Pietro and Valencia Part three

     Pietro agonized all day as he practiced his music, did his few household chores, and talked quietly to a few people about contacting the coyote.  He was nervous.  He had heard the horror stories; people who paid the man to get them across the border into the U.S., but never reached their goal.  He knew of people who were found dead, he had attended funerals and seen the pain on the faces of the families left behind.
     Pietros mind was set.  If he wanted a life better than he had growing up he would have to do more than play his pan flute at the local restaurants.  He would need to go to the U.S. and make money, real money.  Only  then would he be able to go to Valencia's Father and have a chance that he would not turn Pietro away.  Yes, his mind was set, but that did not mean he wasn't scared.  Not only of the coyote, and the journey, but of what Valencia would say.  What if she would not wait for him?  She was a beautiful and very desirable girl, other men would try to woo her into their arms.  Would she be able to resist?  Peitro decided that he would see the coyote first and find out how much it would cost him to get to the U.S.  He knew if would be a lot.  He had some savings, but he would have to work very hard to get the rest of the money.  He would have find more work.  He knew it would be difficult, jobs were scarce, but Pietro had a good reputation for being a hard worker, he would find employment somewhere.  It would mean seeing much less of Valencia and he would be unable to spend his days writing songs and practicing his music.  Sacrifices he would make for a better future.
     Pietro went back to his casa.  He counted the money he had hidden away under a board in the floor.  It was a little over seven hundred dollars.  Money he had planned on using to get a better place to live once he and Valencia were husband and wife.   He realized that had been a dream.  Without money, real money, his dream of a life with Valencia was just that; a dream.
     Pietro sat on his bed thinking of Valencia.  When he shut his eyes, he could feel the softness of her skin.  The smell of her hair, and how it felt to touch the tender spot just behind her ear with his lips.  He wished she was here now.  She had never been to his casa, she said it was to dangerous, too many people could see her and tell her Father.  Besides, she said, her going to Pietros home would make her feel like one of the bad girls with the bad reputations, the ones the men smiled at then laughed at behind their backs.  No, she was a good girl.  Well, maybe not pure like her Father thought, but better than most of the girls in the village.  Besides, Pietro knew Valencia loved him.
     Pietro did not take any money with him to the meeting with the coyote.  He tried hard to bolster his courage to face the man who could change his future.  He did not want the man to see his fear, it would make him seem weak and the coyote might try to take advantage of Pietro's fear and his youth.  Once again, Pietro shut his eyes.  This time he did not think of Valencia, he pictured himself as a strong young man, confident and sure of his actions.  He breathed deeply until he felt a calmness come over him.  Now he felt ready for the meeting.  He entered the small cafe where he had been told that he could find the coyote.  The cafe was small and dark.  Pietro had to wait to let his eyes adjust to the lack of light.  When they did, Pietro saw the man sitting at a table.  The man looked at Pietro like he was a piece of meat.  Pietro guessed that was probably close to the truth.  Pietro took another deep breath and sat down at the table across from the man.  He wished that he knew the man, knew whether he could really do what he promised; to get people safely into the U.S.. Pietro could only have faith.  "My name is Pietro."  He said.  "I want to go to the United States and find work.  I need to earn a lot of money.  I have heard you can help me."

Click to go to part four.