The progress of Cara Romero's Senior Workforce Program notes highlights the truth about the fragility of life for immigrants living in New York today. Cara is a great character who turns this sometimes uncomfortable tale into a touching and often hilarious novel.
With all the shit of life, it was nice to be the tourist.
We took the elevator to the feet of the statue. La Profesora showed us the picture of the 162 steps to get to the crown. Then, almost half of the group said they would wait on the bench. Including Lulu. She told everybody that the steps were too much for me. For me, Cara Romero!
...I want to see the crown, I said, and followed La Profesora to the stairs.
You do?
Yes, I do.
Pues, Lulu said, I was only staying down here for you because of your knees. Vamonos!
Today I don't have pain in my knees, I said.
...At forty-four steps I asked Lulu if she wanted to take a break and she said no. When I got to seventy-five steps, that's when my legs started to burn, but because I do the exercises in the apartment where you go up and down like you're going to sit down but you don't, I was still good. But I could hear Lulu breathing hard.
You OK?
Why you ask me that? Lulu said.
... Slowly we arrived to the crown. Lulu was holding her stomach. I grabbed her arm and took her to look at New York City. Una belleza. We stayed there a long time, enough time for Lulu to breathe normal again. I could not feel my legs, but I was so happy to see all of the city with Lulu.
Cara Romero mira pa'lla. From Hato Mayor to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
