Both Sides of the Border by Terry Overton

Author:Terry Overton [Overton, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Ambassador International
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

INTERMITTENT SLEEP WAS THE BEST Dolores could hope for on the train. The clanging and shaking of the train as it meandered from Veracruz to Orizaba was not the culprit of her insomnia. She couldn’t stop thinking about the events of the past twenty-four hours. She couldn’t get the images out of her mind—the mother rocking a lifeless baby, putting the baby in the shallow grave, and then the mother lying on the side of the train track.

Dolores looked at her brothers. They were so young to be living these disturbing incidents. She was proud of how they had each supported and helped her. Their new life in the United States would be their reward for enduring these horrible experiences.

The train jostled over a narrow bridge and roused Ernesto. He scooted over to Dolores. He put his arm around her.

“How are you doing, Sis?”

“I’m fine.”

They sat in silence. Dolores let Emilio sleep. She was concerned that her two younger brothers were not getting the rest and food they needed.

The blackness of the night began to turn into a murky gray. Dolores anticipated the coming sunrise. She liked watching the sunrise at home; however, these days on the train, the emerging light marked the beginning of another day of the unknown.

“Do you think we’ll be at a stop soon?”

“I’m not sure, but we’ve been riding for a while. I heard another rider talking about a shelter somewhere. I hope there’s one in Orizaba.”

“It would be nice. The shelter we went in before was wonderful. I could use some food.”

Dolores patted his knee. “I know, brother.”

The train screeched as it slowed down.

“Emilio, wake up. We need to get off the train,” Dolores said.

The three scampered down the ladder just as the train was approaching the town of Orizaba. They walked toward the railyard, keeping some distance away from the track. Other travelers walked with them in silence.

“It is much cooler here,” Ernesto whispered.

“Yes, it is. We need jackets,” Emilio said.

“It’ll be warm soon. The sun will heat us,” said Dolores.

They walked to the city. Dolores scanned to see if there might be a shelter in sight, but there was none.

“Let’s look for food,” she said.

The sun rising over the majestic mountains that embraced the city in the valley below gave Dolores a sense of optimism. Sunrises always caused her to feel hope for the coming day. She said a silent prayer, thanking God for showing her this beautiful sunrise. The tragic events of the day before made her appreciate the magnificence of the sunrise even more.

“Are you getting warmer?” Dolores asked her brothers.

“Yes. Walking helps,” Ernesto said.

The three walked for some distance before they reached the train yard. The train was leaving already, and there was no chance they would be able to catch it.

“That was a quick stop,” Emilio noted.

“It was,” said Dolores, “but now we’ll have time to find some food.”

Dolores inspected the train yard and the people sitting around it. It looked safe. She didn’t see any sign of a shelter or food nearby.

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