IT WAS A SLOW BUSINESS DAY, UNUSUAL FOR A PLACE LIKE THE CUBAN CAFÉ IN BAYTOWN, TX. SERVING FROM DELICIOUS TRADITIONAL CUBAN SANDWICHES, TO THE CLASSIC “ROPA VIEJA” PLATE.
I TOOK A SEAT AT MY USUAL CHAIR CLOSE TO THE ESPRESSO MACHINE. A PLACE OF COMFORT FOR ME TO ENJOY A CAFÉ CORTADO WITH A YUMMY CUBAN SANDWICH WITH EXTRA PICKLES. OH YEA, CAN’T FORGET THE BREAD TOASTED ON BOTH SIDES.
A NEW FACE APPROACHED ME BY THE NAME OF CARMEN. SHE POLITELY ASKED, “QUE TE PIDO NIÑO?” SHE SAID,MEANING, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE CHILD? QUICKLY NOTICING HER HEAVY ACCENT, I ASKED IF SHE WAS FROM CUBA.
“YES I AM! , BORN AND RAISED”. CARMEN RESPONDED. I WAS TAKEN BACK BY THE PRESENCE SHE HAD IN HER VOICE WHEN SHE SPOKE. I CONTINUED TO ASK HER IF SHE COULD PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT CUBA, AND HOW I WANTED TO VISIT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE SPOKE ABOUT HER CHILDHOOD MEMORIES IN HAVANA, DESCRIBING THE WONDERS OF CUBA IN CONTRAST TO THE GOVERNMENT THAT DICTATES.
WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT THAT I WOULD LEAVE THAT DAY WITH A HEAVY HEART.
I CONTINUED TO INVADE HER SPACE BY ASKING HER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DELICIOUS FOOD SHE PREPARES FOR THE CUSTOMERS, FOLLOWED BY A GESTURE OF APPRECIATION FOR MAKING MY DAY A LITTLE BETTER EVERY TIME I WENT IN THERE.
SHE SHARED INTIMATE MEMORIES ABOUT HER FAMILY BACK HOME AND OUR BLITHE CONVERSATION QUICKLY CHANGED, AND PROPOSED A DIFFERENT TONE IN HER SOFT VOICE.
ILEGAL-IMMIGRATION IS A COMMON THING WITHIN THE STATES, AND SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM FOR A BETTER LIFE IS WORTH EVERYTHING FOR SOME PEOPLE.
SHE DREW A MAP FOR ME AND EXPLAINED THE EXPEDITION FROM HAVANA, CUBA TO MIAMI. GIVING ME A SYNOPSIS ON THE ROUTE SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE TO AVOID DEATH WITHIN THE DEADLY WINDS AND WEATHER FORMATION FROM THE AREA.
CARMEN BEGAN HER VOYAGE TO AMERICA, SEEKING A BETTER LIFE AFTER BEING INFORMED OF HER FIRST HUSBAND'S DISAPPEARANCE AT SEA.
“I COULD SEE THE LIGHTS FROM THE AMERICAN COAST EVERY TIME WE RODE THE SWELL OF THE WAVE BEFORE IT CAME CRASHING DOWN.” CARMEN SAID. AS SHE HELD HER 2 CHILDREN WITHIN THE PROTECTION OF HER ARMS. “I JUST WANTED THEM TO MAKE IT HOME SAFE, EVEN IF IT TOOK MY LIFE TO SAVE THEM”.
TO THEIR DISMAY, CARMEN AND HER CHILDREN WERE PICKED UP BY A RUSSIAN VESSEL ONLY A FEW NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE AMERICAS. TAKING HER AND HER CHILDREN BACK TO CUBA. AS I SAW THIS WOMAN GO BACK IN TIME TO A PLACE SHE LEFT IN CUBA, ALL I COULD SEE IS HER NOSTALGIC STARE.
TIME WENT ON AND HEALED HER WOUNDS, AND CARMEN'S FATE WOULD ONCE AGAIN BE SHOOK.
CARMEN WAS EVENTUALLY EXILED FROM CUBA AND ALMOST KILLED AFTER PROTESTING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IN REVERENCE OF HER FIRST BORN CHILD, AT THE AGE OF 14, HER SON WAS KILLED BY A LOW RANKING GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN A DRUNK-DRIVING INCIDENT. BECAUSE OF INJUSTICE IN THE SYSTEM, THIS DROVE A HURT MOTHER TO FIGHT FOR ONLY RIGHT SHE WAS NEVER GIVEN.
LITTLE DID CARMEN KNOW, THE MORNING OF MOTHERS-DAY WOULD BE THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HER SON.
LITTLE DID SHE KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT TO ME.
LITTLE DID I KNOW IT WOULD REMIND ME TO ENJOY THE LIFE GOD HAS ME.
-GRACIAS CARMEN.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND READING TODAY.
S.M
