Skeet/Loreto - 11-22-2003 at 03:30 PM
"Juan"
The Burro headed up the side of the Arroyo with small smooth steps carrying the likes of Juan of San Nicolas. Juan carried a bottle of Tequilla in
each hand ,his voice loudly proclaiming a song of Love.He went to celibrate the birth of his 13th Child.!
Around the low dark Cardboard/tin shack at the edge of the Sea Of Cortez sat a group of men listening to the mornful twang of a guiter played by
another Juan,the first son..The young man played well having learned from listening to the radio.
The Painful sounds of Childbirth came from the Shack.A large built women lay on the thin mattress showing scars of many years of Labor.Sweat shown on
her arms and face.She rasied slightly and smiled and said very softly "Rapido". The large boney Hands caught the the Baby boy with ease.Her eyes
lighted with an unbelievable Sparkle as she looked at her companions and Said"Another Juan!!
She took a large Machete from near the bed reached over and neatley severed the Cord of her thirteen Child. She got up walked to her small
pan,cleaning herself .She handed the newborn to a sister and moved back to the stove and started making Tortillas.
The music Louder,the Tiquilla flowed ,the talk ran smooth as the Original Juan told of his many Children living up to his reputation as a "Mexicano
Macho Man"
But Wait!!A group of three approached Juan ,guiding him out of the flickering light of the Fire.For several minutes of loud discussion as the light
started breaking over the Isla Delfonso.
Juan had been told that his welcome was no more ,that all these past years his neighbors had supported him and his family but that it was now time for
him to go to work of leave.
Juan came out of the shack with a small bag . He was given 2 bottles of Tiquilla and his Burro.He went up the Arroyo out
of sight with a bottle in each hand never to be seen or heard of since that nite.
Once a story was told that he had been seen in Commondu that he had 8 more children.No one knows for sure.
His first son Juan can be seen around Loreto, Well dressed good looking Cowboy who has worked for years taking care of his Mother and her 12 Children.
Skeet/Loreto