Across the Great River

by Irene Beltrán Hernández

  “If only Carlos were here! He’d know what to do with all that money,” cries Mama sadly.

  I look up at her and shrug, then I take a fistful of bills and smell them. They smell stale like old bread, but they will get us home. “I know what to do with it, Mama. Don’t worry.”

  “Yes, you would, Kata,” she sniffles. “You’ve grown so much lately.”

  I glance up quickly and smirk. “That is very funny, because yesterday you called me a child and today I’m all grown up again. You big people never make up your mind,” I snap, picking up Anna from the table and kissing her. “Except you, Anita. You always know what to do.”

  In two days, Anita has arranged for our trip home. “This time, you shall leave this country by the right method. We will take a bus over the border. I will go along with my papers just in case. But I believe we shall have no problem at all.”

  “Hurray!” I shout, “a bus ride into Mexico! Fantastico!” I dance around, taking Pablito into a swirl.

  Anita chuckles. “Once we have crossed, I shall find my friend who is a big man with many connections. He has agreed to meet us and drive us personally to your village.”

  “Anita, you are an angel sent from heaven!” declares Mama.

  “Oh, no … not an angel. Just an old healer sent to this world to help. Besides, this man owes me several favors for helping his family in their time of need. He is just paying his dues, even if he is a commandante with the Mexican army.”

  “Do you mean someone that important will drive us back home? Won’t Juanita and Estela be surprised to see me come home in a big fancy car?” I squeal. “When do we leave?”

  Anita quickly turns to stir the pot on the stove. “Friday morning.”

  Mama gasps, “Why that’s tomorrow morning!”

  “So it is,” answers Anita.

  Mama’s face is lit up like a candle that glows in the dark, but Anita’s face hangs in sadness. I walk over and put my forehead against her hip and say nothing.

  Later that night I watch Anita sew Anna a new dress. Between two layers of cloth she sews many of the bills. “This is just in case something should happen. It is best to be always prepared.” My face falls and she quickly adds, “Oh, you still can play with Anna when I am finished, but don’t tell a soul what’s inside her dress.”

  “I promise, Anita. I just want to hold her on the bus.”

  “There, her dress is all ready. The rest of the money, I shall carry.” She stares down at Anna for a moment, then sighs heavily.

  “Aren’t you happy, Anita?” I ask, noticing her quietness.

  “For you, yes. But for me, no. I have become like a grandma to you and Pablito. I have come to think of you all as my adopted family and I will miss everyone.” She wipes her brow with her apron sash. “But, I will not rest until I have delivered you safely to your village.”

  “Why don’t you move to Mexico with us. You would like it in our little village.”

  “This is my home, Kata, and I cannot leave it for very long. I have explained all that before. I have my ranchito and my patients and you have your life before you.”

  “Yes, that is true, Anita. But I am still worried about Papa. Have you heard anything?”

  She shakes her head. “I have not heard a thing.” She slowly sticks her needle and thread into the cushion.

  We are up early the next day, fixing tacos filled with beans for our trip. After we have packed our belongings into bags, Don Juan arrives and we pile into the truck ready for the trip into town.

  “Are you ready, old woman?” Don Juan snaps at Anita.

  “Of course, I am, you goat! Get in yourself so that we may be on the road before the sun fully rises.”

  Don Juan chuckles to himself. “I like your spirit, old woman!”

  Anita growls, “Don Juan, please just shut up! And drive this truck or I shall do it myself!”

  Mama holds up both her arms. “Let’s not argue on our last day together.”

  Don Juan turns red, “Well, you see how that old woman sticks me with that tongue of hers. Hump! We shall see who shall miss who!”

  Anita roars, “I shall never miss you, señor.”

  I interrupt to say, “Mama, don’t you think they should get married to each other. So they won’t be alone.”

  Mama claps her hands. “What a wonderful idea. They would make a handsome couple, and it’s never too late for marriage.”

  “Marriage!” cries Anita. “Why the old rooster has no fight left in him!”

  “Now, Anita,” mutters Mama, “I see signs that speak otherwise.”

  “What signs!” she argues.

  “My, my. How you blush at your age!” giggles Mama.

  Anita flaps her arms wildly. “Enough of this silly talk. Enough, I say!”

  We arrive in town and Don Juan slowly makes his way to the bus station. There he waits, like the gentleman he is, for us to board the bus. “Old woman,” he says, “be careful!”

  “I shall, old man,” answers Anita as she touches his hand gently. “If I should not return, the ranchito is yours.”

  “Why would I want that God-forsaken piece of land?” Don Juan slaps his straw hat against his leg.

