-“Brudder…
Hao Ar ju?” there was that familiar voice and softly accented cadence coming to
my ears once again…
-“Cheíto…
mi hermano… it has been a while since we talked!” answered I, in a calm voice
which belied my haste of the moment.
-“Guell…
Ju knoe” he continued… -T’ings hav been with a lot of problems hear”… “Felicita
guants to move to De Gardens an’ dat cost a lotta pesos”… “Shi say dat hear in
our little haus we got no roon no more and shi say dat in De Gardens houses hav
gardens and ol’ dat”
-“Well”,
I said, in my most conciliatory manner –“have you looked over there?”
-“Jes
an’ OMG!!” he almost cried into the phone… “Ju t’ink them hauses made outta
gold, or sumt’in lik dat!” … “Ju knoe brudder, this little man work very har to
get t’ins for my Felicita an’ Princesita”… then, he added almost as if thinking
out loud… “The only problem is dat my Princesita is getin’ older an’, ju knoe,
the t’ins she wans are more money”
-“But
Cheíto…” I added, “you know these things may be so, but you do need some more
room than what you now have” I insisted -“with your Felicita and Princesita and
Felicita’s mother…” he didn’t let me finish that thought!
-“Man,
Doña Barracuda (not her real name, I add
quickly) don’t do nut’in but eat and eat and eat…” –“I thin she went up
like fortipound since she keim to liv wit’us”… then he continued –“if dat’s
hier in the little place… imagin what shi will be laik if we gif her a roon all
to hersel”
He
had a point here… Doña Barracuda… I’m so sorry… Doña Julita, Felicita’s mom,
sure does pack a mean seat of choppers… and seems to be always using them to
their fullest capacity. Besides, in her mind, she is the queen of the roost and
poor Cheíto is always the butt of her complaints.
Like
reading my mind, Cheíto added:
-“Ju knoe… dat woman always telin me I no good,
I no wor’, I no give Felicita and Princesita nothin’”… after a few seconds of
thought, he said: “Ju knoe, they had nuttin’ when I met dem… this little we
have, I got wit har work man…” I let him go on… -“shi ‘preciates nuttin’… my
Felicita tel me evry nite dat not giv no min’ to her… dat her mudder is ol’ and
peleona (bellicose) but dat my Felicita lov me a lot… and my Princesita lov me
to”.
A moment of silence came over the
waves…
Then he
continued “Ju are my brudder man, I no hav nobody to talk to… Ju knoe I lov dem
wif all my life…” As I knew he would, he then said –“tomoro we going to De
Gardens to see a good house… Creo (I guess) dat shi’s rite and we need a more
biger haus… jest hav to wor’ a few mor hours every week, ju knoe…” he then
added his trademark ending…
“¡¡Que Dios nos
ampare, porque la calle ‘tá dura mi hermano!!”
Loosely
translated, the above means: “May God have mercy on us, because the streets are
really difficult, brother”.
So
we parted ways with Cheíto feeling a little better, now he had decided that
Felicita was right and that they needed to look at a bigger house. I knew he
would… He, like many who are in the same boat, works his tail off in a badly
paid job, trying to make ends meet at home. He gives everything he has and
then, next day… keeps on giving.
He
doesn’t give up; neither should anyone; it is in our individual hands to continue
the daily fight or to throw in the towel…
What’s your choice?
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
- Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
- Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
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to your address bar.
- “La
Otra Caja de Pandora”… The
Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com”
… Bienvenidos!!!
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