Esperanza Rising

Written by Liora Afilalo

I read the book “Esperanza Rising,” by Pam Munoz Ryan, for my 6th grade Language Arts class and loved it so much I wanted to write an epilogue for it. I sent it to the author, who wrote back that she enjoyed it and likes to hear from her readers.

LAS UVAS

G R A P E S 

    It’s grapes again, and everyone was getting ready for tomorrow, exactly 3 years after Papa's death. Mama had gained most of her strength back and Abuelita wasn’t as frail. Mama says that in a few months, we will have saved up enough money to buy a home. 

    “Esperanza, can you tell me more stories about your life in Aguascalientes?” Isabel begged, her big eyes pleading. It had become a part of Esperanza’s day to tell Isabel stories of her life back in Aguascalientes. 

    “Alright Isabel.” Esperanza sat down on her mattress and signaled for Isabel to do the same.

    “Back in Aguascalientes right before Papa died…” Esperanza launched into the story of Papa telling her about the ground and its heartbeat. Esperanza felt tears come to her eyes and thought about that moment, one of her final moments with Papa. She would have given anything to be back with Papa. At the end of the story Isabel gently said: 

    “I’m sorry,” and gave Esperanza a hug. Esperanza hugged Isabel back, tears running down her face.

     “Esperanza, I named the doll Sixto like your father!” Esperanza couldn’t help but feel gratitude and love towards Isabel, who was like the younger sister she never had.

     “Thank you Isabel, it means a lot.” Esperanza said. Her old life seemed like a dream, too fuzzy and hazy to remember, only remembering bits and pieces. 

    “Esperanza, come help me chop the vegetables!” Hortensia exclaimed. With Papa’s anniversary of his death coming up, Mama and Hortensia have been cooking a ton. They’ve been making Enchiladas, Calavera, Polenta Cakes, Mezcal-Marinated Fajitas, (one of Esperanzas favorites) Chickpea and Chorizo Tostadas, Churros and much more. 

    “Coming. What do you need help with?” Asked Esperanza. She remembered her ungratefulness with the doll on the train ride that day.

    “Hortensia?”

    “Hm?” Says Hortensia while stirring the Gazpacho, (cold soup with mainly vegetables.)

    “Do you think it’s possible to bring me to a train station out of the camp later today?” Esperanza knew that what she was asking would be very hard, but she had to do it. 

    “Maybe if we finish cooking early. Why?” Hortensia responds. 

    “Just because,” Esperanza didn’t  want to reveal much more until she was there. 

    “Hola Mi Reina!” Said Miguel. Isabel giggled and Esperanza blushed. 

    “Hola Miguel.” Esperanza replied while chopping more vegetables for the Gazpacho. 

    Mama came into the kitchen and started cooking more food.

    After three more exhausting hours of cooking, Esperanza finally settled down and started crocheting. After that blanket she had made, Esperanza had started crocheting more and more items. Right now she was working on a little hat for Irene's daughter. It was pink and yellow and Esperanza made sure the stitches were very neat and tight. 

    Isabel was in the corner playing with the doll, and Esperanza went to the corner and got her Valise. She had saved a lot of money orders, not as much as before but enough. Those money orders were what she would give to the people in the train station. After her greediness on the train ride here, Esperanza was ashamed and desperately wanted to give back. 

    “Hortensia, can we please go to the train station now?” Pleaded Esperanza. 

    Hortensia saw her pleading eyes and said: “Fine, but we have to make it quick, I still have to sweep the cabin.”

    Esperanza got the money orders from her Valise and went to go get Hortensia. 

    The train station took an hour to get there by foot and by the time they were there, it was almost dark. 

    Almost immediately, Esperanza saw a beggar; a thin and frail dirty woman, with her two children.

    “Here.” Esperanza said, handing them 3 money orders. “Buy you and your children food.” Esperanza felt her heart swell for that family. She felt very good doing that.

    “God Bless you.” Said the woman, reaching her thin hand out. “I can buy a lot of food with this. Muchas gracias.”  Esperanza remembered Miguel’s words about how the rich give to the rich and the poor give to the ones who are even poorer. 

    Esperanza walked a little farther and saw a family with three kids, and a baby. She had six money orders left and gave four of them to the family coming off the train. 

    “Here.” Esperanza said. “Take these and buy food for your family.”

    To Esperanzas surprise, the father shook his head gently.

    “Nosotros no podemos tomar esto. We can’t take this. Too generous.” 

    “Please take it, I want to give it to you.” Esperanza responded, but it was too late, the family had already left and disappeared into the sea of people.

    Today was three years after Papa's death. Esperanza could already smell the delicious food cooking. The guests were to come over in two hours. Esperanza got ready in her best dress. It was a light blue that went up to her knees with lace on the sleeves. She went to the kitchen to help Mama. 

    Irene and Melina came an hour and a half later. Marta and her mom came right after. Slowly, a trickle of people came in. 

    They didn’t have enough room at the tables so people sat all around. Hortenisa served the appetizers and then there was the main course and speeches. 

    Esperanza took lots of Mezcal-Marinated Fajitas, enchiladas and a lot more. Now came the speeches. Mama spoke first. 

    “Sixto,” Mama starts. “He was a buen hombre, a good man. He would always play with Esperanza and make sure she was safe.” Mama launches into a story of when he and Esperanza went to the store, and Esperanza had snuck something without paying. Papa had made her return it, gave them money and then saw her upset. He bought that same thing, got her ice cream, and called her Mi Reina for the rest of the day, doing whatever she said.

    Mama was holding back tears and Esperanza cried. Next Esperanza spoke. She knew exactly what story she was telling.

    “I was lying on the ground with Papa…” Esperanza told the story of her with papa lying on the ground. The same one she told Isabel. At the end of all the speeches, (Miguel spoke about how well papa treated them and Hortensia also spoke) Esperanza’s eyes were dry from crying. She was full from the delicious meal. That night, as Esperanza was lying in bed, she knew it was silly, but she talked to Papa.
Papa, I know you don’t actually hear me but I just wanted to say I love you. I miss you so much and my life isn’t the same without you. I know that if you were here you would be proud of me. I love you.