Antonio's Glove

by Tonii Marie Kelly

Cuba 1980 Fifteen year old Tomás Santos' belief in Fidel Castro begins to crack when he's ordered to turn against his best friend. As his doubts continue to grow, Tomás gets comfort only from a baseball glove that mysteriously links him to older brother, Antonio. Tomás' father wants the family to escape from Cuba and hints at a plan involving 'empty coffins'. The family learns Antonio died fighting the war in Angola from Javier Rodriguez, a neighborhood spy chief, who has his own dark reasons for wanting the glove. Tomás is plunged into the paranormal world of Santeria. Any time he sleeps with the glove nearby, he has a recurring nightmare about his brother. Is Antonio trying to tell him something from beyond the grave? Rodriguez continues to pressure the family. Tomás tries to escape on a raft. At the last moment, Antonio returns, claiming Tomás' help to succeed in a secret mission. It's a dangerous game with every move creating more risk for his friends and family. Suddenly, an unexpected opportunity opens up. With ten thousand people claiming asylum from the Peruvian Embassy in Havana, Castro does the unthinkable and opens Mariel Bay with an announcement that Miami Cubans can come to collect their relatives. Tomás has a final opportunity to escape. Will Antonio let him go?