  “Because I give it to you!” commands Anita in a huff as she boards the bus.

  The excitement of the bus ride soon dies out, as our ride approaches the fourth hour. The land out the window becomes more barren and I can see hazy heat rise from the sand.

  “Anita,” I ask, “how much longer?”

  “Another couple of hours. It’s a bit longer by bus than cutting straight across the river like you did. Now rest, child.”

  On the seat behind us, Mama and Pablito are napping. I wiggle until I find a comfortable position and close my eyes.

  “Stop!” shouts a deep voice.

  I sense the bus has stopped. I rouse myself slowly and find Anita looking out the window. “Hold tightly to Anna and don’t let anyone have her,” she instructs.

  “Stop for inspection! All passengers must get out of the bus while it is inspected and sprayed. All luggage and bags must be inspected, so take them with you,” shouts the voice.

  As quickly as I can say “enchiladas!” a soldier comes hurrying down the aisle of the bus. He carries a very long rifle which is slung across his back and on his hip swings a gun in a holster. He looks right and left, occasionally nodding or asking a person his name. He stares hard when he comes to Anita, but she stares right back. He goes on until he reaches the back of the bus. Satisfied, he hurries down the aisle, then spends a few seconds talking to the driver before he turns and says, “Everyone must get out now. Take your belongings with you.”

  “Darn it!” hisses Anita as she gathers the things. She waits until everyone else has left the bus, then she rises and makes her way out. I follow clutching Anna to my chest.

  We enter a small brick building where the people are already lined up. One by one their luggage and bags are opened and checked. I watch as they mess up all the clothes, then slam the bag shut without bothering to straighten the clothes. Then they summon the next person and repeat everything again.

  “What are they looking for?” I ask.

  “There are certain things, like plants, fruits and animals that one is not allowed to take across the border. They also look for guns and drugs which they take from you.”

  I notice that all the guards carry pistols and rifles. Even the ones checking the bags, and they frown as if they hate doing their job.

  As Anita approaches the guard, he smiles at her. “Good day, señora,” he says.

  Anita stares at him. “Do I know you?”

  “No, señora, but I know you and your cures.”

  “And how is this?” questions Anita.

  “You tended my old uncle who was bit by a desert spider.”

  “Oh, and how is your uncle now?” questions Anita as she pops her bag upon the counter.

  “Dead now,” he answers, then adds, “but not from your cure. He die
d from old age.” He opens the bag and shuffles through it. “I hope he rests with the good Lord,” he adds, then stops and glances up at Anita. Slowly he pulls out a small bottle. “What is this, my good señora?”

  “A tonic for curing the swelling of the throat and ankles. I am to see another patient in Mexico.”

  He opens the bottle and smells it and quickly recloses it. “You shall pass. Has the child anything to search?”

  Anita turns to me. “Nothing but her cloth doll.”

  I gasp and look from Anita to the guard and then clutch Anna tighter to me.

  “It’s all right, little girl. You don’t have to part with your doll. Just run along with the señora.” He glances up at Anita and tips his hat. “Have a nice trip.”

  “And luck be with you,” smiles Anita with a slight bow.

  We are the last to board the bus, and I can see that Mama has been biting her nails again. Once we are safely seated and well on the road, Mama says to Anita, “I was so worried.”

  “Everything worked out fine. The trip should run smoothly until we meet my friend,” says Anita. “And, thanks be to the Lord,” she adds in a whisper.

  It is well into the middle of the afternoon when we finally arrive at the meeting place. The Commandante is waiting and takes Anita’s hand to help her into the front seat of the big black car. We pile into the back seat, he starts the car and we speed out of town. It seems unusual that he, an important officer, does not have a driver. He talks rapidly in a very nervous manner and his right hand flies up and down in the air. I can see that he is very much afraid of Anita.

  It is dark when we arrive at my village of San Carlos. I had expected all my friends to be there waiting and cheering me, but instead there is not a soul in sight. Not even the town mongrel, Paco. We drive directly to my grandfather’s hut. He comes to the door quickly when he sees the military car drive up.

  “Abuelo! Abuelo!” I cry out. I hurry out of the car and into his arms. So does Mama, who immediately starts to cry. Sometimes I wish she would grow up and behave like a strong woman, instead of like a little girl who is lost in the woods.

  From Grandfather’s arm I go into Grandma’s, who is crying too. “My baby, my baby!” she weeps.

  Anita stands talking to the Commandante near the hood of the car. I notice he gets into the car and drives away without so much as a goodbye. Well, I think, it doesn’t matter. We are home safely and that’s what counts.

