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

Page 39

"Ay, Dios, what am I to do with you?" Maria sighed. "Get into the wagon and don't ever wander off again. You understand ?" As the wagon headed back to work, Maria dryed Elena's tears and with an arm around each of them quietly scolded herself for being so careless. 

As the months went by, the seeds planted by Leno and Maria had long sense germinated into acres of sugar-beet plants. Correspondingly, the seed of life that they started in Botija, Mexico had also taken hold and flourished within the body of Maria. Her days in the field became more and more strenuous with the weight of what will be their first American born. 

A team of horses slowly walk the rows of sugar-beet plants dragging a large iron plow. Large clumps of black dirt remain as they trod on guided by Mr. Martin's brother stumbling behind with long leather reins in each hand. It is harvest time. A few feet behind, Leno and Maria break up the clumps of dirt in order to remove the sugar-beet from it. Triming the greenery and the rootlets, they toss it into their nearby baskets and move on to the next clump. Once the bushels filled, they carry them back to a central pile and return to refill their bushels. Aware of his wife's condition, Leno carries both his bushel and hers back to be emptied. By working twice as fast, he is able to fill his bushel and help with Maria's in order to keep up with their daily quota. Such was thee pace that Leno kept for the remainder of the harvest. 

"Do you think we have made the right decision in coming here, Leno?" Maria asked despondently. "Look around... are we any better off here than we were in Botija? I miss my father and my family. I am about to give birth in such a place as this and what do we do if there are problems? Oh, I should have stayed home, Leno."

"Yes, I know what you are saying, Maria." Leno answered. "I have seen how hard you have worked in the field beside me. I am very fortunate to have such a wife. You care for the children. You take care of me. You work in the hot son all day. All this you do without the comforts that many take for granted. Your father told me this would not be easy to do. But, Maria, this is our first home here in a foreign place. Did you expect more? You are tired and the baby is due soon. No wonder you are depressed.

But,,., yes, Maria, we are doing the right thing. Many years from now, we will look back and we will take comfort in what we have accomplished. I know little of what they teach in books. You know that, Maria. I always think that here, our children will have an opportunity to go beyond what we have. They will be extensions of ourselves. To see Elena write her own name. To hear Maria Guadalupe read a book. The things that we have gone through; that we will go through is such a little price to pay. try and get some sleep, Maria. 

After our child is born, we will have to move on again. Our contact here with Mr. Martin is almost over. The only thing left for us to do is to return to Houston to see if they are hiring out again. First, try and get some sleep."

Maria got up from her chair and gently put her hand on Leno's arm. 

39.

Saving...

"Ay, Dios, what am I to do with you?" Maria sighed. "Get into the wagon and don't ever wander off again. You understand ?" As the wagon headed back to work, Maria dryed Elena's tears and with an arm around each of them quietly scolded herself for being so careless. As the months went by, the seeds planted by Leno and Maria had long sense germinated into acres of sugar-beet plants. Correspondingly, the seed of life that they started in Botija, Mexico had also taken hold and flourished within the body of Maria. Her days in the field became more and more strenuous with the weight of what will be their first American born. A team of horses slowly walk the rows of sugar-beet plants dragging a large iron plow. Large clumps of black dirt remain as they trod on guided by Mr. Martin's brother stumbling behind with long leather reins in each hand. It is harvest time. A few feet behind, Leno and Maria break up the clumps of dirt in order to remove the sugar-beet from it. Triming the greenery and the rootlets, they toss it into their nearby baskets and move on to the next clump. Once the bushels filled, they carry them back to a central pile and return to refill their bushels. Aware of his wife's condition, Leno carries both his bushel and hers back to be emptied. By working twice as fast, he is able to fill his bushel and help with Maria's in order to keep up with their daily quota. Such was thee pace that Leno kept for the remainder of the harvest. "Do you think we have made the right decision in coming here, Leno?" Maria asked despondently. "Look around... are we any better off here than we were in Botija? I miss my father and my family. I am about to give birth in such a place as this and what do we do if there are problems? Oh, I should have stayed home, Leno." "Yes, I know what you are saying, Maria." Leno answered. "I have seen how hard you have worked in the field beside me. I am very fortunate to have such a wife. You care for the children. You take care of me. You work in the hot son all day. All this you do without the comforts that many take for granted. Your father told me this would not be easy to do. But, Maria, this is our first home here in a foreign place. Did you expect more? You are tired and the baby is due soon. No wonder you are depressed. But,,., yes, Maria, we are doing the right thing. Many years from now, we will look back and we will take comfort in what we have accomplished. I know little of what they teach in books. You know that, Maria. I always think that here, our children will have an opportunity to go beyond what we have. They will be extensions of ourselves. To see Elena write her own name. To hear Maria Guadalupe read a book. The things that we have gone through; that we will go through is such a little price to pay. try and get some sleep, Maria. After our child is born, we will have to move on again. Our contact here with Mr. Martin is almost over. The only thing left for us to do is to return to Houston to see if they are hiring out again. First, try and get some sleep." Maria got up from her chair and gently put her hand on Leno's arm. 39.