...y no se lo tragó la tierra

There is much to be learned from fictional characters. I am reading a book by Tomás Rivera called ...y no se lo tragó la tierra (..and the Earth Didn't Swallow Him). In it today, I read two short stories that really struck me. The first struck me because I see myself so clearly in the main character but don't want to be a fool like him. The second struck me because I don't see myself in the main character, but want to be like him desperately. Both stories are very beautiful and inspiring.. so I will do my best to translate them and share the fictional goodness.

1. El abuelo quedó paralizado dell cuellos para abajo después del ataque al cerebro. Uno de sus nietos vino a platicar con él un dia. El abuelo le preguntó que cuántos años tenía y que qué era lo que más deseaba. El nieto le contestó que tenía viente y que lo que más quería era que se pasaran los siguientes diez años de su vida inmediatamente para saber lo que había pasado con su vida. El abuelo le dijo ques estaba bien estúpido y ya ni le siguió hablando. El nieto no comprendió por qué le había llamado estúpido hasta que cumplió los treinta años.

More or less this story says the following: A grandpa was paralyzed from the neck down after a stroke. One of his grandsons came to talk with him one day. The grandpa asked him how old he was and what he desired most. The grandson replied that he was twenty years old and what he waned most was for the next ten years to pass immediately so he could know what happens with his life. The grandpa called him stupid and did not continue talking to him. The grandson didn't understand why he called him stupid until he turned thirty years old.

eh? eh? Good one huh?

2. La profesora se asombró del niño cuando éste al oír que necesitaban un botón para poner como seña en el cartelón de la industria botonera, se arrancó uno de su camisa y se lo dio. Se asombró porque sabía que probablemente era la única camisa que tenía. No supo si lo hizo por ayudar , por pertenecer o por amor a ella. Sí sintió la intensidad de las ganas y más que todo por eso se sorprendió.

The teacher was amazed at the child when, hearing that they needed a button to mark on the poster where the button factory was, he ripped one off his shirt and gave it to her. It amazed her because she knew this was probably the only shirt he had. She didn't know if he did it to help, to belong, or for the love of her. Yes she felt the intensity of the urge and that more than anything was why she was so surprised.

Beautiful!