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

Page 26

expected that she stay one week which will be fulfilled. Three weeks will be enough time for me to make the arrangements."

"I guess it is decided then." Zeferino concluded as he patted Leno on the shoulder. "Do not worry about Maria and Elena. They will be well cared for here. Oh, I hear the women coming... is it that late already? Maria must be ready to leave. Maria is it time for you to go?"

"Yes, papa, the time seems to pass so quickly." Maria replied as she stood on the porch next to her mother with Elena in her arms. "Are you ready to go, Leno? Well, goodby mama, papa. Say goodby, Elena." With the child in Maria's arms, the two slowly walk off down the road leaving Zeferino and Jesusa standing on their porch. 

"It seems like yesterday that I watched you walk down that very road, Zeferino." Jesusa reflected. "That terrible day when the soldiers came for you. I have that same feeling now as I did then. Like I was losing something and I had no power to stop it, Is Leno going to the States? Will he take our Maria with him?" Jesusa slowly turned to her husband for her answer. 

"Yes, Jesusa, he has decided to go in three weeks with Antonio. Our Maria has married a very brave man. I doubt very much if he knows the full extent of the hardships he will have to face." Zeferino responded without taking his eyes off of them as their fingers became smaller and smaller. 

"Maria and Elena will come back to stay here while he is away. No, Jesusa, your fears are ill founded. Your daughter has a piece of her mother within her. She is a survivor. Remember when I wondered what all that fighting and killing served that I had to endure? Perhaps, this is my answer. If things work out, Maria will be going to a new and better way of life. We should be happy for Leno and Maria."

Jesusa sadly nodded her head in agreement as they now could barely make out their two travelers in the distance. Suddenly, they faded into the scenery of Botija. 

"Did you have a good visit with my father? Maria asked as they continued their thirty minute walk back to her in-law's home. "Did you get a chance to talk about going to the States?"

" Yes, Maria, Zeferino and I did talk about going to the States." Leno answered quietly. "You and I agreed that I could talk to him about the trip. He thinks it is a good idea. Do you think it would be all right for me to go in three weeks? See, Antonio is going then and it would be better if I had someone else to go with me. You have not changed your mind about the trip have you, Maria?" Maria stopped at the sound of hearing the reality of this trip. She shifted Elena from her right to her left shoulder and patted her back gently.

"Wait, Leno, did you say in three weeks !  And you are going with Antonio? What about me and Elena? Are we not going with you?"

Leno stopped and turned around to face Maria. 

26.

Saving...

expected that she stay one week which will be fulfilled. Three weeks will be enough time for me to make the arrangements." "I guess it is decided then." Zeferino concluded as he patted Leno on the shoulder. "Do not worry about Maria and Elena. They will be well cared for here. Oh, I hear the women coming... is it that late already? Maria must be ready to leave. Maria is it time for you to go?" "Yes, papa, the time seems to pass so quickly." Maria replied as she stood on the porch next to her mother with Elena in her arms. "Are you ready to go, Leno? Well, goodby mama, papa. Say goodby, Elena." With the child in Maria's arms, the two slowly walk off down the road leaving Zeferino and Jesusa standing on their porch. "It seems like yesterday that I watched you walk down that very road, Zeferino." Jesusa reflected. "That terrible day when the soldiers came for you. I have that same feeling now as I did then. Like I was losing something and I had no power to stop it, Is Leno going to the States? Will he take our Maria with him?" Jesusa slowly turned to her husband for her answer. "Yes, Jesusa, he has decided to go in three weeks with Antonio. Our Maria has married a very brave man. I doubt very much if he knows the full extent of the hardships he will have to face." Zeferino responded without taking his eyes off of them as their fingers became smaller and smaller. "Maria and Elena will come back to stay here while he is away. No, Jesusa, your fears are ill founded. Your daughter has a piece of her mother within her. She is a survivor. Remember when I wondered what all that fighting and killing served that I had to endure? Perhaps, this is my answer. If things work out, Maria will be going to a new and better way of life. We should be happy for Leno and Maria." Jesusa sadly nodded her head in agreement as they now could barely make out their two travelers in the distance. Suddenly, they faded into the scenery of Botija. "Did you have a good visit with my father? Maria asked as they continued their thirty minute walk back to her in-law's home. "Did you get a chance to talk about going to the States?" " Yes, Maria, Zeferino and I did talk about going to the States." Leno answered quietly. "You and I agreed that I could talk to him about the trip. He thinks it is a good idea. Do you think it would be all right for me to go in three weeks? See, Antonio is going then and it would be better if I had someone else to go with me. You have not changed your mind about the trip have you, Maria?" Maria stopped at the sound of hearing the reality of this trip. She shifted Elena from her right to her left shoulder and patted her back gently. "Wait, Leno, did you say in three weeks ! And you are going with Antonio? What about me and Elena? Are we not going with you?" Leno stopped and turned around to face Maria. 26.