This story is under construction. Please be patient if a storyline takes you to a dead-end. More episodes are coming soon. This is a multi-path adventure and if you are a new reader, you’re coming in the middle of the story(ies). These are best read by starting from The Beginning.
Juan woke up in a bad mood. Maria was just coming off her shift, preparing his breakfast before heading for bed. He was cross with her.
“Please don't get so grumpy,” she pleaded. "You'll find a new job soon."
Juan bit into a tortilla, but it tasted like paper. She was right, and he knew it. He'd been miserable to be around since he lost his job at the metal fab plant. Still, he wasn't the kind of guy to apologize, so he tried to change the subject, "They drove the economy off a cliff," he said. "I don't know… maybe it's like Tio Pablo says. Just look at how Kamala Harris took over for Joe Biden. Maybe these elections are all just a big game."
I'm afraid I won't find a job, Juan thought. Maybe it's too late now. Trump might not even be able to fix this mess.
Maria looked sad.
“What?” Juan turned in his chair, “Did I say something wrong?”
“It’s nothing,” Maria replied, turning back to her cooking.
But Juan could tell something was bothering her. “No. Tell me. What’s the matter?”
Maria remained silent for a long time. She stirred the contents of her frying pan furiously, something she did when Juan was in trouble. “You made me come here all those years ago,” she said. I miss my mother. I miss cooking together.”
Juan’s eyes widened, and his mouth hung open. He had no idea what she was talking about. But decades of marriage had taught him to hold still and keep silent when Maria started talking like this. He knew she’d tell him what he’d done wrong this time.
“I don’t want America to be just like every other country!” She turned and stomped her foot as she met Juan’s dumbfounded gaze. With one hand on her hip, she slid the pan off the heat and then pointed an accusing finger, “You told me America was more than just a place to make money! You said America was a dream, an idea. Now, you tell me it’s just like every other country? Then why are we even here?”
Oh, now I understand. Juan’s chin lifted in silent recognition of Maria’s argument, and he decided to set her straight about a few things. “Look,” he didn’t try to soothe her with his words. He’d never been very good at that. “You know I need to make money. Everybody’s counting on me. You, Sofia, and even Carlos, everybody needs me to make money.”
“That’s all your citizenship means to you?”
Juan was stung by the rebuke. “I still believe in America,” he said unconvincingly. He furrowed his brow, “Why does everyone make such a big deal about the elections? Are they really that important?”
“Don’t you think America is any different than home?” Maria challenged him.
Juan crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. He was getting angry again. Against his better judgment, he escalated the conflict anyway, “You remember what it was like in Mexico back then?” He could tell by the way she dropped her baleful stare that he’d scored a point with that comment. She remembered. “We didn’t have any kind of future there.”
Maria bit her lip.
“You want that for here, too?” he waved his hands around the room. “I've got some money set aside. We’re OK for a little while. But pretty soon, if I don't find another job, we're gonna have nothing again. Nothing!”
“So, it is all about the money,” Maria was down, but she wasn’t out.
"What if it is?" he shouted. I've worked hard all my life. Why? Why work when those pinche cabrons spend all our tax money and drive all the companies out of business?"
Maria started to cry. She always cried when Juan raised his voice.
He stood and tried to embrace her, but Maria turned away. “I won’t talk to you about the elections anymore,” she sniffed. “I don’t want to upset you."
“How can I vote?” Juan thought about his experiences with Latinos por la Liberdad. “Somebody stole my ballot already.”
I just need to worry about getting a job, Juan thought. Nothing else matters.
What’s Got Juan Worried Most?
Choose Option 1: The Run on the Banks
Choose Option 2: Commercial Real Estate Crash