Immigration

Chapter 1A (Work in Progress)

It was early morning March 17 when we started out. Three men, two women, a little nina and a baby, three horses, two cows, a donkey and a small wagon set out going north. We were on our way to America, or so I thought. I could barely see May ahead of me, her black coat blended in with the black of early morning so well. The sun had not risen, and there was no wind or breeze. On my back I carried two packs of water, one on my left side and one on my right. Bags of possessions also hung down on my sides, but they didn’t slosh around or bang on me if I sped up. May carried a man on her back, and beside her Dulce carried more water and a mother holding a small child. Dulce definitely had the hardest job of the three of us. Behind Dulce a small burro with no real name pulled an old wagon that carried a woman and little child. With them were piles of human food and more water. Of course, no Mexican caravan could leave their hometown without cows. Dos large meat cows were positioned in the very front of our caravan. The larger one was muy gordo and had many dots on its coat. The smaller one was all brown with one little white patch on its left side. Two men led the cows as we headed north, out of the town; away from home. As we walked on, a neighborhood dog began to bark at us. Hosea, the man riding May, yelled at it. He kicked May into a trot. She willingly picked up a trot, then a canter, and Hosea cantered her straight toward the dog. It ran back under the fence from whence it had come. May cantered easily, and I do not think she knew how long our viaje would be.

I had heard that the journey to America was rough. Many other caballos had told me about it. They said that they ran out of agua and had to turn back. The ones that made it had been quarantined and some-the ones that I heard from- had been sent back after their owners made it to The States. Apparently we would experience dust storms, lack of water, lack of food, and tough beatings. All of the horses that had made it and been sent back said that it was worth it, but I didn’t understand why. What is so great about los Estados Unidos?  Why were we going there? Did the water really taste sweet? Were horses really used in shows? All of these things turned through my head as a walked down the street. My water jugs beat my sides like the legs of un gordo hombre. Behind me, I heard the burro let out a loud, feo-sounding screech. I jumped to the side, and the water jugs hit me again. The senora in the small wagon yelled a curse at me in Spanish. I snorted, then got back in my place in the line.

May walked quickly in front of me. Her dark Azteca hindquarters shifted lightly from side to side as she walked. I could see her nose peeking around her rider’s leg. She looked as if she were trying to see me. Without thinking, I broke to a trot and trotted up next to her, then droped back to a walk. I listened to my hoofbeats while echoed for a second, then May started to say something. It took a moment for my ears to listen in on her, and by then I had completely missed what she said.

“What?” I said. I turned my head slightly to add more emphasis.

“I said, ‘Where do you think we’re going?’ ” May seemed annoyed.

“Triste. We’re going to America.”

“Ooooh. Of course! That’s why we packed up so much. Nobody told me!”

“Yeah. America. We’re actually going!”

“That’s amazing. I never thought I’d get out of that town.” She said. I snorted, then stopped walking until May got ahead enough that I could resume my place in line. I continued walking, wondering what this viaje would hold.

This went on for about an hour, until we got out of town. When we were far enough that we wouldn’t be seen we stopped. The Hosea dismounted and walked back to me. He pat my neck with his rough mano, then began unbuckling one of my water jugs. He loosened the strap on my left water jug and took it off. I stepped forward, wanting a drink, but realized that I was terribly uneven. The water jug on my right side was pulling me right, but my musculos held me in place. Hosea opened the jug and poured some water into a bucket. I dropped my head down and took a drink. The warm agua was not refreshing, nor did it quench my thirst. When I pulled my head out of the bucket I saw May staring at me. She dropped her beautiful dark bay head into the bucket and I heard her mumble the words “por fin”, or, finally. She sighed. May also seemed disappointed that the water was warm. I looked up at Dulce. She was seemingly playing with the baby that Hosea’s wife was holding. Dulce blew into its face and it began to cry. She turned and looked at me as if to say, why is it crying? I raised up my head and shook out my mane. May brought her head back up and nuzzled my cheek with her muzzle. I relaxed; at least she knew how I felt.

