Juan was quiet for a long time. When he was at home, he had a role to play. He was the head of the house, the decision-maker. Back in Mexico, family was everything. When Isabell first came to the United States, Juan supported her until she got on her feet. Isabell was one of the few people on earth Juan could confide in.
"All my life, all I've ever done was work," Juan looked down at his gnarled hands. He absently picked at one of the many callouses. "Now, I feel like I'm losing everything. It's getting bad."
Isabella came around and placed a reassuring hand on Juan's shoulder. "Yeah, sometimes I feel that way too." She always spoke from her heart. "But it's not true. You've got to keep things in perspective. We've got to practice gratitude for all we've been given."
Juan looked up. Isabella held his gaze, silently asking if he understood what she was saying. Juan nodded and then looked back down, returning his gaze to study the long history of labor etched on his palms.
“Let’s get some music going!” Isabella tried to change the somber mood. “Look, hermano,” she said over her shoulder as she walked towards the speaker. “We’ve been through a lot worse times than this. It’s gonna be OK.”
"Ay!" Juan cried as the first strains of "El Carretero" began to crackle from the speaker. Translated as "The Carter," the lively song tells the tale of a cheerful wagoneer who passes through town, singing a heartfelt tune.
“See what I mean?” Isabella chimed in. “A lot of people are trying new things now. We don't have to be trapped in the past. Who knows what marvels tomorrow will bring?”
Juan grinned and popped the can. “You’re right,” Isabella was always able to cheer him up. “Maybe I shouldn't be so worried about change.”
"To Juan Torres!" Isabella raised her teacup in a mock toast. "America's newest progressive democrat!"
Juan knew his sister was teasing him, but he didn’t mind. “You might be surprised, but I’ve been thinking a lot about the President lately. Trump just won the Republican primary. But despite everything, I still got confidence in Biden.”
Isabella raised an eyebrow, “Why would I be surprised? I think Biden understands us. He made my big brother a citizen, didn’t he?”
“I think he’s doing a good job taking care of us.” Juan pictured the President’s role in the nation the same way he pictured his own role in the family. “He got us through Covid, and he ended Trump’s policy of separating kids from their parents at the border.”
“Yeah,” Isabella nodded vigorously. “He put a black woman on the Supreme Court too.”
Juan grimaced. He wasn’t so sure about that one. But he said, “I wish he would cancel Sofia’s student loans.”
“He will,” Isabella sounded confident. “Those wicked loans are made by the predatory bankers. She doesn't need to pay them back.”
Juan shrugged his shoulders. “I'm the one that's paying them now,” he admitted. “It would be nice to get some relief.”
“Well, he did give money during Covid,” Isabella seemed to be enjoying this review of Biden’s accomplishments. “Didn’t your shop get an emergency loan when you had to shut down?”
"We didn't need a loan," Juan said, shaking his head. Our business has been booming."