Un Regalo Presciosa Read online

  Chapter 6:

  At long Last

  The phone rang. Luke’s mom scrambled over to the handset. She lifted it up. “Hello?” Pause. “Oh. No thank you.”

  It was concierge. The phone rang again. “At long last!” exulted Luke. Collectively, they all sprinted out of the room feeling as if they were floating. They hit the call button. The elevator, almost as if sensing the Smiths great need to get down to the lobby immediately, came and opened up straight away. Everyone jumped in. They hit the Lobby button so hard that it would later take maintenance an hour to fix. Everyone stepped out. In the lobby Virginia’s foster family stood. There was a boy, maybe two or three years older than Luke. There was also a girl, maybe a year or two younger than Luke. As well, there were two foster parents, who looked to be about 40 years old. They introduce themselves as Ana Maria and Carlos. Luke new they must be upper class Guatemalans, because most Guatemalan families live a rudimentary life, and can barely support themselves, much less two kids, and then dealing with the astronomical cost of housing young kids and babies for temporary periods as well. The foster parents spoke broken English, and they communicated with Luke’s parents. Eventually the foster parents handed over Virginia. Luke’s mom took hold of her and handled Virginia delicately, like she was made of glass. Virginia was petite, and six months old. Her skin was chocolate, and her eyes were so brown that if you looked into the depths of them, they were black. Her hair sat fuzzed on top of her head. She was clothed in pink. She was adorable.

  Luke’s mom cradled her as Luke’s dad signed of with the foster parents. This time Luke was in no hurry. He was in bliss. Luke felt as if his feet were a few inches off of the ground. Honestly, he probably wouldn’t have been surprised if someone told him that.

  Chapter 7:

  The First Day

  That night, everyone was so weary from travel, and meeting Virginia, they fell asleep immediately, and all at the same time. Each slept with the same though. I am so glad to be with Virginia.

  The next morning the family woke up at staggered times. First Luke at 4 A.M., the 2-hour time difference profoundly affecting his sleep. Next was Jacob at 4:45 A.M., his sleep as well affected. Luke’s parents woke up at 6 A.M., their sleep being affected the least. By 7 A.M., everyone was eager to leave the hotel room. Some of the Smith family had complained that they had to stay in the room for three hours. Everyone put on nice clothes, and they walked down to a buffet breakfast. Laid out were many traditional Guatemalan foods, many Mexican foods, as well as traditional American breakfast munches. The Guatemalan food utilized black beans, plantain, fresh cheese, eggs, salchicas, and world-class Guatemalan coffee. The Mexican section included chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, eggs, home fries, scrambled eggs with chorizo, and migas. The American section included eggs in a variety of fashions, French toast, waffles, and pancakes. There was also a section of fresh fruit, most of it grown locally, in Guatemala.

  Luke took generous portions of all of the food he liked, even venturing into some of the Guatemalan food he didn’t know. Luke took a ridiculous amount of fresh fruit, reasoning he could never get fruit this good anywhere. One bite into a banana proved this true. Then a bite into pineapple, and a cube of mango, and a bit of orange, and grapes. Luke continued to taste test the ambrosial native fruits. While Luke’s parents went up to get their food, Virginia sat plopped in a plush chair. She looked out of place, a small ½ year old, sitting in a luxury restaurant of a 5-star hotel. The chair was humongous compared to her. Luke and Jacob didn’t care. They fawned over her until their parents got back. Luke chowed his first helping down, then his next three, until he was stuffed. The Smiths loitered around the restaurant until about 9:15. After that they went back up to their room, and changed into swimsuits.

  The Smiths went down to the glass door marked “Pool”, in the lobby. The stepped out onto a carefully laid brick path. The path wound until they came to a large rectangular area bordered by low shrubs. There was a break in the shrubs, and a gate lay there. Jacob pushed it open. Behind it was a beautiful pool area. There was a rectangular pool, about 50 feet long and 25 feet wide. On all sides of the pool were beach chairs, with umbrellas hanging over the chairs, which could be adjusted to give the chairs’ occupants merciful shade or to sunbathe. Luke and Jacob immediately hopped in the pool, and didn’t come out until 11:45. Luke’s mom and Virginia shared a beach chair poolside, and had waiter service. Luke’s mom ordered a Guatemalan coffee for herself, and a cup of apple juice for Virginia to try, as Virginia happened to be at the age that babies could start drinking fruit juice.

  Luke and Jacob finally stepped out of the pool at 11:45, wrinkled like old men. Luke and Jacob sat in the sun, chatting away for 15 or 20 minutes, until Luke’s parents decided it was time to go to lunch. There was a poolside restaurant on the opposite side of the pool, which was to be tried out. As the Smith family approached the restaurant, they caught sight of a primarily green bird with a red belly and a strikingly long tail. Jacob piped up with an explanation. The quetzal, as it was called was the national bird of Guatemala. It had green plumage and a red belly, as evident to Luke. Accompanying these features was a tail. The word “Quetzal” comes from Nahuatl, and means “large brilliant tail feather.”