A minute later we were back on the move. Hosea took Antonio’s place leading the cow and Antonio rode May. Antonio was a small man, and his legs barely reached the stirrups on May’s saddle. He wore a big sombrero with little strings hanging off all around the sides. May seemed more relaxed now and she invited Dulce to walk next to her. Dulce was a palomino overo mare. She was almost a pony, but just over the qualifying height of 14.2hh. She had large eyes and seemed nice, but I had never met her before. She always stayed at the far corner of the pasture where I was afraid to go because of the calle. May, on the other hand, had foaled just after Dulce was born, and May’s filly had played with Dulce up until this morning when we left. I suddenly felt a spark of homesickness, but I forced myself not to look back. I focused in May’s hindquarters and thought about what America might be like.

For many kilometers we continued on a little dirt calle. Finally we stopped again, but just for a brief momento so Hosea could switch the saddle Dulce was wearing to me. Hosea let the woman and baby climb to the ground before practically ripping the saddle off of Dulce. He took my water jugs off and put them in the wagon, then slammed the saddle down on my back. When he tightened the cinch I held my breath. He tightened it as tight as it would go, then began petting me. I liked his gentle touch even though his hands were rough. I relaxed and let out my breath, but he grabbed the cinch and tightened it! I stepped sideways and kicked out. Hosea yelled at me and hit me one the rump. I jumped away, but he grabbed my mane before I could get away. The gruff man swung himself up and slammed onto my back, but I didn’t let him get my head. I began galloping away from the caravan. I had my head and I stretched out my neck. My mane blew wildly in the wind I was creating. I galloped and bucked, trying to get Hosea off of me. After seis bucks Hosea finally lost his balance and fell off. I was free! I began galloping faster, but a wave of sorrow passed through me and I knew I had to volver. I wheeled around and trotted back to Hosea.

Hosea was standing up and he came after me in an angry manner. I stopped about cinco meters away from him and stood still. The man walked right up to me and grabbed my bridle. He led me back to May.

“Thought you were libre, did you?” May asked.

“Si. I guess not, though.”

“Where would you go, anyway.”

“I’d have come back anyway.” I said. I turned up my nose and trotted back to my place in line. Hosea mounted up and made me arch my neck so he had full control. I let him have it, but I felt like I couldn’t do anything. If I started to go to one side Hosea would yank one rein or the other and I’d have to listen. I began to speed up so I could trot up to May, but Hosea pulled hard on the reins. It hurt my mouth and I was forced to slow down. I had to submit to Hosea’s control and endure misery.

After about three more hours we finally stopped. The sol was setting in the west and it cast a gentle glow on the dirt. When Hosea dismounted I could finally relax my neck. I stretched my head down to the ground and looked for some brush to eat. The dirt was warm from the sun shining on it all day, but there were no little plants to eat. I pulled my head back up to see where May was. She was about three meters away from me and her saddle had been taken off. I raised my head up and whinnied to her. May gave a shrill whinny in return and walked over to me. Her man was tangled up and her forelock was pushed way over to the side. I put my nose next to hers and waited. I could feel May’s soft breath on my muzzle and I closed my eyes and put my stay apparatus into use so I could relax my muscles while standing up. I dozed off into a light sleep.

Glossary (in order of appearance)

Nina- a little girl

Dulce- sweet

Burro- donkey

Dos- two

Muy- very

Gordo- fat

Viaje- journey

Agua- water

Los Estados Unidos- the United States

Hombre- man

Feo- ugly

Senora- woman

Triste- sorry

Mano- hand

Musculos- Muscles

Por fin- finally

Sombrero- hat

Calle- street or road

Momento- moment

Seis- six

Volver- return

Cinco- five

Libre- free

Si- yes

Sol- sun

Hola- hi or hello