  “Anita, come over and meet my grandparents.”

  “Ah, yes. It is my pleasure to know the old ones in this family.”

  My grandfather nods and says, “Our home is yours. Thanks for bringing the children back home safely. For that we owe you much.”

  The old ones stay up late talking, laughing, and making plans. I am about to drift off to sleep when I hear a car screech to a rapid halt. Mama goes to the door and screams, then she bursts outside with such speed that I become alarmed. I get up to follow her, but Anita’s hand holds me back.

  “Wait, Kata. She’s all right.”

  I turn to grandfather who smiles down at me. I have no choice but to wait until they consent for me to follow. The door opens and Mama enters beaming like a fresh morning sun.

  “Papa!” I shout, as I run to embrace him. I leap like a frog into his open arms. “Papa’s here! I told you he’d come back!”

  “Yes, Kata. You did!” Mama puts her hand upon Papa’s arm, caressing it gently.

  “Let’s wake Pablito!” I suggest.

  “No,” says Papa. “Let him sleep, for he can see me tomorrow and many tomorrows after that. After all, I’m not going anywhere.”

  I frown and immediately set to scolding him. “Where have you been? We needed your help so much!”

  He touches the tip of my nose. “I’m sorry, Kata. I know you needed me and I needed you. You see, I was in jail. That means locked up. When I was trying to make my way across the river, I turned in the wrong direction and landed back in Mexico. Since then I have been locked up in jail with no way out. Ah, I have been worried about the three of you and for many nights I cried and prayed to the good Lord for your safety.”

  He turns to Anita and says, “Señora, I owe you my entire life, as well as the lives of my family. If there is anything I can do, please let me know. The Commandante did not ask questions, but simply ordered my release and drove me out here himself. He is a true gentleman, no?”

  “Certainly not, señor! He owes me a favor for his daughter’s life,” snaps Anita. “As for you, you should stop all that foolish dreaming and provide for your family. They have been through much pain and heartache, which will take many years to forget.”

  “You are right, señora.”

  “But,” continues Anita in a soft voice, “it is good to hear thanks. Perhaps someday I will need a favor, which you will be so kind as to grant.” She accepts his kiss on her palm.

  “See, Anita!” I squeal, “I told you that you would like my Papa.”

  “Carlos,” interrupts Mama. “Where did you get that stone Anita calls a nugget?”

  “Nugget? A real gold nugget?!” Papa declares.

  “Yes, it was,” states Anita.

  “I found that as I walked back from town. You see, I decided to take a short cut through the back hills. I grew tired and decided to sit near this large boulder. The stone was embedded in that boulder. I thought it looked different, so I dug it out with my knife and stuck it in my pocket.”

  Anita grunts, “Well, I sold it and got enough money to make you an important person around here. That is, if you use the money and your head properly.”

  “I was just going to clean it and make a pretty necklace for my wife,” he adds as he runs his hand through her hair.

  “Papa,” I say, “Anita sold the stone for a lot of money. We could have a little ranchito like Anita’s.”

  “If he uses his head, he could have many things,” snaps Anita, as she crosses her arms over her breasts.

  Papa starts to laugh and laugh until he hunches over in laughter. “But, señora. There are many more of those stones in that boulder. All I need to do is pick them!”

  Anita’s eyes blink rapidly. “My advice, señor, is to tell no one where that boulder is, or of the money you have here.” Her chin begins to quiver and she stares straight at Papa.

  He senses her seriousness.”It is wise advice, señora. My lips are sealed, but is it all right if I mail you a similar stone in payment for all you have done?”

  “A postcard will do fine,” smiles Anita.

  “A postcard and a stone would be much better.”

  Anita throws her hand up into the air, “If you insist, señor.”

  “So be it, señora,” smiles Papa, as he kisses Anita’s palm again.

  Anita’s face glows, “Now I must take my leave with the Commandante. God bless you all.”

  “God go with you, Anita,” I say, as I watch her get into the car.

  “Anita, take care of yourself!” shouts Mama.

  Anita turns back, then yells, “Make sure Kata goes to school. That is all that I ask!”

  “I shall do that, Anita,” smiles Mama as she continues to wave.

  I break away from Papa and run into Anita’s arm. “I shall miss you, old wise one.”

  “I shall miss you, Kata, my girl. May God be with you always.”

  “Always is such a long time, Anita,” I answer laying my face upon her soft belly.

  “And you are always welcome at my home, Kata.”

  “I love you Anita!” I shout as the car moves out slowly.

 

 

 
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