  The Smith family foraged their way into the poolside restaurant. The restaurant was waiter service, and then food was to be picked up at a long counter shaded by a canopy. The Smith family sat down at a table with plastic lawn chairs. A young man came over to them to take their order. Luke said: “To drink? An ice water please. Order? Ah…may I please have a cheeseburger, plain, cooked medium rare? Yes please. May I please have a side of ranch with those fries? Thank you.”

  Next it was Jacob’s turn: “May I please have a lemonade to drink? Thanks. To eat…hmm…can I have a cheeseburger cooked medium rare, yes please for fries. Can I please have ketchup with that? Oh. There’s one on the table. Sorry.” Luke’s parents concluded the order by each having a hors d’oeuvres.

  Ten minutes later they saw two cheeseburgers, fish tacos and buffalo wings sat on the metal rack, calling the hungry family, saying would you just put me in your mouth? The family obliged, briskly devouring their meals, filling their ravenous stomachs. The burger was delicious, as was the other one. The fish tacos had disappeared, leaving no trace except for a piece of lettuce flying in the breeze. The buffalo wings had been rapidly consumed. All food was gone, except for bones, a piece of lettuce, and a few fries. What was left would not have counted as a meal for a seagull.

  After lunch the Smith family sat by the pool. At 2:00 Luke and Jacob cannonballed into the pool. Luke’s mom ventured to the side of the pool with Virginia. Luke’s dad sat in his chair, reading the ESPN magazine. Luke and Jacob stayed near the side of the pool, and splashed. Six-month-old Virginia loved every minute of it. She kicked and squealed, a smile playing out on her innocent lips, which stayed there the entire time. An hour later everyone went back to the room, exhausted, yet exhilarated. Luke’s mom announced that they would be going out to dinner that night. She said that though they had that privilege, not to get used to it, because dinner out at a nice restaurant like the one they were going to was very expensive. Everyone relaxed and rested. Luke’s mom gave Virginia her first bath, and Luke could hear the squeals in his bedroom.

  Punctually, two hours later, at 5 P.M., the Smith family heads down to the restaurant. Now Luke sees what his parents mean about this being an upscale restaurant. He feels out of place among suits, gowns, and dresses. He is wearing a short sleeve, collared, Vineyard Vines shirt and khaki shorts. His parent whisper shushed instructions to Jacob to put his napkin on his lap. Luke already has, and is eyeing the menu with interest. He considers things, but finally narrows his choices down to two entrees as he bites delicately into buttered bread. The waiter collects their orders 45 minutes into the meal. Luke decides on Filet Mignon, with asparagus, and a salad. Jacob orders a cheeseburger…again. Once the food came, Luke dug right into the steak.
It was delectable. The Filet was juicy, and the taste pristine. Enough seasoning had been put on to add a little more taste, if that was possible. There was not even a sliver of fat on this finely cut steak.

  The steak was gone. Luke was not happy. But, dessert was coming. Luke has chowed down the steak and the asparagus. Dessert was amazing. It was a full chocolate cake; the chocolate prepared the Aztec way, with a little kick. Pouring like molten magma out of the cake was steaming chocolate sauce. Encircling the cake were full scoops of vanilla ice cream. On top, written in hot fudge was the word “Virginia”. The chef had obviously asked Mr. Smith if he had wanted anything extra on the cake while Luke was in the bathroom. Eventually a weary Smith family made their room. Each immediately fell asleep, 8 P.M. being the equivalent to 11 P.M. on their normal time.

  Chapter 8:

  Heaven…too fast

  The next day was just as amazing as the first. The Smith family woke up, and ordered room service. Luke had Belgian Waffles with fresh fruit, Jacob decided on French toast with ice cream and whipped cream. Mrs. Smith chose grapefruit halves and half a bagel. Mr. Smith chose scrambled eggs with a side of English muffins. The family chowed down their breakfast at the kitchen table. They loitered around the room for a little while, waiting around. Luke and Jacob played with Virginia. Mrs. Smith had set up a little playpen for Virginia with mirrors, and other toys. Luke and Jacob watched Virginia grab at herself in the mirror, trying to touch her reflections face. A smile played across Luke’s face. She was so adorable, even when she was trying to grab herself. Now Virginia was lying on her back, kicking her legs in the air. Luke could think of no place on earth he would rather be than with his sister, in this paradise.

