“Triqui Triqui”

An episode that happened last evening on Halloween. The young boy did not want to have his picture taken, but here is a picture of his brother. (Photo by Judi Curry)

It is getting dark and the cars are beginning to drive up the street, stop, unload their passengers and move away. I presume the drivers are going up the street to wait for their children.

The doorbell rings: I go to open the door. A cute boy, about 11 or so says, “triqui triqui.” (Obviously, he has said, “trick or treat.”)

– Estoy aquí para buscar ricos dulces. Nosotros no tenemos estos dulces donde vivo. (I am here to get some of your candy because it is so good. We don’t have the same candy where I live.)

– ¿Cómo llegaste a mi casa? ¿Vive en México? (I ask how he got to my house? Does he live in Mexico?) He answers me in broken English – much better than my Spanish by the way, that he does live in Tijuana and his uncle brought him to my neighborhood. His uncle lives in San Ysidro.

¿Dónde vas a la escuela? ¿Qué quieres ser cuando seas mayor? (Where do you go to school? What do you want to be when you grow up?)

¿Tienes miedo de vivir en México? ¿Por qué quieres vivir en Estados Unidos? (Why are you afraid to live in Mexico? Why do you want to live in the United States?)

– Tengo miedo de vivir en México. Mi esperanza es ser a un médico cuando sea grande. Mi hermanito tiene cáncer y yo quisiera salvarlo. No pienso que pueda superarme en México. Por eso estudio mucho. (I’m quite scared living in Mexico. I have dreams of becoming a doctor when I grow up. My brother has cancer and I want to try and save him, and others like him. I don’t think I can get the education I need in Mexico. I study very hard.)

– Mi padre ha tratado de conseguir mica durante tres años. Yo no sé porqué no lo puede conseguir. Trabaja duro y adora a sus hijos. Desea que tengamos más de lo que tuvo él. ¿Es eso tan malo? (My father has tried to get a green card for 3 years. I do not know why he can not get one. He works hard and loves his children. He wants me to have more than he ever had. Is that so bad?)

– Gracias, señora, por hablar conmigo como un adulto. Cuando sea mayor puedo ayudar a los Estados Unidos – ahora necesito que me ayude los Estados Unidos. Dios la bendiga. (Thanks lady for talking to me like an adult. When I get older I know I can help the United States. I just need for the US to help me now. May God bless you.)

Is it not too bad that we can not see the world through a child’s eyes? Such innocence, such wonder, such hope.