EL PASAJERO

That afternoon while looking out of the window of “El Pasajero” staring into the green mountainous scenery she gives a nervous chuckle. It’s been many decades now since she and her husband last took this particular route on this bus known simply by it’s Spanish nickname, “The Traveler.” Really it’s a chuckle of reflection and disbelief because the last time they rode it together was over thirty years ago, it was going the opposite way and they were a young newlywed couple on their way to “el norte” seeking that better life. But, now their kids are all out of the house, either married or gainfully employed responsible adults. She can’t believe that after so many decades they’re about to go on a vacation back to the motherland provided by their children as an anniversary gift. “you worry too much” he tells her jokingly as he notices that she’s lost in thought while staring at the mountains. Not missing a step she quickly replies, “you don’t worry enough” he nods his head and chuckles too. They’re on their way back to their hometown where throughout the many years in the states they dreamt, chipped away and finally managed to save up enough earnings to build a nice two floor house out in the pueblo for when the Tio’s time came to retire. It was no easy task and the project itself had it’s typical setbacks, this isn’t that final retirement trip however, this particular one is to give the property the final once over and oversee the final stages, selecting floor tiles, furnishing, and of course local taxes. They’re about half way into their trip as they pull into the next town, the bus driver tells the passengers that he’ll be refueling and they’ll be taking a 15 minute break. They ask each other if they need to step out if even for just a stretch, they’re both okay. As passengers exit and enter they suddenly hear a voice coming from outside, “tio!” “tia” they realize that they’re talking to them and as Tio takes a closer look he realizes that he knows that face, the spitting image of his sister. It’s one of his nephews, “Emmanuel!” he says in a stunned tone. It’s sure enough his nephew now in his late twenties, it didn’t take him but five seconds to recognize his face even though the last time he saw Emmanuel he was no more than ten. He tells them to get off the bus and grab their belongings. Emma as he’s known has been waiting with his brother at that towns bus terminal for about an hour. “As soon as our mom told us you called saying you were on your way to the pueblo we got into our car and decided to come pick you up” they exit the bus and when the driver returns from the restroom they ask for their belongings, Emmanuel quickly picks up their luggage “hay Emma, you don’t have to do that” Tia tells him slightly embarrassed “you’ve been traveling all day and I’m sure you’re tired, it’s no problem”is his reply. A fairly well maintained older model four door Volkswagen drives up and out comes Emma’s older brother Uriel, “Uri!” tio says “como estas hijo, no se hubieran molestado” Uri hugs Tio and Tia and tells them that its no problem, he says, “we were arriving from another pueblo’s fiesta when our mom told us that you called saying you were getting on ‘El Pasajero’ on your way to town so we decided to surprise you here at midpoint and get you home quicker while the sun is still out. “You boys staying out of trouble at the fiestas?” tia asks to which Uriel replies, “no more than usual Tia, how are the cousins doing out en el norte?” Tio says, “working hard and even making us grandparents in the process” he says laughingly, “when are they coming out to visit?” if we can finalize a few more things at the house it’ll be sooner than you think” Tio is in awe of the paved road that now leads to his native pueblo, he tells his nephews about how back when he was younger than they are now it would have taken a better part of the day getting to and from the main city out to the country. He reiterates to his nephews that they didn’t have to go out of their way to pick them up, that they were only three or four hours from their destination which given what he was used to years back was a fairly quick ride. Uriel said, “now that path has been paved we’ll be having an early dinner in an hour if not less. He tells Tio and Tia that since their going at a faster speed than “El Pasajero” and not making anymore stops, they’d have them enjoying fresh mountain air that up to that point was merely a fond memory in no time. Tio tells them how appreciative he is that they’ve been occasionally keeping an eye on their work in progress, Emma tells him, “the pictures we’ve sent you here and there don’t do the property real justice, when you see it in person you’re going to be amazed!” “yeah Tio” adds Uri, “it’s been a pleasure looking over the property we can’t wait till the primos come check it out and stay there, they’re not going to want to leave the sierra, watch.” “I’m sure they wont want to mijo” tia replies. Although its been decades since they were last in that soil, they still remember the different towns leading up to theirs, they point them out and in their minds the reality of reaching a lifelong dream begins to sink in. The nephews quickly look in the mirrors and notice that Tio and Tia have both gone quiet while looking out the car window, the paved road ascends and they’re at the same altitude as the clouds. Tio is finally comfortable enough to lower his window and catch his first breathe of fresh country air, he does so only because he notices the slight mist building up as they get closer to town. “Hay muchachos” he says happily “the air smells just the way I remember it as a child when I was growing up with your other aunts and uncles” Uri replies with “yeah my brother and I prefer hopping from pueblo to pueblo out here for their fiestas than to go out to the city, the air is to polluted for us out there” As Uri makes a final winding turn along the road Tia points out a town marker that reads “Santa Maria Yalina” to which Tio looks at it with eyes wide open. As the nephews drive past it Tio asks them “it’s been so many years but if I’m not mistaken the pueblo coming up after Yalina is Zoogocho isn’t it?” Uri stretches his arm out and points off at the distance with his left hand, “it’s coming up Tio, that right there is Solaga off in the distance and Zoogocho is directly across from it” to which tio jokingly tells him, “I remember that much much boys” “es que ya esta viejo tu tio” tia adds with a smile, they all laugh. The sun has begun setting and there is a slight breeze but tio and tia don’t mind because it’s been several years since they last felt in that fresh air, “mire Tio, it’s getting dark and you would’ve still been an hour or two away” Emma says and points straight ahead. There’s still enough light in the day that they can easily make out the words in the coming town marker, “San Baltazar Yatzachi el Bajo” the pueblo where Tio was born. The nephews tell them, “we’ll help you tomorrow with any chores you have pending but as for tonight we’ll have a good meal with some warm coffee, mom made a fresh batch of bread just for you, we’ll have a few slices while you catch up with her” Tio and Tia both smiled with relief, they’ve arrived. THE END.