Pablo’s request deeply shocked Juan’s core understanding of right and wrong. A knot tightened in his stomach, “Um… I don’t know, uncle,” Juan mumbled. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and despite the hot Arizona summer, he felt a sensation of cold clamminess sweep across his skin.
Pablo narrowed his eyes, squinting at Juan through a haze of gray smoke.
“I appreciate you thinking of me,” In truth, Juan didn’t appreciate the request one bit. Still, he tried desperately to maintain the veneer of respect essential for dealing with a person of Pablo’s status. “But, you know, I’m working a lot these days, and I don’t have a lot of extra time.”
Both men understood Juan’s excuse was thin, but Pablo didn’t press the issue. “No problem,” Pablo said at last. “Maybe I was wrong about you, Juan. Maybe you’re not the kind of man to step up and make a difference.”
The dismissive comment offended Juan, and it was all he could do to continue talking about small, polite pleasantries until his fat uncle finally waddled away. Back whatever ‘business’ he’s up to, Juan thought, happy to see the man leave.
He put away the Makita and escaped into his house to get out of the sun. Maria was waiting for him, and he told her about his conversation with Pablo.
“What did he want you to do for him?” Juan thought he heard a note of genuine fear in her question.
Like always, he tried to reassure her by acting like it was unimportant. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me very much.”
“I don’t think you should work for him,” she said. “I mean it.”
“Don’t worry,” Juan replied. “I told him I wasn’t interested.”
“Good.”
Juan picked up a hot tortilla from the plate Maria set before him. He looked at it for a long time, like he’d never seen a tortilla before. “Do you think elections work the way he says?”
“Mmm…” Maria shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe. What do you think?”
“I think there’s gotta be a better way to help out Donal Trump than what Pablo is suggesting,” Juan poured himself a glass of cool water. He noticed his hands were shaking.
“Maybe you could volunteer to help the election,” Maria suggested. “I saw a commercial on television, and they are looking for people.” She gently took Juan’s glass, placed one hand on his shoulder, and led him to the dining room table. “I’ll fix you something. You look tired.”
Normally I would say I’m too busy, Juan thought. But this is important. I’m an American now!
Juan gratefully accepted the glass Maria had refilled. “I think maybe you’re right. I’ll look into that.”