She grins.

  More coins for the uniform jar!

  The lima beans

  are still tiny sprouts,

  but the amaranth

  is higher than my knee.

  Gogo smiles.

  You’re like the amaranth—

  beautiful and strong,

  sheltering the smaller buds,

  coaxing them to grow.

  Gogo’s words make me feel taller.

  People really are like plants—

  kind words make them grow.

  Later, while Gogo bundles herbs

  to sweeten Manman’s bathwater,

  I care for Gregory.

  Little brother, little brother, I sing.

  Do you know? Do you know?

  Your big sister loves you.

  Your big sister loves you.

  Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom.

  Gogo says Gregory

  is too young

  to smile,

  but I know

  he’s smiling at me.

  One afternoon, I see

  tiny peppermint lea
ves

  poking through the rocks.

  As soon as Julie Marie arrives,

  I show her.

  Gogo said pushing

  through the dry earth

  is the hardest part.

  Now our peppermint

  will stretch in the sun!

  When Manman sees

  how hard I’ve been working,

  I know she’ll let me

  go to school.

  I grab Julie Marie’s hand.

  We’re going to be doctors!

  Julie Marie smiles,

  but her smile

  pulls tight on her face.

  What is it? I ask.

  I can never go to school, Serafina.

  Did you talk to your papa?

  Julie Marie shakes her head.

  Then how do you know he’ll say no?

  A fat tear rolls down

  Julie Marie’s cheek.

  My papa has too many

  hungry mouths to feed.

  But you said—

  I know, Serafina.

  I didn’t want you

  to give up.

  You should be a doctor

  even if I can’t.

  We are both quiet a long while.

  Mwen regrèt sa, I finally say.

  I promise I’ll teach you

  everything I learn.

  Maybe I can grow

  enough peppermint

  for two uniforms!

  I spend every free moment

  in the garden,

  weeding, watering,

  and watching

  my peppermint plants

  grow taller!

  One day, when Gogo,

  Manman, and Gregory

  are in the city,

  I hear a loud rustle

  in the bushes.

  Who’s there? I yell loudly,

  hoping to scare away

  a wild pig or rat.

  Ale lwen! Go away!

  This is my garden!

  I stand up, and giant

  ginger-colored paws

  almost knock me down!

  Banza! I scream.

  Banza yelps

  and runs in circles.

  Banza! You found me!

  I haven’t any food to give him,

  but still his tail wags furiously

  and he licks my face.

  Let me see those paws!

  Any prickles?

  I try to grab his leg,

  but he runs away.

  Don’t forget, I call after him.

  This is our new home!

  Nobody can believe

  that Banza found his way

  up and around so many hills.

  Not Manman or Gogo,

  Papa or Julie Marie.

  Nobody can believe

  he found me.

  It shows how much

  kindness and love matter!

  Papa says.

  Love always finds a way.

  The important thing

  is to never give up.

  It’s hard to imagine that

  just a few months ago,

  all I could think about was rain,

  and rebuilding,

  and Manman’s worries.

  Now the rainy season is long past.

  Our new house is warm, sturdy, and dry.

  Gregory is growing healthy and strong.

  At night, I listen

  to Manman and Papa talk quietly.

  Sometimes Manman’s rippling laugh

  mixes with Papa’s cheerful rumble.

  Sometimes I hear her sing quietly

  to Gregory and I wonder

  if they are the same songs

  she sang with Granpè.

  Papa said

  everything would be better

  when the baby came.

  And it is.

  Julie Marie said,

  Without dreams the world

  is only dirt and dust.

  School starts in less than two weeks.

  It’s time to talk to Manman again.

  Before I talk to Manman,

  I’ll talk to Papa.

  Maybe he’s changed his mind.

  Maybe this time he’ll agree

  to talk to Manman for me.

  Manman, I say

  while she nurses Gregory

  before supper.

  May I go down the hill

  to meet Papa?

  Wi! Manman says,

  smiling at me.

  Just don’t walk too far—

  only to the bottom of the hill.

  Mèsi! I’ll hide

  behind a banana tree.

  Papa will be so surprised!

  I hurry to the bottom

  of the hill

  and sit beneath

  a large banana tree.

  When I see Papa,

  I run into his arms.

  He lifts and twirls me.

