Roots of Indifferences

by Terri Ragsdale

  New changes began with the new reforms of the Texas Rangers, but it did not change the uneasiness between the two groups. There had been too many deaths of young Mexican-Americans in the long reign of terror, and many of the old core Mexican-American families resented the white gringos. The many justifiable changes in Texas laws would not bring back their sons from the grave.

  Changes were also being made in the Mercedes educational system. So many children were coming in from the rural ranch areas that the public schools were at full capacity. The curriculum was expanded, and the city had to deal with buying land to build another school.

  Money was donated by many of the Mexican-American families who had small businesses and wanted a new Lady of Mercy Church, with a parochial school. Lots south of the railroad tracks in the Anglo section were given to the Catholic Church by the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company. This raised eyebrows of the Anglo city fathers, but, since it was a church and not yet built, the matter was laid to rest.

  In the headlines, the Allied troops in Europe were winning the war, and a peace conference met in Paris to sign the Treaty of Versailles. In Hollywood, the three actors called the "flying Barrymores" were making movie headlines. And in New York, the escape artist Harry Houdini, who freed himself from strait jackets and chains, was considered the best stunt performer in history.

  Across the border in Mexico news of the killing of Emiliano Zapata sent chills up the spine of many of the Mexican people, who had dreams of Zapata one day being their leader. Zapata was slain, having been led into a trap by one of Carranza's officers, who set up the ambush and was greatly rewarded by the President. Obregón, who had retired, returned to live in his native state of Sonora but later declared his candidacy for the presidential election. This concerned Carranza. Another candidate in the presidential race was Pablo Gonzalez, and Mexico was on fire again as to who had the strongest military forces to win. The country was rampant with rumors of war, and sporadic gunfire.

  The Presidential race worried Carranza, and he organized a train convoy loaded with all the money and valuables he could get, taking it all to Veracruz. During the trip, there was an attack, which caused Carranza to abandon the train and escape on foot. He found a hut near a village, and while he slept, one Rodolfo Herrera treacherously fired several fatal bullets into the President of Mexico.

  Obregón had Herrera put on trial, but in the end, he was acquitted. Governor Adolfo de la Huerta of Sonora was installed as interim President. During this period, all of the revolutionary factions decided on reconciliation, and peace finally came to Mexico. Pancho Villa, who had lost his influence as a conqueror, accepted amnesty and retired to his home in Canutillo, Chihuahua.

  *****

  Fred's graduation came sooner than anticipated, and it was followed by an elaborate celebration party that evening. All the people who were privileged to know the Juelsons were invited to celebrate the prodigy child who was going to medical school. As a graduation gift from his father, Fred received a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver with his name engraved on the grip.

  The weather had been hot and sultry, but a gentle wind made it perfect for the outside evening entertainment. A mariachi band from Brownsville with ten musicians was hired. Tables covered with white linens and filled with different foods and fruits filled the patio. On the menu were several huge roast beefs and several cabritos roasting on skewers over a blazing fire; servants occasionally twisted the iron rods and put hot sauce on the meats, as dripping grease flared and ignited. Cases of beverages, including hard liquor imported from Mexico, had been smuggled, sitting in barrels of ice. Twenty lighted torches surrounded the patio area, and glowing Chinese lanterns hung from the gutters of the house and within the greenery of oleanders, bougainvilleas, gardenias, hibiscus, elephant vines, and small palm trees.

  Victoria, who was in charge of the arrangements, hired twenty more helpers and servants to accommodate the large gathering. Extra chairs were added around the patio for people to sit, converse, and mingle, and extra china and silverware were brought by Emma and her household. Victoria hired two ladies, said to be nurses, to watch and care for Aunt Josie, who lived at the rear of the house.

  Imparting an impression of authority, Don Federico stood on the patio, proud and erect, grateful for his patriarchal life. He concealed a feeling of weariness, not fully satisfied with his accomplishments so far, but one thing was certain, his son was going to be great and successful in the medical field. How proud he was of Fred. He had watched him grow like a tall, healthy tree, and too, his admiration for Carlos held no bounds. He was going to see that they had the best in life, regardless of cost.

