By Jerry Davis
Juan goes North - again
Yes, Juan forgot the lesson of his last attempt to go North.
He said that he had been so frightened by the experience that we would never again leave home.
But his old boss in Texas continued to call, to tease him to return to the ranch, arranged for a smuggler, sent money and Juan succumbed to temptation once again.
As his wife explained, “He is stubborn.’’
I was tempted to say, “He is foolish.,’ but didn’t.
The good old days are over. Aurelio who worked on our first house 20 years ago crossed several times with no problems.
He would take the bus to the border in the spring, when the rains had filled the creeks and brooks of South Texas with drinking water and when the way was lit by a full moon.
He and his brothers and friends would hire a taxi to drive them to a secluded spot on the river and cross under cover of darkness.
Then they would walk through the night, sleeping hidden under trees and brush in the daytime.
In three days, or better to say three nights, they were in Austin and always
found jobs the following day.
Today drug cartels control the taxis that will not take passengers to the river unless they are with their coyote. (Smuggler).
Coyotes patrol the river’s banks and threaten those who try to cross without paying.
Lack of money is not a problem if the person is willing to carry drugs when he crosses.
Juan didn’t want to cross because he could see Federal agents patrolling the Texas shore, but the coyote drove him into the water with threats and by waving his ...