My Tio and Tia taught me everything I know. I had learned two more languages from my Tia. I learned how to speak English and French. My mother had taught me Spanish, my first language. My Tio taught me how to sail, hunt, and fight. He trained me to protect myself from the dangers of freedom. I was ready to search the ends of the Earth to find my father. All I had was a map, a compass, and stories about him, yet I was determined. I was to leave tonight, so no one in the village should see me. The night grew dark and the sun was setting. I packed my small sail boat with enough food to last me the journey to the new land and my books to entertain me. I walked back up to the cottage to say goodbye.
"Adios, Mama" (goodbye, mother), I said taking her hands in mine.
"Adios mi hermosa hija. Te quiero hasta la Luna y mas alla" (Goodbye my beautiful daughter. I love you to the moon and back)
"Encontrarlo." (Find him.)
She kissed my forehead and I held her hands tightly as she fell asleep. I turned to my aunt.
"It is a dangerous life there," she said to me, holding my face. "You must be careful. You have your fathers long sandy blonde hair but your mothers tan complexion. Men will be after you, Violeta. You must tread this water carefully." She turned and grabbed a cloak. It was a midnight blue color. She wrapped it around my shoulders and put the hood over my head.
I smiled at her and turned to my Tio.
"Look here," he says recalling the little English he knows. "There are more dangerous creatures than the beasts that lurk in the night. Do not be amazed by America's wonders. Remember your journey." He passed me a large sum of American dollars he had saved from his travels there many years ago.
"Now go, find him."
YOU ARE READING
The Light Across the Water
AdventureWe set our scene in the early 1900s. Violeta has been raised by her Spanish mother since the day she was born. Her father was taken captive after the war because of expressing his love to a Latina woman and everyday she has led an endless search to...
