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Ensenada continued from previous page Lucas interviews Nabor, Delia and Marisol, as Luis, Kirk, and I sit behind them at the large table in the office. We have brought a copy of Marisol's acta, the equivalent of a birth certificate. She is named Yseña on the officially-stamped single sheet of paper, and Nabor explains to Luke that when Marisol was two, he went to register her birth in La Purisima, and the man taking the information told Nabor that he had already registered two girls named Marisol, and therefore her name would be Yseña. Several years later when Nabor went back to correct it, the man had died, and Nabor gave up hope. Luke explains the school's system of rewards and punishment. Children are given a weekly allowance in Rancho Pesos, an equivalent of Monopoly money. The colored bills of varying peso denominations can be used in the school's commissary to buy treats. At the same time, students who, for example, leave a coat in the comedor after a meal, must pay Rancho Pesos to get it back. This teaches both responsibility and the value of money. Twenty minutes into the interview, Luke looks over to Kirk and me and says "This child needs to stay here today," and we are stunned. "Every day she is not here is a day she is not getting an education and her time is being wasted." Getting up from his chair, he pages Robin, the ninera, and asks her to come to the office. While we wait, he continues. Marisol will need a physical and a letter from a physician, and asks if we are willing to get this done by tomorrow. Of course! The Higueras sit in silence, also obviously unprepared for this offer. Luke tells us he learned over lunch (while Kenny was giving us our tour) that one of the boys will be leaving in the morning unexpectedly, so there will be a space for her in the classes. The problem is the full girls' dorm. Robin enters, unprepared for what is to follow. Luke explains the situation to her, telling her Marisol should stay in his opinion, but he isn't the one who will have to deal will the sleeping logistics. Having said this, he defers the ultimate decision to Robin. She is visibly anguished by the situation and says she must go and pray about it before she can answer. She will return shortly, so we wait. Luke explains that if Marisol is accepted, there will be a 30-day probationary period during which she will be evaluated for permanency. Nabor is afraid she will run away. Speaking Spanish, Luke assuages Nabors anxiety: "Imagine you were born speaking only Russian, and your whole life no one could understand you. Then suddenly you are placed in a situation where everyone speaks only Russian. You would immediately feel at home. This is how Marisol feels now." With this explanation, the family understands. Robin reenters and after a brief discussion announces, "since ultimately it is He I must answer to, pointing to the sky, my answer is yes. I will sleep on the floor in the girl's dorm until we can have another bed made," and she quietly excuses herself. Wow. Everything is happening so fast. Nabor says Marisol doesn't have any clothes with her and they are unprepared. Can they come back in a month? Like a used-car salesman setting the hook for the deal, Lucas counters by saying the school has a "store" where children are fitted with all the clothes and shoes they will need. Marisol needs only their signed permission, and he hands them a pen. Without words, Nabor and Delia sign. Kirk and I are added as guardians with permission to remove and return her to school, and it is done. Almost. The school needs an emergency phone number and Nabor doesn't know the number at the caseta in La Purisima, but he promises to call the school as soon as he returns. Rising from the table, Lucas goes to the phone and calls a Dr. Gonzales in Ensenada and asks a favor: can he see a child this afternoon for a physical? Although the doctor is not available today, he will see her at 9:00 tomorrow morning. In Ensenada Friday evening, we take the Higueras to their last dinner with Marisol until summer. Everyone is happy and excited, especially Marisol. At Casamar over menu discussions, Nabor tells Luis here at the restaurant they probably serve their San Gregorio fish! Delia comments on what I hear over the live music as "caca de ranas." For the first time, Delia breaks her flat line demeanor and laughs until she almost falls off her chair. "Caca de ranas? No, no, no! Ancas de ranas," she repeats. Frog's legs. Do people really eat frog's legs? They are on the menu. Saturday, January 5, 2002 Saturday morning in Ensenada, Marisol has her first doctor's visit, her first blood-draw, and passes her first physical. After a second visit to McDonalds where they are all introduced to their first egg McMuffins, we return to the beautiful Valle de Guadalupe and Rancho Sordo Mudo. Marisol seems to understand the concept of an internado, a boarding school, and is anxious to return. She is swept up by a current of girls who are free this Saturday morning, cleaning the dorm and doing chores. Sitting on her new bed, she is surrounded by fifteen new friends, all signing questions. Although she doesn't entirely understand them, it is as though they speak the same language, but with a different accent. Lunch is announced and Marisol forms in her first orderly line, departing to the comedor. We stop them only briefly for a group picture. I notice that a younger, much smaller girl, takes charge of showing Marisol how lunch is served, cafeteria-style, table by table. When Marisol fails to get silverware or a napkin, this child gets them for her. Robin shows Marisol how to eat spaghetti with a fork against a spoon. Suddenly we have become superfluous, Nabor, Delia, Luis, Kirk and me - out of Marisol's thoughts. We decline their kind offer for lunch, and depart without notice towards the office where we run into Lucas. He leaves it up to us how to say good-bye. Kirk and I remain with Lucas outside the office, while Nabor, Delia and Luis return to the comedor. As we wait, a convoy of RV's and trucks, seven of them, arrive in a cloud of dust. As though part of an orchestrated ballet, men jump out, doors are opened, dollys are filled, and food by the cases is wheeled past. A human chain is formed and more food is passed arms to arms. It is most impressive. Lucas says food has arrived in this manner once a month, without fail, for 28 years! It comes from a missionary in Redlands, California. He excuses himself to go and see if there are oranges this month. His hopes are filled. Delia returns to us first, face frozen and stoic with tears streaming off her broad cheeks. Luis and Nabor follow in a few more minutes, silent. We retreat to the car and take the Higueras to the bus station in Ensenada, making sure they will return safely on the correct bus. And so it comes to pass. Marisol now has an opportunity, "Qué oportunidad," as Ann had said, to learn. We anxiously await the end of her 30-day probationary period. If she passes, she will remain at Rancho Sordo Mudo for the next seven years. Sí diós quiere! |
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