TRAITORS

by Gerardo Robledo

  There was no reproach whatsoever from Grandma Andrea. Seeing him brought a smile on her face, accompanied by tears. Pablo kissed her and took her suffering, but gentle hands and caressed her for a moment. The scene had left him speechless. The old woman was connected to several machines that controlled oxygen and monitored her heartbeat. She also had an I.V. that administered medications, which had hurt her wrinkled hands to the point that she had bruises everywhere. The never-ending “beep-beep” of the machines made the moment more chilling.

  The doctor suddenly entered the room.

  “You must be her grandson Pablo!” said the doctor. “Your grandmother can’t stop talking about you. She said you’re a hero who has fought for a good cause, and every day she kept asking if you were here.”

  “Yes, Doctor,” said Pablo. “I want to apologize for not being able to be here sooner, but circumstances didn’t allow me. What can you tell me about my grandmother?

  “We have had difficult days,” said the doctor, “and I think your presence will be the best medicine. But I regret to say that diabetes can only be controlled by insulin, and apparently her heart is not pumping blood properly, either. We will receive the results of the analysis tomorrow. So for the time being, you all should rest. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. You can stay, but avoid emotional situations to avoid worrying her.”

  Pablo called his sister to tell her that he had arrived and decided to rest beside their grandmother and that there would be time to talk the following day.

  There was a buzz in the Civil Hospital of Guadalajara the next day. The hospital was located in the downtown area. It was dedicated to providing medical services at low cost, and in some cases, free. It had great quality doctors and state-of-the-art medical technology. It was subsidized by the state government and several recent college graduates volunteered there. It allows patients from within or outside the state, even outside the country, to receive medical care.

  Pablo woke up a little sore from the uncomfortable night on the chair, along with several nights of insufficient sleep. A few minutes later, his sister Maria arrived. She would routinely visit her grandmother before going to school, just a few blocks away from the hospital.

  “How was your night?” asked Maria. “It was needless to ask because that chair couldn’t possibly let anyone have a comfortable sleep. Those awful dark circles beneath your eyes said a thousand words.”

  “Well, it was hard,” Pablo said letting out a big yawn. “And you, my little sister? How is everything up to now? As for me here, I keep waiting for the doctor to show up since he told me that he was waiting for the latest results. So far, only the nurse had stopped by twice, but only to check the machines and the medicines. The nurse told me that the doctor would arrive around ten o’clock.”

  “Look, Pablo,” Maria said, “according to her doctor, Grandma’s health is deteriorating day by day. He said that she suffers from heart failure and from now on, we must have an oxygen tank at home to help her breathe.”

  “The doctor also said she had let herself be taken by her illness as if not interested in recovering. I think what affected her most was the fact that you guys are so far away. She asks for you and Luis every day, and I found her several times alone crying for you both. She said she is very afraid of not seeing you again, and although Uncle Antonio would occasionally visit, she would say that her concern is you two. To add to that, Luis has not called for almost a month! I really don’t know what to do. I’m desperate! I’ve already missed many classes at school and I don’t even know if I’ll pass this semester. My grades are very low and they have already called it to my attention several times.”

  “You don’t know how much I regret this whole situation. One can be lost in time not realizing how much harm we have caused until it is too late. I feel a great sense of guilt to see our grandmother this way, and I think I should have convinced her to go with us to the United States but I never did enough to make her budge and now the damage is done. For now I’ll stay for a couple of weeks, or until she recovers and see if she agrees to go with us,” Pablo said and told her about Luis and everything that had happened with his case.

  In the days that followed, Grandma Andrea somewhat recovered with Pablo’s presence and care, as he was engaged tending to her day and night. However the doctor confirmed, with the results of her recent tests, that she had heart problems and she ought to exercise extreme care since the next relapse could be fatal. The doctor also added that they ought to avoid strong emotional situations such as giving her bad news. Although she still needed oxygen and was still weak she could finally be discharged; per the approval of Pablo and Maria.

  Back in Los Angeles, the struggle had just begun. Zina, along with her mother, had developed a plan to talk to her father since they were one hundred percent sure that he would react extremely upset. They had the hope that after a few days, he would change his mind and decide to help in the case. And so they decided to wait for the weekend to talk to him as he would be on his day off and thus be more relaxed. They knew that, as a city councilor, he was always under stress.

  On Saturday morning the typical family ritual took place as normal. They had breakfast together and talked, as usual, about the activities of the week. Zina’s younger brother chatted with conceit that he is going to graduate high school with honors. Just like his sister, he was very dedicated to school. He had even participated in state interscholastic contests and had won first place. Zina listened quietly and was deep in thought. She had been fighting for Luis’ case for four weeks. That weekend had been the saddest for her because they had moved Luis to federal prison. When her brother finished his story, she only congratulated him with a very dull smile. His father, meanwhile, gave them great news. He quietly planned a family trip to visit his brother in Texas. Almost three years had passed since they had visited and he was very excited because he was his older brother and was very fond of him.

