Even after living in America for more than twenty years, Juan Torres still struggled to pronounce the English words he repeated back to the judge:
…that I will support and defend the Constitution…
…and laws of the United States of America…
…against all enemies, foreign and domestic…
…that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…
The white columns and marble façade of the Maricopa County Courthouse gleamed in the warm sun of an Arizona autumn. Juan thought the grand architectural masterpiece was the perfect setting to take the solemn oath:
…so help me God.
He smiled with immense satisfaction and dropped his right hand down to his side.
The first thing he heard was his daughter’s high-pitched squeal, “Ay, Papí!” Sofia cheered, “We’re so proud of you!”
Next came his wife’s embrace. Maria wore a sheer, peach-colored dress bedazzled with something that sparkled and glittered when she moved gracefully in her matching high heels. She hadn’t worn that dress since Sofia’s quinceañera five years ago. Her night shift work at the factory didn’t give them many opportunities to dress up. But as he admired her curves, Juan thought she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.
Their moment was interrupted by a familiar voice, “Dad…”
The voice contained no trace of Mexican accent. Juan turned to look at his son and thought, he even looks like a white guy. Carlos' thick, black hair was cropped close above his ears, leading to a small, fuzzy patch at the top of his head, concealed beneath a flat-topped white military hat with a black brim. Corporal Carlos Torres stood before him in his Marine Corps dress uniform, dark blue jacket, and light blue trousers with a red seam running up the leg.
Corporal Torres snapped his hand up in salute and held it there, waiting for his father to respond.
Juan didn’t quite know what to do with this unfamiliar gesture. He untangled himself from Maria’s embrace, attempted to straighten his suit jacket, and hesitantly brought one gnarled, calloused hand up to his forehead.
Carlos’ stern demeanor dissolved into a broad grin, and the son embraced his father in a mighty bear hug. “Congratulations Dad, you’re an American now!”
When did mijo get so big and strong?
Juan's brother Roberto was next to congratulate him. "The party is at my house tonight!" he announced in his booming voice, "Vamos a la fiesta!"
Juan turned to Maria, “Do you want to go straight to the party? Or do you want to go home and change first?”
Choose Option 1: Go straight to the party.
Choose Option 2: Go home first.