Summary

In Part III, “Who Can Be Happy and Free in America?,” Chapter 8, when a Cuban boy was found “tied to an inner tube off the Florida coast,” Yevgenia’s comments about the boy’s father left Lara “festering a noxious resentment” (171). She wanted to know more about her father, Miro. Years later, when Lara “was old enough to understand that [Miro] was Cuban,” she began searching for “him in books” (172).

After the clinic incident, Lara had questions (173). Yevgenia said she received a letter “from the state hospital” saying Miro wanted to see Lara (173). Yevgenia arranged the encounter at the clinic. Miro is schizophrenic and in and out of psych wards. Lara wants to meet him. Yevgenia insists Miro cannot save her. Lara thinks Yevgenia is jealous. Angry, Yevgenia reminds Lara that she is the only one who chose to keep Lara...