  Serafina! What are you doing here?

  Is everyone okay?

  Wi, Papa!

  I just need to talk

  to you alone.

  Papa laughs.

  What is it today,

  my sweet Serafina?

  You’ll see! I take his hand.

  Together we walk

  up our last hill.

  I pull him into the garden

  and make him close his eyes.

  Okay! Open them!

  Amazing! Papa says

  when he sees

  the sturdy shoots

  and bright green leaves.

  Gogo didn’t think anything

  would grow in this soil.

  Papa, I say,

  our coin jar is filling fast.

  Soon, some of the coins will be

  peppermint coins.

  Papa smiles.

  He knows what

  I’m trying to say.

  I’m proud of you, Serafina.

  The pride in his voice

  gives me courage.

  I pluck a peppermint leaf

  and rub it between my fingers.

  School starts very soon.

  I still want to go.

  Papa nods and takes my hand.

  You’ve done everything

  I’ve asked.

  But there’s one last step.

  Papa, do you think

  you could—

  Papa shakes his head.

  Serafina, Manman needs to hear

  your voice,

  your words,

  your hope.

  He squeezes my hand.

  Now that Gregory is here,

  she’ll be able to listen better.

  After supper that night,

  I walk to the ravine.

  It’s quiet.

  Soft, shimmering light

  wraps around me

  like a golden cloak.

  Manman seemed so

  happy nursing Gregory

  while Gogo and I

  washed the dishes.

  Maybe now is the right moment.

  I watch the dark, warm water

  flow into my bucket,

  and think about Granpè.

  I wish I could have known him.

  Are you watching over me, Granpè?

  Please help Manman to understand,

  I whisper.

  I think about Pierre.

  I still miss him.

  I don’t need a cross made of stones

  to remember you, Pierre.

  Please help Manman to understand,

  I beg.

  I think about Gregory.

  You’re my special blessing,

  baby brother.

  Please help Manman to understand,

  I pray.

  The gentle amber light

  softens to gray.

  Crickets and tree frogs

  begin their evening serenade.

  I lift my bucket

  and head up the hill.

  Before I reach home,
r />   I promise God

  that if Manman lets me

  go to school,

  I will study hard

  and never complain

  about anything.

  It’s almost dark when I get home.

  Papa, Manman, Gogo, and Gregory

  are gathered in the garden.

  By the light of the moon,

  I see that Papa is smiling.

  Gogo shakes the jar of coins

  and swings her hips.

  Manman holds Gregory

  in one arm

  and reaches out for me

  with the other.

  I put down the water bucket.

  Whispered promises mingle

  with the bold scent

  of peppermint and thyme.

  Manman, I say, looking into her

  open, loving face.

  I want to talk to you

  about school.

  Then, all in one breath,

  I repeat everything

  I said to Papa.

  This time, Manman

  doesn’t interrupt.

  She looks at the garden

  and then at me.

  I see how hard you’ve been working.

  The vegetables and herbs

  are thriving—even the peppermint!

  Manman smiles.

  You’re becoming a strong,

  dependable young woman.

  I feel myself stretching

  all the way to the moon.

  Thank you, Manman.

  Gogo thinks the jar

  should be full in a week.

  My heart is thumping.

  Manman pauses

  and holds my gaze.

  And when the jar is full,

  you may go to school.

  Really, Manman?

  Manman nods and laughs.

  Really!

  I jump and kiss them all.

  I twirl my pretty green dress.

  Mèsi! Mèsi! I shout.

  I’m going to school!

  I can’t wait to tell Julie Marie.

  One more week

  and the jar should be full.

  Then I’m going to school!

  Manman said it herself!

  When the jar is full,

  I’m going to school!

  The next day, I’m up early

  to gather water

  before I work in the garden.

  Julie Marie is already

  at the ravine.

  I run down the hill to share

  my good news,

  but she has news

  of her own.

  Her words bubble out

  like an overfilled water bucket.

  Serafina, I’m going to school after all!

  Tomorrow Papa is taking me

  to live with my aunt in the city.

  Papa says Auntie will give me

  my own room.

  She’ll buy me pretty dresses

  and we’ll have pumpkin soup

  and fried pork to eat.

  On Sundays, we’ll have sweet potato pie

  with coconut pudding for dessert!