Dear Mama - Mexico to USA Migration

The Journal

13th September, 2012

I was not at all sure about what I was going to do. I had just crept out of our hut, and I was feeling as guilty as ever. I knew that Mama cannot cope with three other children without me, but we hardly have any money, and I needed to earn some for the family.

After all, I did not want to leave, but I had to.

That is what I wrote on my note to Mama, and it is so very true. If I think about it, I feel that if I hadn’t heard Mama crying that day, the idea of running away would never have crossed my mind.

I was at the beach where crossing the border is much easier than anywhere else, apparently. And as I got nearer, I caught a glimpse of the border. There were so many gaps, so large that about four people would be able to fit in at one time.

Before thinking, I took a deep breath.

Before thinking, I stooped.

Before thinking, I walked through a gap in the border.

And there I was… What a huge fuss over nothing! Mexico was exactly the same on the other side of the border. So all America was in that place was sand dunes and marshes. Not much to be

impressed by really. Well, maybe it would be different as I got closer to the urban area. This was probably one of the rural places.

It was dark when I had crossed the border, so I didn’t think anyone had seen me…

In a heartbeat, a siren shrieked. I dashed towards the nearest bush. Branches cracked. Birds screamed. A welter of sound to make the ears bleed…

And then it was gone.

“There she is!” someone yelled.

And then it started all over again. I felt my pupils dilate as a torch shone suddenly onto my face. I ran for my life. I leapt over fallen branches and hurdled over thorny bushes.

But still they chased me.

I threw stones whilst running.

But they still chased me.

I zigzagged around the area, to make it difficult for them.

But still they chased me.

When I finally thought that I was getting away from them, I realized that I was running back towards Mexico.

NO!! I didn’t want to go home! I wanted to find work!

In a heartbeat, I twisted back round. It was my only chance to go to America: while they were stopped and unready.

I sprinted as fast as I could, and I had done it!

I had crossed the border, and escaped from the men in the huge cars.

Then a truck thundered past me. Then it stopped… and reversed back to me.

“You is from the Mexico?” enquired the driver. I didn’t know what to say. What would he do if he knew I came illegally? Would he hand me to those horrible men in the big cars?

“You is from Mexico? You illegal immigrant? I take you to my farm. Pepper farm. You pick peppers. I pay you there with lot of money.”

When he saw that I was wary of him, he called a man called Abghidfogh.

Abghidfogh took me to the back of the truck, and what I saw next nearly made my eyes pop out.

In the back of the truck sat eleven Mexicans, all sitting, hidden beneath bags and sacks.

“Are these your workers?” I questioned. The people looked well fed and clean, despite the tired look in their eyes. What if I were to work like they did? I may be tired, but at least I’d have food and enough water to clean myself.

“Yes. These people, they work for me. I give them food, shelter and place to clean themselves.” said Abghidfogh, snapping me out of my thoughts.

How could I turn down such an offer?

“Will you come with us, and work on my farm? You will find others like you too, in the back of the truck. Try and make friends. They are like you. All were the same when I ask them to work with me at my farm, and Abghidfogh was the first to trust me. We have remained loyal ever since.”

And with that, I climbed unseen into the back of the man’s truck.

I do not know if the bad men with the big cars ever came to look for me up on that road…

The carriage from the truck gave a lurch, and I was drawn back to my senses. I was wide eyed with awe. Such huge buildings! Beautiful structures made of gold and glass towered above me like mountains. Huddles of people swarmed around the roads, walking in and out of shops. Such luxury they had! In Mexico we could never do that sort of things without getting stared at or being screamed at.

After that I kept drifting in and out of sleep, and each time I woke up to the same scene: swarms of people, tall buildings, and most of all, carefree citizens.

But once I saw something else: a “peaceful protest” saying to stop the immigrants from entering the country. One sign read: MINUTEMEN AGAINST MEXICANS. YOU ARE STEALING OUR JOBS!!

How were we stealing their jobs? I thought that people came to America to be free, and do what they wanted. All of these people had migrated from one place to another. I mean, it’s not like they were always there, since it was made. I had done my research, and I knew that the Indians were here first, and other people came to live in that place. So technically, everyone is an immigrant in one way or another.

Sooner, rather than later, we arrived at the pepper farm.

And it was absolutely beautiful! Red and green places, all lined up in rows.

A girl, Lakshmi was her name as I later found out, showed me how to pick the peppers out of their stems, and soon it turned into a friendly competition. I think that she let me win, this time. Because I saw her picking peppers like a rocket before we started talking.

Then as the day was over, we were dismissed to our shelters. I had my very own shelter, and it was bigger than the whole of our house in Mexico.

I am getting paid 38 dollars every day when I do a full day. Otherwise I will get 19 dollars, which is if I am ill. If I ever do get

ill, then the master’s wife will come and treat me with medicine and some extra food, to boost my energy and morale.

And guess what!

Last week, the master gave me a promotion, and now I get paid even more, and I have a bigger shelter.

I wish Mama was here. Then we could all live together, working on the pepper farm. There are lots of other people here, and they are just like us; they have all faced the same sort of predicaments that we have.

Tomorrow is another day, and I am ready for it!