  Many prominent families had been invited. The owner of the bank, his wife, and many teachers had joined in the celebration. Several families from Brownsville related to his mother were staying as guests in the large mansion. James and U.S. Marshal Bishop also decided to join the festivities. Martin Trevino, now grown and married, showed up with his wife, Maria, Yolanda's sister, to greet Fred. Elena and Miguel looked older, Roy had gained weight and was balding, but Soledad looked cheerful and as beautiful as ever.

  Roy cautioned Don Federico while traveling to Spanish Acres to be aware of a wild boar that had attacked some of his vaqueros out in the brasada, seriously injuring one of them. Wild boars were always dangerous, but this one was especially so.

  By the middle of the evening, hundreds of people were enjoying the gaiety. It had been a long hard struggle with the incessant raids, so many murders, the deaths of so many people from the Spanish influenza, and the residual hatred on both sides of the border. Changes were coming and presidential political rallies touting Warren G. Harding and his opponent were going on throughout the country.

  Times were changing: dresses were made of soft, colorful, chiffon, silk, and cotton material; styles were looser, and hems were getting shorter, exposing the legs. Customs were also changing, with those of Mexican descent becoming more Americanized. And there were more automobiles instead of buggies or wagons pulled by horses.

  Victoria looked charming and magnificent as she greeted the crowd and embraced the majority of them. Her hair was down loose around her shoulders making her look like a young girl instead of a married woman having birthed two children and in her mid-twenties. But in spite of her pleasant facade, Victoria’s attitude had also changed; her ugly side was like a viper, coiled and ready to strike out. Driven by the dissatisfaction of her matrimonial situation, she was becoming obstinate and ruthless, often having to curb her words and her temper.

  The wagging-tongue society was also busy talking about the Juelsons: the widower Don Federico; rumors of his crazy sister; the so-called married Victoria, whose husband was never around; and the money they had acquired through cattle, oil, and cotton. People envied them and talked behind their backs, in spite of enjoying all the food and comforts the Juelsons had to offer them. The Mexican-American people were proud and stubborn, almost pretentious about their heritage, and yet begrudged the Juelsons, especially Fred, so young, so tall, and so handsome, going into medical school, saying he had the money, the guts, and the brains to be a great success.

  Late that evening, the demented Aunt Josie managed to unlock the door after discovering the two drunken nurses had fallen asleep. She was anxious to see what all the noise and laughter were about, and she dreamed of her youth when mariachis entertained her with sweet music and dozens of red roses, admiring her beauty. Moving along the long corridors, she gazed into the mirrors on the walls, envisioning herself as she was before she had gotten married and victimized. Wearing only a white, light cotton nightgown, she stood before a large, full-length mirror at the end of the gallery.

  Josie studied the reflection of her full figure amidst the shadows of the candlelight glow. Within her deranged mind, she was only eighteen, with an hourglass figure, full, round breasts, and beautifully curved hips, and her dark hair was long and hanging to her waist. With her hazel eyes sparkling, she thought that a
ny man would want her.

  A table next to the mirror held fresh red roses in a vase, and she took one. She found a hairpin stuck in her fuzzy white hair and put the rose on top of her head and gazed in the mirror. Wiggling out of the nightgown, her thoughts went back to her early marriage to McCormach and how it used to please him, watching her take her clothes off.

  She remembered how she stood naked in full daylight, and he would throw dry beans on the floor, having her bend over to pick them up while he watched her. He would utter a screeching noise, holding himself. Each time, it would trigger an electrical charge of energy for him, and he raped her time and time again until he was satisfied.

  Looking at the full-sized mirror, she straightened her back and fondled her full breasts as she reveled in her thoughts. He used to love them. The memories rolled in, and she was young again. Within her crazy mind, she decided she would stroll outside into the evening, without any clothes on, with her one red rose, amidst the loud music. She would find her lover.