  “Zina and I have a very delicate matter that we would like to share,” finally said the mom, “but perhaps it would be best if she tells you about it.”

  “Of course,” said Zina. “Look, Dad, the thing is… Luis had an accident about a month ago for which he was not at fault, but a passenger of the other car was injured and was hospitalized. Luis was in jail until the child left the hospital. There were no charges filed by the other party but as Luis was driving without a license, he was presumed guilty until the case was investigated thoroughly and until they knew what ultimately happened to the injured kid.”

  Her father puckered his brows, as if trying to understand what she was saying.

  “And how come Luis did not have a license? Isn’t it a bit irresponsible?” asked her father. “I know that his parents don’t live here, but as an adult, he does not need consent to obtain a license. Well, go on… tell me what happened next,” he said, a little bit bothered.

  Zina continued, “Well the injured passenger was released from the hospital and Luis was cleared of the charges but he now faces a major problem. As it turned out, the police found a fake social security card in his vehicle. That resulted in further investigation that brought to light that Luis does not have legal papers.”

  Mr. Lee jumped up like a spring and furiously hit the table with his fist.

  “I cannot believe all this. Tell me this is a joke! How could you be dating an illegal immigrant? What were you thinking? Did you not know how that can ruin my reputation and ultimately cause me to lose my job? I demand that you immediately distance yourself from this boy! My paternal instincts told me that something wasn’t right with that fraud and now, it turns out he’s a criminal. I don’t want to know more about it!” raged the angry father.

  “Please calm down!” said the mother. “Being undocumented does not mean that he is a criminal. You cannot tell the heart what to do and I think our duty as parents is to help our children follow their own paths and not poin
t them to where we want them to go. At least listen to the rest of the problem and tell us if you can help or not!”

  Mr. Lee sat down and dropped his head into his hands. He could not believe his ears, and although he knew his position would not change, he remained silent for a few seconds and then asked, “And why are you telling me all this? What do you expect me to do? I don’t think I can do anything, not for you or him.”

  Zina had to draw strength from deep within her and continued, “On the final day of his trial, the judge cleared him from all charges pertaining to the accident. Though the judge dismissed the case, he ordered Luis’ transfer to federal prison where another judge would decide whether to pursue charges for the use of fake documents and the issue of deportation. His family hired a lawyer for his defense since they had already started his legalization procedures. The attorney needs a few people who know Luis to testify in his favor at the next hearing. They will serve as witnesses for the claim that he has been an outstanding citizen who deserves to stay in this country. The judge only gave us thirty days to provide witnesses and we believe that your presence could be of great impact before the court as you know Luis really well and you are well-recognized in society. We already have some other people who will help us but we must have at least three to win the case. Believe me, Dad, I’m very worried, please don’t turn your back on me now.” Zina was on the verge of tears when she finished.

  Jack stood up again and started pacing. He was angry about the situation but did not want to give an answer that would hurt his relationship with his daughter. Deep inside, he understood the problem and what it meant to be an immigrant but at the same time, he did not want to ruin his hard earned political reputation. He knew he had a great future ahead but he also didn’t want to disappoint his princess. He knew that one comment, out of place, could drive her away from him… perhaps forever.

  “Let me see what I can do first. I’ll talk to his lawyer and ask for a copy of the files to see what steps are to be taken; but beforehand, let me clarify that I will not show up in court and testify for him because I don’t want to risk my career over someone who we are not even sure you will spend the rest of your life with! Please, dear… ,” continued the man, “think about this: he may not be the one for you. His future is uncertain. Let’s say we managed to get him out of trouble, but who knows if he’ll keep out of trouble for the rest of his life. That’s not the future I want for you. Let me think it over and let me analyze all the details then we’ll talk and see what I can do.

  Zina wanted to continue the discussion to explain more about the case but her mother intervened and said:

  “You are right. Investigate things further and we’ll talk later.” She signaled to Zina to end the conversation and wait until she could talk to him and convince him.

  Mr. Lee left the house still upset about the whole situation. In search of peace of mind, he went to a nearby park to think things out. Back in the house, Zina sat crying next to her mother.

  “I’ll talk to him tonight,” said Zina’s mom. “I know that after thinking about the problem, he will decide to help us out and perhaps even pull some strings to get Luis out of jail. I don’t think you can change his mind about appearing in court, but it’s probably not necessary. What I don’t want to say is that you married him to accelerate the legalization process because that would get us in big trouble.”

  “Well, by now nothing matters to me anymore,” Zina said with tears in her eyes. “You know how great our love is, Mom. What would he do if he finds out? I know that he would forbid me from doing a lot of things and would even try to get me out of school. But all that matters to me right now is Luis. Either way, if he has to find out at some point and if he doesn’t support me, I think it’s time to start my own life.”

