Summary

Chapter 14, “Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.” Just before Christmas, Chula and her family make hurried plans to return to Bogota. As Chula manages to make a quick phone call to warn Petrona, the family packs up the car and say goodbye to Abuela, Chula again saying she is sorry even as Tia Carmen promises to take care of her. On their way out of the “invasion,” they visit Tia Ines, who is by now heavily pregnant and who avoids them when they first arrive. They give Tica and Memo a pair of Christmas presents, Chula commenting in narration on how their nervousness seems to change when they start to play – and how their playfulness disappears when they hear planes overhead. Tia Ines speaks impatiently to them, but then leaves. Mama speaks comfortingly, reminding them to take care of their mother and their impending...