Into America -- Part 1

Recently, I was asked to write some stories for English teaching curriculum. These are the stories I came up with -- just put here for those who are interested. The vocabulary is a little simpler than usual because of the intended audience. There are thirteen parts to the story.

The sun was very hot. José and Roberto lay in the shade of a mesquite tree watching the people walking back and forth in the country train station across the dirt road from them. The rails for the train ran only a few feet away. A long whistle called across the desert that the train was coming. José stood up and picked up his ragged backpack from the sand. “Come. It’s almost here.”

Roberto didn’t answer. He was asleep; his head on his arm. José kicked him, “Roberto, wake up. The train is almost here.”

Roberto yawned and rubbed his eyes. “Do we get on now?”

José shook his head, “No. We wait until it is leaves the station.”

Roberto sat up and felt around for his bag. He found it and tied the strap around his shoulders so it would not fall off when he ran. “What station is this?”

“El Ojito. It is not much farther to Juárez now, and then! Oh, Roberto, think of it! We will be almost in the North, in America!” José said.

The train whistled again and started slowly from the station. It picked up speed and went faster and faster. “Go!” José yelled and ran to the side of the tracks, Roberto right behind him. Reaching out his hand, José grabbed a handle on the side of the train and pulled himself onto it. Roberto ran along the side. His left hand was holding on to his necklace under his shirt. José reached to him. “Take my hand! Quick!”

Roberto reached up and José grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the train. “Next stop, Juárez.” José said with a smile. Roberto nodded, breathing hard from his run. José reached over and unwrapped Roberto’s fingers from the necklace. It was a small wooden cross. “It was Mama’s, you know.” José said, touching it lightly.

Roberto nodded.

“You don’t remember her, Roberto, but I do.” José said.

Roberto nodded again. “But, when I wear the necklace I think she has her arms around me. She keeps me safe.”

José laughed shortly, “You’ll need it for all this jumping on and off moving trains.”