Page 23 - Fiction Rough draft--The Great Elopement_La Gran Fuga, setting rural PR, early 1940’s_Float

“I think I will need help. My father will not be happy. But I want to see my mami and sisters. I

need them to bring me my favorite dress. Today will be a very important day. To do this I will

need your help, Cheito I need you to run to my parents’ house without papa seeing you.”

Now Cheito began to get nervous. He had a feeling she would be asking help from him, more
than he would want to do.. And he wasn’t sure he was up to the task. He knew he had to be a

grown up to stay at Petrona’s and help his mom. But , he felt now he was being asked to do

much more than what his courage would allow.

At Don Manuel’s

Over at Don Manuel’s house it wasn’t much quieter. Dona Rosa and her 2 daughters were

alarmed when they didn’t see Delma at home. Don Manuel had left by horse to look around

town and see if anyone knew anything. He went to Palmarejo, where his family lived, and find

out. Dona Rosa was crying-Girls, do you know anything? Delmitas sisters were very quiet. If

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they knew anything, they weren’t talking today.

Don Manuel had a feeling about this. He had seen Cundo coming around to say hello to

Delmita. Once , Dona Rosa and Don Manuel had argued about this. He had told his wife “:You

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need to keep a close eye on that girl! You know she is promised to Julio in San Juan now that

she is of age. He is an old family friend. He went to look for work and soon will come back. He

can get her out of this town and find good work. Lots of damas, ladies, need seamstress help

over there.:”

As he galloped on his horse and looked at the countryside,which had deep ravines, palm trees

and plantain trees all in​“​Not an easy blessing ,intertwined in the hills, he breathed and said “

The Good Lord has blessed me with 3 daughters. ​ he thought.

Dona Rosa and her daughters looked around Delmitas things. Nothing was missing except her

cartera, ​small purse, that she took out when she visited the plaza after Mass.. It was when the

town seemed to gather and rest from their hard labor, dress in their finest, and get updated on

the latest news. “ I saw her walking with Cundo last night,” said Mercedes, one of the sisters.

But we were all together. Later when I got home, I thought she was with you, Ana​.” They all

looked at each other . Dona Rosa started to cry again.

The Quest