Meanwhile, back in Cuba...

The two smallest children, a little white boy and a little black boy, used to share the desk at the front of Yamilin Morales' first-grade class in Cardenas, Cuba. The two have known each other since the age of three, and Hanser, 6, weeps at hearing the name of his friend. He knows his best friend has been "kidnapped," a frightening crime, unheard of in Cuba. He perks up only when his teacher reminds him how happy Elian will be to see how carefully Hanser has watched out for him. For no one has been allowed to take Elian's place. His...

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