DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | ""Leno and Maria: A Success Story"" by Vincent P. Cano - 1985

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""Leno and Maria: A Success Story"" by Vincent P. Cano - 1985

Page 1

CHAPTER ONE, 
LENO AND MARIA

TIME: 4:40 A.M. 1963 IOWA CITY IOWA.

"Vincente, are you up there? It is time for you to take me to work. Are you in the living room? Answer me."

My mother's voice broke the silence of the early morning as she climbed the stairs from the lower level bedrooms. No doubt she had noticed that I had not slept in my bed and no doubt I would get another lecture on the importance of eight hours of sleep. Being a student at the University of Iowa has certain badges of endurance one is expected to wear. Black horn rim glasses, a worn out trench coat, a ever ready box of no-doze, and slightly bloodshot eyes. Getting six hours of sleep is average during the day to day grind of class work but during final week is an entirely different matter. No respectable student even considers sleep. Mothers do not understand these badges of our trade and mine is no different. Actually, I could use a break from being this respectable for the no-doze has worn off and I am way beyond the bloodshot look.

Although it has been ten years since we moved from 1300 Linn to 407 South Capital Street, I can remember the feeling of newness I felt when I walked into this particular room. A move from south of the railroad tracks to a place closer to town was a significant move for a family to make. Especially a Mexican family. My six sisters and two brothers each contributed something that added a special family flavor to the move. One bought a kitchenette, whole others pooled their resources to buy living room furniture. I can remember the first Christmas in this room. Hanging each icicle on the tree ever so carefully and anxiously listening for my name to be called during the gift exchange.   "Let's see...this one is for Vincent." And kept wishing for my name to be called out again and again. And the feeling of pride we shared when we bought our first television set. I had the best seat in the place. Right up front on the floor with my head propped up against the coffee table. Now, this room is only filled on Sundays when the family gets together. Their rooms have long since been rented out to college students. The opening and closing of the basement door broke the silence once again and the sound of my mother's voice startled me to my feet as she entered the living room.

     "Hijo, it is time to go. Were you sleeping up here? Oh. well, go back to sleep then. I have enough time to catch a bus." Her willingness to accept the cold winter morning air in exchange that I might catch an extra hour of sleep, quickened me to reach for my worn out trench coat tossed across the sofa. The remaining no-doze pills rattled in their box as i swung one arm into my coat sleeve and opened the door leading to the vestibule with the other. Feeling quite rejuvenated now with my badges of endurance. I responded to her office as i adjusted my black horn rim glasses.

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CHAPTER ONE, LENO AND MARIA TIME: 4:40 A.M. 1963 IOWA CITY IOWA. "Vincente, are you up there? It is time for you to take me to work. Are you in the living room? Answer me." My mother's voice broke the silence of the early morning as she climbed the stairs from the lower level bedrooms. No doubt she had noticed that I had not slept in my bed and no doubt I would get another lecture on the importance of eight hours of sleep. Being a student at the University of Iowa has certain badges of endurance one is expected to wear. Black horn rim glasses, a worn out trench coat, a ever ready box of no-doze, and slightly bloodshot eyes. Getting six hours of sleep is average during the day to day grind of class work but during final week is an entirely different matter. No respectable student even considers sleep. Mothers do not understand these badges of our trade and mine is no different. Actually, I could use a break from being this respectable for the no-doze has worn off and I am way beyond the bloodshot look. Although it has been ten years since we moved from 1300 Linn to 407 South Capital Street, I can remember the feeling of newness I felt when I walked into this particular room. A move from south of the railroad tracks to a place closer to town was a significant move for a family to make. Especially a Mexican family. My six sisters and two brothers each contributed something that added a special family flavor to the move. One bought a kitchenette, whole others pooled their resources to buy living room furniture. I can remember the first Christmas in this room. Hanging each icicle on the tree ever so carefully and anxiously listening for my name to be called during the gift exchange. "Let's see...this one is for Vincent." And kept wishing for my name to be called out again and again. And the feeling of pride we shared when we bought our first television set. I had the best seat in the place. Right up front on the floor with my head propped up against the coffee table. Now, this room is only filled on Sundays when the family gets together. Their rooms have long since been rented out to college students. The opening and closing of the basement door broke the silence once again and the sound of my mother's voice startled me to my feet as she entered the living room. "Hijo, it is time to go. Were you sleeping up here? Oh. well, go back to sleep then. I have enough time to catch a bus." Her willingness to accept the cold winter morning air in exchange that I might catch an extra hour of sleep, quickened me to reach for my worn out trench coat tossed across the sofa. The remaining no-doze pills rattled in their box as i swung one arm into my coat sleeve and opened the door leading to the vestibule with the other. Feeling quite rejuvenated now with my badges of endurance. I responded to her office as i adjusted my black horn rim glasses.