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| >> Static Item >> Short Story >> Inspirational >> ID #911741 |   |
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{c}“…Behold, I bring you good tidings of joy…”
Luke 2:8-19 NKJV When you think of an illegal alien you probably think of a bracero, a Mexican migrant worker. But not Georgia State Supreme Court Judge Babcock William’s Haitian nanny, Violet Jean, or First Lieutenant Salvador Velasquez, Violet’s fiancée who’s serving in Iraq. You don’t think of them. But since we’re here. Let’s look at their predicament. It’s Christmas Eve and Violet hasn’t heard from Sal. She would like to attend church tonight and pray for his safety, but the Judge has left her with the babe to attend a Christmas Party at the Governor’s Mansion. Violet and Sal came to America to find the American Dream and to their surprise, found each other, while working--more like hiding out--in the same affluent, Alpharetta neighborhood. Violet, a chestnut colored Betty Boop with dark braids that fell well over her shoulders fell even harder for Salvador, a cinnamon-coated, six-footer with a strong build and a stronger gaze, who worshipped the honeysuckle smell of her hair and the little bit of Spanish Violet knew. He became a soldier, hoping for easy citizenship for the both of them. Yet weeks had passed since his deplorement to Fallujah. The last letter Violet received Sal asked for her hand in marriage. So sweet. Anyway… It’s Christmas Eve and Violet is sitting in the great room rocking the baby when someone knocks on the front door. It’s Mavis Crawford, the next-door neighbor whose husband employed Salvador before he enlisted in the US Military Bracero program. To Violet, Mavis’s resembled a crème colored crow. “I received a letter in our mail addressed to you.” Mavis pulls an envelope out of her coat pocket. “It’s from our Sal, but…” Apparently, Mavis had read the letter and discovered Violet’s illegal situation. For the crows’ silence Violet must agree to watch her twin grandsons. “The Judge’s already okayed the new arrangements.” Mavis crows before she proceeds to peck around the Judge’s kitchen. “I’ll give you a little time to think about it.” So now Violet ponders over her ability to change eight more diapers, feed three babies, rock them with two arms, wait for Sal and keep her waning faith. Then the phone rings. “Williams residence.” “Violet. It’s Sister Angelina, Pastor King’s wife.” Someone knocks on the door again. “Pastor Moses King of Bethlehem Church? We met last Sunday.” “Yes.” Violet walks toward the door. “Good news. The Visa Lottery Program opens up tomorrow. You’ve a chance for permanent citizenship. I’m sending a yellow cab to pick you up, so pack your things.” She glances out the window. Two Marine Soldiers are standing at the door. She grips the letter in her palm, looks at the baby and gulps her conscience with her broken heart down her throat. “A yellow cab?” Now I’m sure you’re wandering will Violet leave that child alone? Will she shirk her responsibility for a newfound freedom just as the shepherds left their flocks for Bethlehem? Would you? Of course she doesn't leave the baby alone. But boy did Mavis get a big surprise when she returned from the kitchen to find herself alone with that baby. As you know--shepherds were underclass servants who brought the good news of Christ’s birth to the world. And delivered the message that all men are created equal under God. Here I have presented a fictional account of two migrant workers, who must choose liberty over their circumstances. I hope that we, the liberated, can be thankful for America’s gift of liberty to us. For like Violet and Sal—we all were once shepherds.
© Copyright 2004 vida thx storymrs (UN: vidae at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved.
vida thx storymrs has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
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