Roots of Indifferences

by Terri Ragsdale

  In Europe, rumors of another war spread, as the Nazi party placed second in the German elections. Adolph Hitler started to become a household name, with rumors of a new military empire rising in Germany, and Stalin's cruel form of Communism in Russia was also becoming known to the world.

  After his visits with Dr. and Señora Terán, Fred would return to the Gariby home feeling more inspired and with more medical knowledge each time, and with medical supplies, he needed to keep people from dying of common diseases. The young doctor was becoming recognized and respected from word of mouth within the area that included several small towns beyond Tampico-Alto. More people from the surrounding villages were starting to come to church for spiritual healing, and for medical healing from Fred. He was starting to feel like himself again, but without the comforts, he once had at his home in Texas. He began to regain his self-worth as a doctor and began spreading his wings, feeling more confident in his profession. And the natives all loved him, nicknaming him El Jirafe, The Giraffe, because of his stature.

  A small store was opened on the opposite side of the church building, which sold holy water, goat cheeses, fruit drinks, and small trinkets made from seashells with the inscription of El Señor de Tampico-alto. It became prosperous and brought in needed revenue to the church and to the villagers.

  In the months that followed, Fred delivered half a dozen babies to several households in Tampico-Alto. When he was free from his regular patients, he would walk with his black bag full of medicine and visit each of the little babies and their mothers to check on their condition. Each hut was almost identical, landscaped gardens full of flowering vines, jacaranda, rubber tree plants, figs, blue and scarlet plumería, and many white and pink oleander bushes.

  The thatched roof huts, called jacales, had floors of packed mud, and water had to be carried in buckets from the nearby streams. Having an outhouse was a luxury. The majority of the huts had no lavatory or washbasin, but inside were elaborate shrines and pictures of saints, with lit candles, and each had its own purpose called Los Santos qué Curan, the Curing Saints: St. Anthonio would be buried to help locate a lost object; St. Benito, the black saint, was for people of mixed Negro blood, giving them courage and hope; St. Martin Caballero was asked for money or love; San Martin de Porres and San Judas Takeo were prayed to for the impossible; and, of course, there was always La Virgen de Guadalupe, the Patron Saint of Mexico. The most often called on saint was St. Ramon, who worked overtime, for he was the saint for stopping gossip and was used almost daily. He would be turned upside down with a peso taped to his face, stopping any slander that was running around the village. When the gossip stopped, he has put right side up again. Saint Ramon was doomed from the very beginning since he spent most of his time with his head down and his feet up.

  At one time, one of the inquisitive young mothers asked Fred why he was not married and told him that she would make penance to St. Martin Caballero or El Señor de Tampico-Alto to find him a wife. Fred laughed and told her not to bother in her deep sacrifice, which he was perfectly content with the way his life was. The young mother was concerned, shaking her finger and telling him that a man without a family was a disgrace to society, and such a handsome man should consider getting married and having many children. Fred chuckled again and said he was not aware of any available women in the area who were seriously looking for a husband.

  No sooner said than done. In the coming week, one morning following Mass, over twenty young girls and two older widow women were in line, like pilgrims to a shrine, and almost knocked down the door to his medical clinic, wanting him to check them over! They were all in a conspiracy to see that he picked the right woman and got married. The news had spread like hungry cockroaches when the light shone in the kitchen and had mushroomed to all parts of the village and beyond. The feisty Dolores, having a mind of her own, saw all of the hopeful women wanting Fred for their husband and was infuriated. She dropped everything, defying the rules, took her white apron off, and walked home. The rest of the day was busy and frustrating for Fred alone. He had no help with all of the sick children and romantic women around him until two laughing nuns came to his rescue. With great relief, he told them, "I felt like a one-armed paper-hanger."

  At the Gariby home that evening, Fred sat like a lump at the dinner table, feeling like a fool and trying to analyze the mysterious events of the day. He asked of the two tías, busy getting his meal, "Where's Dolores? When he got no answer, he asked, "Where's Señor Gariby?"

  "The children are with Dolores at the beach picking up clams and seashells to make necklaces to sell at the shop. They should be home before it gets dark," replied one of the unsympathetic aunts. "Señor Gariby has already eaten and is out in the fields cutting the sugar cane with several of the village men." She went on with her kitchen duties and moments later reached inside her apron pocket, handing him a note. "One of the messengers from Tampico brought this message from Dr. Terán." Fred read it, and after eating his dinner, he went to his sleeping quarters.

  The following day found Fred in the busy city of Tampico close to the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, and high-walled homes with gazebos made of iron, and streets with names of Colon, Olmos, Díaz-Mirón, and Hidalgo Avenue. All around Tampico were lakes and inlets of ocean water surrounding the city that smelled of dampness and of petroleum. He had checked the telegraph office with no results and sent yet another message to Felicia in Mercedes, hoping he would get an answer back to the Terán's home.

  During World War I in Europe, many foreign investors had gotten away from the cold weather and devastation and had traveled to Mexico to live in the warm, temperate climate. Many wealthy German residents lived along the north side of the newly developing city, in an area called Ciudad Madero. There were also many Arabs who were successful merchants, bringing a rich culture and also colorful, beautifully crafted rugs. They also sold gold jewelry and pottery and traded with the Mexican merchants for their own commodities. Many had bought property and built beautiful homes along the shorelines.

