La Linea

Miguel’s goodbye party includes his Tía Cristina, Tío Esteban, and little cousins; the neighbors, los Gonzalez; Abuelita’s friend Doña Maria; Chuy and Lalo; and Elena’s friend Fátima. They share stories about the trip north. Señor Gonzales tells of people who were kidnapped and had their organs removed and sold. Dona Maria advises him to beware of the ghost La Llorona while crossing the desert. Chuy displays a carving of a chupacabra, or goatsucker. Tío Esteban claims chupacabras have moved north and eat people as well as farm animals. Miguel knows these stories are fictional yet contain a grain of truth: Many people do go missing on the trip north, and there are many human and natural dangers along the way. The stories grow more comical, helping Miguel and the others to avoid thinking about true, terrible things that have occurred. Fátima’s brother was found suffocated in a trailer, Lalo’s father was brutalized and robbed, and two young girls were never seen again. 

After others leave, Chuy, Lalo, and Miguel linger by the fire while Elena silently cleans up. She tosses the trash into the fire, causing it to flare up, then goes inside the house. Miguel knows she is angry he is leaving. Lalo gives Miguel a secondhand American soccer jersey, and Chuy gives Miguel his sole carving knife: their only valuable possessions. Miguel is embarrassed because he has no gift for them, but Lalo suggests they promise to meet back in San Jacinto in 10 years. Miguel agrees, thinking he can keep that promise, and they shake on it. Miguel knows his friends think they will stay the same and always remember each other, but Miguel believes, based on the lengthy time his father has been gone, that he and the other boys will forget their close bond.

Miguel gathers his supplies before dawn. Looking in the mirror, he is surprised that he still looks the same when he feels so different inside. He finds Elena asleep in the barn where she goes when she has trouble sleeping. Peeved that Elena has not wished him well or said she would miss him, Miguel does not wake her to say goodbye. Abuelita gives Miguel food for his journey and her beloved Virgen de Guadalupe medallion. She blesses Miguel, who feels the words of her old prayer are fresh because they are directed toward him. Although Miguel and his family generally do not cry and pretend it will only be a short absence when someone leaves, both Miguel and Abuelita cry. Abuelita has been his mother for the last seven years, and Miguel was her son. Miguel recognizes he will probably never see her again.

Miguel walks to the city. He gets his bus ticket early and waits and observes the people around him. He sees an old couple he believes is going to their son’s funeral. He notices two young parents with a baby and all their possessions. Miguel feels good about traveling light. The bus arrives and fills up. An india in a colorful skirt and modest shawl sits near the front. Miguel sits near the back with several other young men: Some indios and two brothers Miguel thinks are from Guatemala. A Black man sits nearby. Miguel, wanting to sleep, is upset when an older, silver-haired man sits next to him and talks incessantly. Javier is from El Salvador. He left his wife and kids behind to find work in New York. This is his second attempt to go north. Javi does not believe Miguel’s lie that Miguel is going to the capital. He offers to let Miguel travel with him, but Miguel declines, thinking he is better off on his own and that the older man would be more of a burden than a help.

The federal police stop the bus. Javier is nervous because the federales look for people traveling north and deport them to Guatemala. Capitán Morales, a self-important federale, has everyone disembark and line up for a “routine check.” Miguel realizes that Morales expects the travelers to pay him bribes. Miguel worries he does not have enough money. The men from Guatemala and the Black man do not have money and are pulled aside. Morales moves the india’s shawl from her face and Miguel is shocked to see Elena. He blurts out her name. Elena starts toward Miguel, but Morales pushes her, and she falls. One of the Guatemalans call Morales a coward. Miguel is suddenly afraid. Morales is angry at being disrespected. Miguel, Javier, Elena, and all the single men on the bus are loaded into the federales’ transport van and driven for hours toward Guatemala. Miguel knows Don Clemente’s plan is ruined. He blames Elena.