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Learning a new trade
Sweet fifteen Chapter 14. Grandfather Jairo’s funeral The tropical rain fell relentlessly, and I felt scared and miserable, listening to my teeth chattering, wet and cold. Once it was dark, we hiked our way through fields in a roundabout way to avoid enemy patrols. After three nights we eventually made it…
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Sweet fifteen
Sweet fifteen Chapter 14. Grandfather Jairo’s funeral My name is Francisca Diaz. I was born in León, Nicaragua. It has been said that I was born during troubled times, by people who didn’t know what they were talking about. “When you climb aboard the boat, sit in the back,…
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A nice guy
A nice guy Chapter 14. Grandfather Jairo’s funeral The pond San Lucas del Pulque, Estado de México, Mexico “Then you’re family!” he expressed as he gave a big hug. “Let me tell you, honey, that for us, Jairo’s family, through and through! Even more so, Jairo’s like if he had been born…
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A perfect night
A perfect night Chapter 14. Grandfather Jairo’s funeral One night before leaving Nicaragua, while still waiting for the nightfall, the fishermen, and the few troops scattered on the beach, agreed it was the perfect night for transporting personnel: made-to-order and couldn’t-have-been-better; or so they said. Sure enough, the rain was a constant downpour, with…
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Welcome to El Salvador
Welcome to El Salvador Chapter 14. Grandfather Jairo’s funeral By the time we had finished landing and securing our positions on that solitary beach, it was four AM. We still had an hour and a half wait before daybreak, under the unceasing downpour. The lot of us huddled together, beneath…
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Arrival at the Salvadorean coast
Arrival at the Salvadorean coast Chapter 14. Grandfather Jairo’s funeral I arrived in Salvadorean lands by sea, sheltered by the absolute darkest of nights. The tide had reached its highest point, and the breakers washed all the beach under them, submerging it entirely. Because of that fact, it was senseless…
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The Legendary Captain Magic and his Exploding Cigar
The Legendary Captain Magic and his Exploding Cigar Chapter 13. About how cigars and how they explode As time went by, his fame became legendary. Due to his extraordinary ability to dodge bullets, and ultimately, death itself, Grandfather was christened as The Wizard. Among the troops, his feats and prowess were embellished…
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Finding the courage and the strength
Finding the courage and the strength Chapter 13. About how cigars and how they explode Grandfather stared quietly at me, lost in thought. His face had this most distant and sad expression as he silently gazed upon me. Today, as an adult, and many, so many years and life experiences after, I…
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Fifteen years old soldiers
Fifteen years old soldiers Chapter 13. About how cigars and how they explode By the way, what’s a diatribe?” “It’s like the priest’s sermon when you go to church, but the other way around!” And with that last reply, we both started to laugh. However, there was no lack of…
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The legendary sargeant Oliverio Perez
The legendary sargeant Oliverio Perez Chapter 13. About how cigars and how they explode “Grandfather, I heard you on the radio! I enjoyed that long conversation, while you were flying in the plane. For a while, it reminded me of the priest and his sermons when we go to church, but the…
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