Lucia pressed her forehead to the airplane window and whispered, “Snow — I’m really going to see snow.”
Her heart ached, but she told herself, “Mami said it’s just for a few weeks. I’ll be brave.”
As she stepped into the arrivals hall she spotted two smiling faces: “Tía Valentina! Tío Juan!”
“¡Lucia! ¡Mira cómo has crecido!” her aunt hugged her tightly; Uncle Juan laughed, “What are they feeding you in Caquetá?”
In the car, Lucia stared at icy streets and asked, “Why did you leave Colombia?”
Tío Juan said softly, “La guerrilla came to our mountain. It wasn’t safe.” Tía Valentina added, “We thought we’d go back, but not yet.”
Lucia’s eyes filled with tears. “But what about Mami?” she whispered.
“She’s coming,” her uncle promised. “She’s packing everything. She’ll be here soon.” Lucia nodded and that night wrote, 'Dear Mami, I miss you already... I’ll be brave.'
A few days later Lucia stood at the curb bundled in her coat as Tía Valentina pointed, “That’s your bus.”
She climbed aboard and a girl with blonde hair and glasses said, “Hi.” Lucia answered quietly, “Um… hola?” and a tear slipped down her cheek.
The bus stopped at a large stone school: 'École élémentaire Sainte-Thérèse.' A teacher welcomed Lucia: “Bonjour, Lucia! Come with me.”
Inside the classroom the teacher smiled and said, “Take off your coat and stand here so everyone can meet you.” Lucia hesitated.
Then Lucia spotted Amanda again; she whispered, “Is that the same girl?” Amanda beamed and said, “I’m Amanda.”
The teacher handed out crayons and said, “Let’s draw a bonhomme de neige!” Lucia held a carrot and asked, “Is this his nose?”
The bell rang and Amanda shouted, “Recess!” Lucia followed her outside and gasped, “That slide is taller than my house!”
They were breathless from playing when a lunch lady approached, looking worried; Amanda whispered, “I think she wants us to go inside.”
In the lunchroom the lady showed Lucia a picture of a bus and Lucia’s eyes widened: “Oh no… I forgot!”
Lucia followed the lady to the office, her heart pounding, and the principal picked up the phone, saying, “Let’s call someone.”
A boy walked in and said, “Hola, I’m José. I speak Spanish.” Lucia’s shoulders relaxed and she whispered, “Gracias.”
José asked why she was outside at lunch and Lucia blushed, “I forgot about the bus…”
She remembered Tía Valentina’s words about Mr. Lucas and bus 778 and whispered, “I thought I was lost forever.”
José smiled, “You’re not lost. The principal called your aunt. She’s coming.” Lucia sniffled, “Really?”
When Tía Valentina arrived, Lucia ran into her arms crying, “I thought I missed you forever!”
In the car her aunt explained again, “Bus 778 — Mr. Lucas waits morning, lunch, and after school.” Lucia promised, “I’ll remember.”
That night over arroz con pollo, Uncle Juan asked, “So, how was school?” Lucia brightened, “I made a friend — Amanda!”
Lucia learned the bus routine, found courage on the playground, and began to feel at home in tiny, steady steps.
Plot twist — one afternoon Mr. Lucas the bus driver handed Lucia a little knitted mitten that fell from a jacket: a tiny note tucked inside read 'Practicing my French — see you soon.'
That evening the family video-called Mami; Lucia watched as Mami smiled, speaking a few shy words in French and waving a small suitcase — she was closer than Lucia had thought.
Lucia realized the promise had stretched into many kinds of courage — hers, her aunt’s, and Mami’s — and that home could be carried in small things like mittens and messages.
The next morning Lucia helped a new child who missed the bus, pointing to the waiting place and saying proudly, “Bus 778 — Mr. Lucas will wait.”
When Mami finally arrived she wore a tired but fierce smile and spoke a little French to Lucia, who answered in Spanish and English — the family fit together in new ways.
Lucia learned that promises can take time, but love moves faster than borders — and that being brave could mean asking for help, saying hello, and holding on to small treasures.
On the last page Lucia pressed her mitten to her cheek, looked out at the first big snowfall, and whispered, “We made this place ours.”
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