This section of chapters is titled “Day One.”

Charlie, Marcus, and Melissa are on the train to the airport by 3:30am. At the airport, Charlie leads the way. He memorized the airport layout and enjoys taking charge by guiding his brother and his mother. Charlie smiles and greets people, but Marcus feels increasingly uncomfortable and breaks out in a sweat. Melissa chats with her work friends. On the plane, one of them gives Charlie an airplane pin. He proudly wears it, joking to Marcus, “I’m captain. You obey me” (81). Marcus’s anxiety rises, and he starts to feel faint. He smiles to himself as he realizes that “big, bad Marcus Vega” is afraid of flying.

Charlie and Melissa enjoy every moment of the flight, while Marcus tries to focus on staying calm and thinks about seeing his father. During a layover in Miami, Charlie stocks up on books about Puerto Rico. On the next flight, Marcus feels better and is relaxed enough to flip through some of Charlie’s travel guides, learning about Old San Juan, where they will stay. While the three of them wait at baggage claim, Marcus checks his email. His father still hasn’t responded, so Marcus sends him a brief message letting him know they landed and are taking a cab to Uncle Ermenio’s.