Clap When You Land: Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

You’re usually “in the most basic of places” when you learn life-changing news. Yahaira is at lunch with Dre, listening to Dre chat about a climate change protest and flipping through a magazine when she’s called to the office over the loudspeaker. Though she gets a pass and flashes it at Mr. Henry, the security guard, he jokes that she wouldn’t cut class after being summoned. Yahaira used to be known for taking risks in chess, but in real life, she’s very predictable. She spends every Saturday with Dre, and all her progress reports say that she’s quiet and meets expectations. So, she has no idea what they want with her in the office. News spreads through the halls, but Yahaira still has no idea that there are no rules when you learn news like this.

On this day, the 5th of June, Yahaira thinks the worst thing that could happen is that she’ll be scolded for poor grades or asked to return to the chess club. She had no idea that three hours before, “the door to [her] old life slammed shut.”

Mami is in the office, wearing flip-flops and rollers in her hair. She never leaves the house without putting herself together, as she manages a nice spa and believes looking nice is good advertising. Ms. Santos, the principal’s assistant, puts an arm around Yahaira’s shoulders. Yahaira wants to shrug it off, as she knows this hug is trying to lessen the impact of whatever news is coming. Looking at Mami, Yahaira asks what’s going on. Mami’s lip quivers. She says, “Tu papi” (your father).

On most days, the flight Papi was on makes it from JFK to Puerto Plata without incident. It’s a routine flight, with a veteran pilot, and it should have landed just fine. According to Mami, the New Yorkers found out earlier than the families waiting for the plane to arrive. Thirty minutes after taking off, the plane’s tail snapped and the jet plunged vertically into the water.

Yahaira signs herself out of school, ignoring Ms. Santos’s condolences. Mami, still crying, accompanies Yahaira to her locker. They don’t say goodbye to Dre first. It’s a beautiful day outside, with a lovely breeze—but Mami still cries. Has the day forgotten it stole Papi? Or is it happy to have him? Yahaira doesn’t cry.

Through a text, Yahaira learns that she’s one of four students who lost someone on the flight. In her neighborhood, everyone is outside, trying to glean new information and wondering about survivors and if the crash was a terrorist plot. Mami ignores them. Their neighborhood, Morningside Heights, is made up of people from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico, as well as Black Americans, white people, and Columbia students “who disrupt everything.” But everyone from the Dominican Republic knows someone who died on the flight. Mami continues to ignore the neighbors as she enters the apartment and then slides to the floor to cry. Yahaira helps her up and to her bedroom. When the phone starts ringing, Yahaira answers it. She “take[s] charge where no one else can.”

When Yahaira learned Papi’s secret last summer, she felt instantly like she had to keep it a secret herself—even from her other family members. Papi always thought she stopped talking because of chess; he had no idea that she was actually just disappointed in him because of what she discovered. However, Yahaira never stopped being a “steady daughter.” She didn’t know how. She still doesn’t know how, so she continues to take out the trash and microwave leftovers. She keeps her feelings wrapped up inside herself, like “a gift no one wants.”