  That evening, while staying with the Teráns, Fred was introduced to several German doctors who were specializing in plants and herbs. The Teráns had brought together a number of European doctors who were investing in a large company that was developing drugs from the common yerbas found in Mexico. A doctor by the name of Samuel Krog referred to himself as a phytosociological and was a leading researcher in the use of herbs. A tall man with blond hair and deep blue eyes, he had been living in Tampico for the past several years. Ever since the war with Germany had been resolved, he had been studying the uses of many native plants.

  The other German was Andre Steinhoff, a medium-sized man with thick glasses and considerably older than the rest of the doctors, with salt and pepper hair, and candid hazel eyes. Steinhoff was very reserved, extremely intelligent, and spoke with few words; he sat quietly in a corner with a drink in his hand, studying the individuals as if he were characterizing them in a novel. There were several other wealthy German businessmen, who owned companies in Tampico and wanted to invest in the new research.

  Fred was introduced to all of them by Dr. Terán, who told them that he was a bachelor from the United States and was making his home now in Tampico-Alto, a small village across the Rio Panuco, doing research and helping the poor in that village. He also mentioned how successful Fred had been and how much the people there liked him.

  As the conference began, Samuel Krog told the group that he had invested in the Krog-Stein-Mex Company, which was working to discover new drugs that would be important and beneficial to mankind. Krog informed the group that Aztec manuscripts, which gave the name and uses for each plant, had been found in a lost cave below Mexico City. It had taken years to complete the translation, but now they had all the formulas. The German doctor commented on the fact that many of the Aztecs in the New World were further advanced in medicine than the rest of the world. Mexico was the crown jewel of medicine, with so many beneficial plants and herbs ava
ilable. In his comment, Krog said that it was more convenient doing business in Mexico since the Instituto Médico Nacional in Mexico City did not investigate or poke their noses into any of their findings. He then pleaded with the rest of the group to invest in the newly formed company.

  While Fred mingled with the German doctors, he enjoyed a large spread of foods that he was not accustomed to, but which were delicious and new to his palate. It was an enjoyable social evening mixed with intelligent conversation. He got caught up in the subject at hand and was able to relate to Krog his knowledge of plants and herbs that he had learned as a young lad in Texas.

  As the evening came to an end, Fred was asked by Samuel Krog, who was championing and promoting the whole campaign, if he would like to join them in their company doing research. He stated that Fred would have to move to Tampico since the manufacturing company was being built close to the Gulf and away from the rest of the city, giving them more room to expand.

  "Thank you very much for asking me." Caught in a dilemma between the need of the people of Tampico-Alto and his beckoning future, Fred graciously replied, "I'm going to have to think it over since I have a responsibility to the villagers in Tampico-Alto."

  Krog responded, "Take your time. You can do research here three days a week and the rest you can spend treating the people of the village. You can't lose. You'll have a future with us here, and we would certainly enjoy having you. Let me know. You're welcome to join us. As for money, we can talk about that later."

  Fred departed after thanking the German doctors and the Teráns. He mind was spinning. He could hardly believe his good luck, being offered a job with a foreign research company and earning money, both of which interested him. He had not had any income to speak of, and he was desperate to earn some. With money, he could help so many people in more ways. He started to gain his old confidence back and feel like himself again. But, in the back of his mind, he was always looking over his shoulder for fear of being discovered. He would ask the Gariby family how they felt about his job offer. He loved the little village, and he had fallen in love with Dolores and did not want to move away from her family. But he cherished the idea of using the Germans' instruments at their expense since he had few, and he could do his own research for the villagers of Tampico-Alto. Why not?

  The evening meal at the Gariby home consisted of grilled fish caught in the Gulf, fideo, a thin spaghetti fried with tomatoes and spices, and garbanzos cooked in butter and goat cheese. Dolores, who sat across from Fred at the dining table, ignored him and hadn't spoken a word. When the supper ended and the children, the goats, the chickens, and the dogs, and one small pig had gone outside, Fred began to explain to the Garibys that there was the possibility of his moving to Tampico. He told them about the job with the foreign company, and that he thought he might accept it. He also asked about the possibility of Dolores coming with him to Tampico. He did not want to be alone—he had been lonely too long.

  Dolores glanced up and seemed delighted—her prayers to El Señor de Tampico-Alto had been answered. She smiled happily, with blinking, dancing eyes.

  Her parents looked startled as if a jungle monkey had backed up to their faces and farted. "You're talking about marrying Dolores," commented Señor Gariby, gathering his thoughts and being a sound thinker. He eyed Fred over the rims of his eyeglasses.

  Señora Gariby, while sitting with her legs propped up, chuckled nervously.

  Fred did not answer right away, but went into a long explanation of how he had missed Dolores when she had left him alone at the office, and how difficult it was to handle all of the sick children by himself. "I don't want to marry right away since I have to start building my profession and begin making money to support a wife. I wanted to ask for Dolores's hand to be my wife, with your permission and your blessing, in the near future. This way we can be together and plan our life together."