  It was already getting past ten o'clock, and many of the older folks had started to pick up their shawls, canes, and belongings, calling it a day. Fred, Jamie, and John had invited schoolgirls to enjoy the celebration and were out on the patio dancing. Victoria had gone upstairs to check on her sleeping children. The drinking had come to a peak as the majority of the male guests had already too much to drink and their legs were like soft noodles out on the dancing floor.

  One tired guest, Señor Diego Saldaña, was slumped over on a bench facing the entrance to the patio. He had had his fill of liquor; he had eaten to his heart's content; he had danced with his wife and other comadres. Now he had decided to take a nap before he continued with the rest of the night's follies. He opened one eye and saw Josie without any clothes on, standing in the doorway, swaying her hips, and cuddling her rose in both hands. This must be the finale, he thought. Damn! These people with money have the nerve! I must be dreaming. Or, I'm in the red-light district in Reynosa. I must've had too much to drink. He rubbed his eyes, trying to focus. "Dios!" he exclaimed. "Ay, Dios!"

  Those who were still conscious and able to stand— did. The band stopped playing. The young boys began laughing and others giggled. The young girls stood still, paralyzed, with their hands clasped over their mouths. Emma, in her tight shoes and feathered hat, sitting with the fuzzy old hen, Mrs. McCray, looked up and froze at the scene. Felicia, Dan, and la Señora Del Calderóne stared in shock. Magdalena's eyeballs became transfixed. The female servants waiting on the tables stood bemused and immobile, not knowing which path to take back to the kitchen with their empty trays. The male servants who had been drinking and slicing the meats just smiled. Several young men standing and talking began chuckling. One of the older ladies from the wagging- tongue society fainted, and someone among the rest of the church ladies said, "Dios mío!"

  Marshall Bishop had joined El Guapo James and Don Federico in conversation. They were huddled in a political debate about the peace and harmony and the inconsistency of Mexico's problems. Bishop and James had been indulging quite heavily in the spirits. They all heard the commotion coming from the back entrance of the house. All three hurried to see what the fuss was about, whereupon they encountered the smiling, prancing Josie with only one rose, entertaining the crowd.

  "Oh, wow!" said James.

  "Lordy me!" replied Bishop, thinking the whiskey had worked its way throughout his body and was now frying his brains.

  Stunned and embarrassed, Don Federico immediately took off his suit coat and wrapped it around the struggling Josie, dragging his sister inside the house. He was angry and scowled at her, telling her that her actions were not acceptable.

  Victoria, coming down the stairs, heard her father's voice loud and urgent, and she was surprised to find him struggling with her aunt, who was completely nude!

  "Please take her to her room," suggested the frustrated Don, and he turned Josie over to Victoria. "I have to apologize to our guests for her behavior. Better find out how she got out of her room!" The Don, upset and perspiring, put his coat on, brushed it off, and returned to the patio.

  Victoria grabbed Josie by both arms and guided her back to her bedroom, while Josie yelled and fought, wanting to get loose. In the bedroom she found the two nurses sound asleep. She snatched the oldest one up and slapped her hard across the face. The woman landed against the wall, alarmed and now fully awake. The other one awoke and began to run into the hall. Mad as a hornet, Victoria caught her by her hair and slapped her several times across the face. "Here's your money!" She threw the money on the floor for the two women to pick up. "Don't ever come back to this house again, and don't ever ask for any kind of work here! The two of you cannot be trusted," she said angrily and began soothing her hands that now stung from the blows she had delivered.

  It took several days before the Don stopped apologizing to everyone. It took weeks and months before the members of the wagging-tongue society stopped gossiping at their quilting sessions, and months before the ladies from the Catholic Church Praying Society stopped talking about what happened, and how scandalous it was, and oh, how it had been so very shameful! Many white candles burned brightly on the altar at the Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on behalf of the Juelsons.

  While enjoying a stay at Spanish Acres, Marshall Bishop announced to Don Federico that he was resigning his post, leaving Brownsville, and returning back to Austin. He explained that he was disappointed in the final conclusion on his documents since the majority of the federal judges had discredited most of his reports as being biased and discriminating. They felt that Bishop was working against them and was too sympathetic toward the Mexican-American people. Accordingly, he had not been satisfied with the justices regarding the Mexican natives in the Valley, and he was going to document all of his findings and turn them over to the archives.