  About an hour later, the Smith family went down to the pool again. This time Luke and Jacob went through a locker room that ended in stairs that emerged at the far end of the pool. Luke and Jacob immediately went in. It was hotter than the day before, and especially more humid. The pool called Luke and Jacob, and they answered, going in and barely coming out. Later that afternoon, a thunderstorm hit. The first inkling of the storm that they had was a rumbling shake of thunder, than the distinctive crack of lightning. The next thing Luke, Jacob, or any other pool patrons felt was heavy rain splashing down. Mrs. Smith herded her children out of the pool area, and into the hotel. A mere twenty minutes later the storm stopped as abruptly as it had started. Luke’s dad explained. “In very humid places like this, a thunderstorm blows off the humidity. We have this at home, but to a much lesser extent. These probably occur here every afternoon.”

  That night the Smiths’ ate from a dinner buffet, with American offerings, as well as more traditional fare from the region. Luke stayed with what he had done the previous day and ventured into unknown food areas. He actually liked some of the local fare.

  That night, Luke was going to close the curtain before he went to bed. Outside the curtain, in the mid-evening twilight, was a beautiful smoking volcano. Luke knew that no matter what travel guides reported about Guatemala, how violent, dirty or ruthless the people were, or how dirty the cities were, this place would always be beautiful in his mind and his heart.

  The third day took a similar course to the second. The family got up, and went to brunch, contrary to what they had done to the day before. Luke ended up eating a light breakfast, choosing only fruits and a half of a bagel to eat.

  The family immediately went to the pool from brunch, albeit with a stop in the room to change. Luke and Jacob loitered around their Mom’s chair, playing baby games with Virginia. Eventually, Luke and Jacob got hot and jumped in the pool. The rest of the week continued on a similar course to this, until the sixth day. Virginia needed formula.

  Chapter 9:

  A Different World

  Luke and his dad immediately volunteered to go and get the formula. They took the elevator down to the lobby, and walked out the front door. The humid air hit Luke just like it had the first time. They took a left, and stayed onto a curb. On this block were many home-owned stores. Luke’s dad told him that the pharmacy was about a mile away. Luke continued along the street, taking in the loud sounds of urban Guatemala City. He saw the trappings of an American city. Congested streets, shops littering the sidewalks, and many other hallmarks of a typical American city. Eventually they made it to the pharmacy.

  Luke’s dad found the formula Virginia needed, and then proceeded to checkout. He fumbled around, mixing up quetzals and dollars. Finally he pulled out 101 quetzals for the $13 formula.

  As they got back out on the street, they decided to take a shortcut back to the hotel. Instead of turning right when they left the pharmacy, they would take a left, and then a right.

  As they turned left, something felt wrong to Luke. Had they misjudged where they were going? No, they had not. They had just entered a shadier neighborhood.

  Luke looked on the opposite side of the street. There were the same stores; only this time they had guards, with very large machine guns in their hands. Luke’s logician self told him that theft must be common, especially considering how poor Guatemala was. Luke’s other self, the one with more common sense, told him to just ignore the guards. But he couldn’t. For some reason it was compelling, looking at them.

  Eventually they made a right turn into a nicer neighborhood, but Luke just couldn’t erase that image of the guards form his mind. He though: It’s a different world here.

  Chapter 10:

  If this is Goodbye

  The seventh day came and went, the Smith family staying in their room and packing up. There was an unspoken tension in the air, as if everyone new that tomorrow’s events would be catastrophic.

  The eighth morning came. The family had to be at the airport for an 11:00 A.M. flight to New York. They were scheduled to meet the foster family at 8:00 A.M., in the Smith’s room. Luke and Jacob woke up at 7 A.M., by now having adjusted to the time difference. At 7:58 there was a sharp knock on the Smiths’ door. Luke knew the end had come.

  The foster family walked in, somber looks on their face, as if they too, knew the gravity of the situation. They spoke their broken English, about how Virginia was such a good girl, and how she never cried. The foster mother also spoke about Virginia’s original parent.

  “Virginia was born to a poor single mother. She had no father as far as anyone knew. Her mother put her up for adoption, knowing the she was malnourished herself, and had no chance at supporting a baby girl. She did the smart thing. Many parents abandon their children. She put Virginia up for adoption through Wide Horizons. You answered her prayer and adopted Virginia.” She then handed over an envelope stuffed full of documents. “Show these to Virginia when she is old enough to understand. Show her them when she understands adoption.” Luke figured these must tell about Virginia’s mother.

  Luke’s mom handed Virginia over. Luke kissed her on the cheek. He then swallowed hard. And burst into tears. There was nothing he could do. Such is the emotions that when your sister is just given away like that, your mind has no control. Even if his mind did have control, Luke would’ve cried. He ran into the room that had served as his bedroom for the last week. He lay facedown on the bad. Crying.

  As Luke stepped onto the plane he though of something that described the whole Guatemala affair. It meant that no matter what happened during an enterprise, it always ended well. All’s Well That Ends Well.

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  Rights

  This book was done as a reading project. All brand names are copyright, their respective owners. Copyrighted names include SmartBoard, Delta, Westin, and Westin Camino Real. No infringement is intended.

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