Page 24 - Fiction Rough draft--The Great Elopement_La Gran Fuga, setting rural PR, early 1940’s_Float
P. 24
Cheito thought to himself,--here I go!. Abuela Petrona always says I am too “listo” for my own
good. Too wise for my own good, But one has to develop good instincts for survival around
here sometimes. It’s part of being a man.
Once when she was in one of her MOODS, Cheito had accidentally broken Petrona’s
cherished vase- “From Espana, it was my mothers!!!” and Petrona chased him with a broom.
But he was fast. Petrona never caught him. He was the fastest kid in town. He outran her and
hid . By the time he got back home she was too tired and he didn’t get punished. He always
felt kind of proud about that.
But,now, at this moment, Delmita had convinced him.She had asked for his help to get some
things at her parents’, that she was sure would help her and Cundo. He had been given an
important task. She had lifted him over the window and he jumped to the back yard.
First things first-he visited la letrina (the outhouse). There he saw a chicken that had wandered
away from el gallinero, the hen house. “. Avanza, sal de ahi, gallina”!He whispered anxiously at
the chicken to get out. He did not need her noisy clucking to alert attention.
His stomach still rumbling, and wishing he had breakfast, ,Cheito jumped down towards el
barranco, the deep ravine that was his favorite hiding spot. There he went to think, splash in the
creek, and get away from the busy loud household. He knew he had to get to Delmitas house
soon. And avoid Don Manuel at all costs.
Why she thought this would work, he did not know. All he knew is Delmita depended on him .
That’s what she said. Soon he made his way through what seemed like endless weeds,
plantain trees, un flamboyan, and wild cruz de malta shrubs intertwined . He wished he had a
machete like the grown up farmers. But he was persistent and listo, like Petrona had said. He
was feeling pretty confident until he saw ….HIM. That big, solid , mass of muscle. The pride of
his neighbor's cattle. El toro Negrete. Negrete, the bull
Now was time to use his wits. El Toro was distracted, chewing grass and standing quietly. Any
noise and this could all change.
At first it seemed Negrete didn’t hear him. HE seemed to be content striding around. But then
several cows got closer . Negrete’s demeanor changed. Cheito looked at the massive animal.
He was probably three times bigger than him. He had twice his legs . Trying to race away would
not give him much of an advantage. Then he thought about the Toreros of Spain. He had seen
some pictures in a book. They used a red cloth to distract the bull. He didn’t have a red cloth,
but he did have a hat , sombrero, that may work. He threw the hat broadside, horizontal to the
bull. Then he bolted to the fence and climbed over. The bull had been tricked.
Cheito knew he had used his wits at the nick of time. Being “listo”, smart, like his grandmother
said, had its benefits.