  There was little he could do about the renegade Hanson, who was still not apprehended. Bishop also told the Don there was so much work to be done in achieving a common peace among the Mexican-American citizens in the Valley, and he felt Don Federico had a very positive objective as far as his profession was concerned. But Don's main goal was to see that Fred and his younger son Carlos got an education.

  *****

  Fred had now turned nineteen and was very excited to start his medical studies. He arrived in Houston with his father to meet with Juan Alvarez, who had already completed his residency and was heading back to the Valley. Juan would travel back with Don Federico and make plans for his future.

  In Mercedes, Emma and the rest of the family, including Señora Del Calderóne and Magdalena, anxiously awaited his return into their midst. Victoria, like a spider on her prey, was also nervously anticipating his arrival, wanting to know his future plans and if fate included her in his destiny.

  The Great War was over and the German Empire was dismantled. Riots began breaking out in many of the states and American cities as African-American soldiers returned from the war and were demanding civil rights and were being opposed by the KKK mobs. Many African-American soldiers, who had escaped dying in the war overseas, had returned only to be lynched by mobs incited by pure ignorant hatred.

  Juan's announcement that he would not be setting up his practice in Mercedes came as a disappointment to Don Federico, who wanted him to stay, but he understood his desires. Juan had changed considerably. He was more discrete in his actions and thoughts, and his manners had become more polished. But his discretion did not apply to his lovemaking—he had been gone too long. Since his arrival, he and Victoria had spent dozens of passionate, pleasurable moments in Victoria's upstairs bedroom, while Don Federico was away on business and all the servants were downstairs working. The two lovers made up for lost time. He was having his cake and eating it, too, and Victoria was enjoying every minute of it and never wanting it to end. Juan promised her that he loved her and that she was the only one in his life. He convinced her that he could not marry her, at least not now, since she was already too commi
tted.

  The worst blow came as a total shock to Victoria when Juan announced to the family that he had decided to marry Magdalena and return to Monterrey to practice medicine.

  Victoria threw a whopping temper tantrum and cried for days.

  It became apparent to Victoria that in Magdalena's letters to Juan; she had totally convinced the young doctor of the peace coming to Mexico. They would be happy back in Monterrey, where there were less confusion and less danger from the raids experienced by those living close to the border. And medical doctors were in great demand in Mexico.

  Likewise, several of the Army doctors had decided to make the Valley their home, including Dr. Hedrick, who preferred to make Mercedes his residence.

  Days after Juan and Magdalena left for Monterrey, Felicia came to visit with a secret, handwritten note from Juan to explain his decision. In his note, Juan declared his love for Victoria, but his conclusion had been urgent because of his professionalism, and also because Magdalena had gotten pregnant. He wrote in the note that Magdalena wanted it that way, not wanting Señora Calderóne to get upset and find out this soon. His actions were a complete puzzle to Victoria, and she wondered where Juan had gotten all of his sexual energy. When did he get Magdalena pregnant? He had spent more of his amorous time with her. Juan's note indicated that he would write to her and send her his private address when he got settled. This seemed to appease Victoria's feelings, and she understood; she would contact him as soon as she got his new address.

  The following year, Alvaro Obregón became president of Mexico and was known as a pragmatic reformer favoring land for the peasant farmers. Property being taken over by greedy foreign investors ceased, and this edict affected Don Federico's gold mine. Obregón was also determined to curtail the Catholic Church's power in controlling the poor peasants and keeping them oppressed.

  In 1920, Warren G. Harding became the twenty-ninth president of the United States but did not live to complete his term. Harding's cabinet members brought upon themselves scandalous criticism, especially with the Teapot Dome Affair, which implicated Albert B. Fall, previously in charge of the investigation into the Mexican affairs during the Mexican raids along the border. Fall spent several years in federal prison for taking bribes, leading to his political demise. Edwin Denby resigned, as did Attorney General Daugherty, who conspired with Albert Fall in receiving prohibition payments.