  Zina prepared for her first visit after the hearing and left for Lancaster to update Luis with details on the case. This time, they talked only through a telephone and could only see each other through a glass wall. They did not talk much. They were still confused by everything that happened. Luis asked if she had any news about his grandmother which was what worried him the most. She simply, and without much emotion, told him that she had spoken to her father but it was not clear whether he would help or not. She told him that it bothered her father to learn about his legal status and the crime he had committed. They sadly parted and with nothing clear in their lives.

  After leaving the prison, Zina visited a friend, which she would occasionally visit during difficult times. She told her the situation and her friend gave her some ideas that might help including talking with the pastor of her church seeking support for Luis. She suggested that Zina try doing so with great discretion. They talked for a long time without noticing how late it was until Zina had to go home.

  Upon arriving home, everything was quiet. Her parents and brother were already in their rooms. She only wished them a pleasant night and retired to bed.

  “You already know that those are problems we should not get ourselves involved with!” said the father. “Today, immigration issues are under very complex debates and I, as a public figure, cannot take sides. Taking one wrong step could ruin everything.”

  “Yes, I understand… ,” said the mom. “But it is not a public matter. It’s just a matter of finding some legal help and perhaps more information. You can’t just refuse without thoroughly investigating first. Above all, do it for your daughter. You know how devastating it would be for her if for some reason this guy should be deported. I think she might do something crazy. Jack, if it is within our reach to help, please let’s do it.”

  “Very well,” he said. Let’s wait to get a little more information next week. For now, I don’t want this issue spoken about any further in this house. Spare me from the displeasure.”

  In Search of Help

  The family had also mobilized. Aunt Lupita went to the parish of Santa Rosa to find Father Carlos Gonzalez, the church’s pastor. She had known him for over ten years and had worked with him in group preparations for weddings. The priest immediately received her and listened to her story. The priest knew Luis quite well because he was an active member of the youth group, plus he was also a volunteer in preparing youngsters for confirmation. He knew for certain of Luis’s social conscience.

  “There is no doubt that Luis is a very good young man,” said the priest, “but such crimes are very serious before the law, even more so nowadays. There are so many racial conflicts. He should be more careful with those documents. The only thing I can do is submit a reference letter to establish his good behavior and his relationship with the parish, but before I can commit to present myself during the trial in his support, I must first discuss it with my superiors. The Catholic Church has already been involved in many conflicts over pedophile priests that we simply cannot afford to involve ourselves in more troubles. I’m not saying I won’t, but I will need authorization from my superiors to do so. I think we have enough time to get that authorization. For now, you can count on the letter that I will issue as soon as possible. You should speak to Mr. Daniel Mireles. He and Luis were volunteers at the American Red Cross and as far as I know, they participated in several events together. I think he can help some more.”

  With nothing left to do at the parish, Aunt Lupita began her search for Mr. Mireles to get the support she needed.

  She wasn’t able to find him until that weekend. She saw him by the exit on his way out after the 12 o’clock mass. She immediately approached him and began talking to him. Without much preamble, Mr. Mireles invited them over to his house to talk. Once there, Aunt Lupita explained the problem at length and talked about how Father Carlos referred her to him.

  “Indeed,” said Mr. Mireles, “we have worked on several missions together. I think my presence will not have much weight during his hearing. However, the one commissioned by the local Red Cross, Mr. Carl Rolmes, might be perfect for this. He was working
with us on the catastrophe of 2005 in Grand Prairie, a Dallas suburb. On that occasion, we organized a caravan and provided support to residents for almost ten days especially when the river overflowed and flooded the streets. We were there throughout the whole course of helping the victims in refuge shelters. We helped residents clean their houses and streets. That was an unforgettable occasion which I’m sure Mr. Rolmes will remember, Luis’s effort was outstanding. Not only was he the youngest volunteer, but it seemed that he had a lot of experience. We’ve also been to many other places. Count on my support, and I will speak with Mr. Rolmes. I’m certain that he will not refuse to help us.”

  The following morning, Zina and Norberto met as they had agreed to go to their old school and try to talk with the Principal, Rebecca Johnson. At her office they were warmly welcomed as they were greatly admired and fondly remembered by the school staff.

  The Principal received them in her office and they discussed the issue regarding Luis. The appreciation that Luis had gained was not only for being an outstanding student, but also for being an active member of the student council, in charge of civil activities. Aided by his charisma and hard work, Luis won the confidence of the entire student council and the faculty members.

  To start with, the Principal offered to issue a letter of reference in Luis’ favor and allowed the two to enter the school premises and seek more support from both students and teachers. However, she made it that her presence during the next hearing would be limited because of many factors that governed her position.

  They waited a long time to meet with the new President of the student council, Jonathan Cruz. Upon finally meeting him, he immediately offered his unconditional support. He said that he would ask all his friends to help seek support in any way they could to help Luis. He also committed to speaking with the teachers and convincing them to back Luis.

  Norberto and Zina left the school happy with what they had accomplished so far. They entrusted the rallying of students and teachers to Jonathan.