AUBURN — Africa Rovayo didn’t even know her son and his friends were in Auburn on Wednesday — until a new car wrapped in a red bow pulled into her driveway.

“She’s in there screaming,” said Luis Rovayo, pulling his phone away from his ear as shrieks sounded from inside the home.

When an amazed Africa stepped out on her porch, she was giggling and tears filled her eyes as she hugged her son and admired her Christmas present.

Luis is a 2015 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and is about to become an industrial engineer. He and his mother moved from Venezuela to New Auburn in 2000.

Africa had teased her son with the age-old, “Now you can get your mother a new car!”

And Luis did.

“This is awesome and unexpected,” she said.

The 2012 Honda Civic will replace a 1993 Honda Civic — the same age as Luis.

The large, red bow blew as Africa drove away for a “victory lap” around her neighborhood. The decoration was tied by their family friend Cathy Lare of Ann’s Flower Shop.

Africa opened her garage door, ready to bring out the old and move in the new. Inside was her rusted Civic baring several bumper stickers: “My child is an honor student at Auburn Middle School” and “This car climbed Mount Washington.”

Africa’s first trip in the Civic will be to Ellsworth, where she’ll pick up her friend, Cathy Blanchard, and head to Acadia National Park.

The Rovayos will donate the old car to charity.

aaustin@sunjournal.com