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

Page 13

The children were now in the kitchen and quickly stepped aside to avoid being run over by the neighbor. As they turned to face their mother, the look of despair confirmed that the rumors in the streets were true. The Revolution was now as real to them as it was to the chanters they had passed only that morning on the corner. Maria now knew what a leva meant. 

"Yes, it is true, Your father has been taken from us." Jesusa calmly informed them. "But only for a short time. We are going to the Capital to pay for his release. In the meantime, your father's mother, Pamposa, will care for you until I can arrange for my mother, Refugio to come and take you to live with her."

There was not much the children could do but go to their temporary home. A few weeks had passed since their mother set out for the Capital and their days were filled with doubt, fear, and loneliness. Pamposa had little sympathy for their situation and as little patience for if they did not finish their chores, immediate discipline would follow. Any concern for their skills beyond the kitchen or the fields was nonexistent. One day, Maria asked if soon they would be able to return to school. 

"There is no reason for you to worry yourself about school, Maria." Pamposa replied. "Cooking and cleaning is enough for you. Besides, you have no chance of being a president. are you planning on being the president, Maria? Next week, Refugio will be here after being four days on the road. When she takes you and Otilio with her to the rancho Pegaro, there will be enough work to keep you both busy. Until then, do not bother me with your foolishness."

The following week, Refugio arrived as scheduled. She had news from her daughter in the Capital. Little progress had been made in arranging for her husband's release. Her return would not be soon. As Pamposa had promised, there was plenty of work to be done at Pegaro and maria did not take to the change so easily. the Zuniga's three older daughters, Valen, Sirilia, and Valtazar were not much company for her as they were gone most of the day. Therefore, most of the chores were assigned to her and Otilio. 

"Otilio, I am most unhappy here with Abuela Zuniga." Maria complained. "We have to do most of the work while her girls wonder off and we cannot leave the yard unless someone is with us. It is as if we are prisoners here. If I run away one more time, abuela promised she would tell mama. Oh, Otilio, when will mama come back for us? Why is she taking so long?"

With time, the entire Zuniga family accepted her and Otilio into their hearts. Days that were passed in lonliness and boredom were now lived with companionship and excitement. In the evenings, she and her aunts and a cousin would walk to the plaza where they would visit with other villagers and play their games. During these visits, it was difficult for Maria to control her discomfort as the pebbles forced themselves under the worn our soles of her shoes. 

One day, her cousin decided to surprise
Maria and enlisted her aunts to help. Everyone had finished their chores and were anxious to join the others in the plaza. 

13.

Saving...

The children were now in the kitchen and quickly stepped aside to avoid being run over by the neighbor. As they turned to face their mother, the look of despair confirmed that the rumors in the streets were true. The Revolution was now as real to them as it was to the chanters they had passed only that morning on the corner. Maria now knew what a leva meant. "Yes, it is true, Your father has been taken from us." Jesusa calmly informed them. "But only for a short time. We are going to the Capital to pay for his release. In the meantime, your father's mother, Pamposa, will care for you until I can arrange for my mother, Refugio to come and take you to live with her." There was not much the children could do but go to their temporary home. A few weeks had passed since their mother set out for the Capital and their days were filled with doubt, fear, and loneliness. Pamposa had little sympathy for their situation and as little patience for if they did not finish their chores, immediate discipline would follow. Any concern for their skills beyond the kitchen or the fields was nonexistent. One day, Maria asked if soon they would be able to return to school. "There is no reason for you to worry yourself about school, Maria." Pamposa replied. "Cooking and cleaning is enough for you. Besides, you have no chance of being a president. are you planning on being the president, Maria? Next week, Refugio will be here after being four days on the road. When she takes you and Otilio with her to the rancho Pegaro, there will be enough work to keep you both busy. Until then, do not bother me with your foolishness." The following week, Refugio arrived as scheduled. She had news from her daughter in the Capital. Little progress had been made in arranging for her husband's release. Her return would not be soon. As Pamposa had promised, there was plenty of work to be done at Pegaro and maria did not take to the change so easily. the Zuniga's three older daughters, Valen, Sirilia, and Valtazar were not much company for her as they were gone most of the day. Therefore, most of the chores were assigned to her and Otilio. "Otilio, I am most unhappy here with Abuela Zuniga." Maria complained. "We have to do most of the work while her girls wonder off and we cannot leave the yard unless someone is with us. It is as if we are prisoners here. If I run away one more time, abuela promised she would tell mama. Oh, Otilio, when will mama come back for us? Why is she taking so long?" With time, the entire Zuniga family accepted her and Otilio into their hearts. Days that were passed in lonliness and boredom were now lived with companionship and excitement. In the evenings, she and her aunts and a cousin would walk to the plaza where they would visit with other villagers and play their games. During these visits, it was difficult for Maria to control her discomfort as the pebbles forced themselves under the worn our soles of her shoes. One day, her cousin decided to surprise Maria and enlisted her aunts to help. Everyone had finished their chores and were anxious to join the others in the plaza. 13.