  "Dolores will not be permitted to be running around alone in Tampico without an escort," stated Señora Gariby firmly. “She can stay here and help you in your practice, but not in Tampico."

  Dolores heard her mother's stern edict and left the room crying. One of the concerned aunties followed Dolores to her room.

  Señor Gariby sat like a statue, rubbing his chin, and did not answer.

  "We need to know when this marriage is going to take place. There is a lot of work in planning a wedding," commented Señora Gariby, taking it all in stride, since she never lifted a finger, and had everyone doing her chores, especially the tías. Señora Gariby was pleased that Dolores did not find herself a husband from the Plaza del Paseo, an old Spanish custom, where girls strolled clockwise and the young gentlemen counterclockwise on a Saturday night, among the lanterns on the Plaza, taking a chance on finding a reliable husband that way.

  After some thought, Fred took the Germans up on their offer, and soon after, he received his first envelope of several hundred Mexican pesos. With the help of the Teráns, he was able to find himself a small kitchenette in Tampico, close to the research building. He bought a used, brown Packard jalopy, perhaps stolen and brought in from the border, along with several suits, and a pair of custom made shoes fit his big feet. During his shopping spree, Fred did not forget the kindly old man and woman who had rescued him, and he purchased things for them. For Dolores, he bought a pair of ruby earrings, with the promise of buying an engagement ring later.

  He spent Monday through Wednesday in the laboratory, which was cloaked in secrecy, with foreign-speaking chemists, pharmacists, and physicists, all dressed in white coats. Since he was able to come and go as he pleased during the week, he had been given the key to the locker where the white coats were kept.

  All seven floors, all of the rooms, and all of the corridors were heavily guarded by German security aides with revolvers at their sides. The well-equipped pharmaceutical experimental area occupied the main floor, with experiments being conducted in other rooms, but only special people had keys to enter those rooms. This was only one of the many buildings that made up the complex.

  All of the researchers were Germans and spoke little Spanish. Fred was told by the janitor, a man called Hans—who smoked heavily and often had coffee with him—that at night all of the outside lights were turned on and half a dozen Dobermans and German shepherd dogs, trained to kill, roamed the complex to deter intruders.

  Hundreds of weeds and plants were being introduced and analyzed for their beneficial uses. After the herbs were separated and cleaned, they were dried, and then crushed and made into capsules or liquids. Hundreds of Mexican men were employed in shipping the products on large vessels to South America, Australia, Europe, and Canada, but largely to Germany. The company was soon getting hundreds of responses expressing how wonderful the products were.

  The Krog-Stein-Mex Company was being recognized as one of the leading pharmaceutical industries in the world, and it kept expanding, making millions; however, the products were not being endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

  The rest of the divided week Fred spent in Tampico-Alto with Father Gonzales and his villagers. Each day there would be a long line of people waiting for help. On many occasions he would conceal the microscopic glass strips from Krog-Stein-Mex, hide them under his coat, and take them to the village to do research in his own clinic, hoping to find cures for different diseases. Fred loved his job with Krog-Stein-Mex and the generous remuneration—it was more than he had ever anticipated.

  Dolores would secretly join him on his trips and would stay in their small apartment, fixing it up by sewing curtains and adding small conveniences. She would explain to her mother that she was buying supplies for his practice and spending the time with Señora Terán. On the days that she did indeed spend the whole day with Señora Terán while waiting for Fred's return, the two women would take the trolley downtown and visit the food markets and venture into many shops of interest, especially the fabric store, since Dolores enjoyed sewing and was busy planning her wedding.

  Knowi
ng that they were planning their future together, Fred and Dolores often made passionate love. Dolores had been warned by her mother that she was forbidden to be alone in Tampico, without the spying eyes of las tías. But Dolores rebelled. She was in love and had disobeyed her mother many times because she wanted to be with Fred. And the tall, handsome doctor was also very convincing and reassuring about their relationship. He loved her and wanted her with him.

  Many times they would spend a full day going to Miramar, the beach along the coast of Tampico. Other days the couple would shop in downtown Tampico and travel to the busy boat docks to buy seafood. When alone, they loved to listen to the beautiful, tear-jerking songs from El Trío Del Los Panchos on the radio.

  *****

  Propaganda in the Mexican headlines in 1933 was always describing the terrible conditions occurring in the United States and the terrible financial failures of the country. Stocks declined and commodities dropped; companies failed and fortunes were lost. People were fighting over jobs and fighting over food that was thrown into garbage cans. Millions of people wandered around the country, hungry and without hope, and many were evicted from their farms. Labor unions across the country demanded better working conditions and pay in factories. Franklin Delano Roosevelt had been elected president, and his wife Eleanor was already busy distributing millions of dollars in cash to the destitute, helping them with food, clothes, and shelter.

  Hobos traveling on trains were being killed when caught by train detectives. Several songwriters like Woody Guthrie, who wrote This Land Is My Land, rode the weary rails on top of the railroad cars, making up sad songs of the times. Jimmy Rogers traveled the lonesome railroad tracks also and wrote many memorable songs.