Crossing the Wire

Victor hikes up to El Cristo Rey. While he hikes, he recalls telling Rico’s parents about their son’s departure the night before. He’s glad they’re not angry at him, though they worry about Rico, their youngest son, with his older brother, “because Reynaldo lacks honesty” (25). He also recalls once, as a child, when he saw a jaguar. His father said their ancestors built great temples to “the tigre,” an animal they saw as more powerful than all others (26).

At the church, Victor finds a quiet place to sit and think and realizes he has no choice but to go north. A priest visits him and gives him some money, which he thinks will be enough for a bus ride to the border. His mother takes the money as a sign he should go, before the desert gets too hot.

Victor plans to cross in Arizona, like his father had done. His mother tells the rest of the family of Victor’s plan. Later that night, Victor’s mother makes him a mug of hot chocolate and says the family can survive without him until the first frost, around the Day of the Dead. In the morning, Victor leaves.