Julio: Part Ii

By Dorila A. Marting

Julio, a ten year old bright boy, is the only survivor of his family when the flood of the century killed about five thousand people on Saturday, December 7, 1941 at the northern part of Huaras, Ancash, Peru. His cousin, Esperanza, takes charge of him. Together they go to Lima, suffer hardships to earn their secondary diplomas in order to enter the United States of America as immigrants and become worthy, naturalized citizens.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503562592

Dorila A. Marting

Dorila A. Marting gives us a riveting portrait of a land and a culture very unlike our own. At the same time, her universal themes—the eternal struggle between the generations, the ties that bind—make for an astonishing debut novel filled with colorful characters and intriguing situations anyone can relate to. Coming to the United States as an immigrant, Dorila A. Marting is proud to be a naturalized American citizen. From 1959 to 1968, the author was a correspondent for the Arizona Republic in Phoenix and the Arizona Daily Sun of Flagstaff. A member of Arizona Press Women and the National Association of Press Women, she has received ten State Press awards and one national award for her journalism. Following graduate work at the University of Arizona, she became a Spanish language and ESL teacher. Now in her golden years at age eighty-seven, Marting is in perfect health and continues to write creatively from her home in Tucson.

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Copyright © 2015 by Dorila A. Marting. 703470

ISBN:       EBook       978-1-5035-6259-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Cover Photo by Barton Robinson.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 04/22/2015

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JULIO

J ulio, the ten year old orphan boy, native of Huarás, Ancash , Perú, was feeling a mixture of fear and joy as he and his 18 year old cousin, Esperanza, who was in charge of him, walked together to register him in his first year of school in Lima, the City of the Kings.

The Elementary School # 102 was located just one block away from Lolita’s home where both reside as guests. It was an older building where children of low income people attended school.

Julio, you are so quiet. Esperanza placed her arm around his shoulder.

I miss my parents and my friends at my former new, attractive school, Julio looked at Esperanza with cloudy eyes. "I miss my home, the beautiful sight of the Peruvian Andes. Once you have lived in Huarás you would not want to live anywhere else," Julio wiped his tears.

Julio, that was yesterday. Today is a new day and you and I have to face reality with a smile and positive thoughts. Just think, in five years we will live in the USA, a different new, extraordinary world. Not everybody can get there! You and I will because we have set our goals very high. We need our high school diplomas to make it easier for us to apply at the US Immigration. Smile! Over there is your school building. Let us hurry!

The principal of the school was a handsome, young man, old enough to be Julio’s father. He received them well but he was concerned why the parents or older members of the family were not there to register Julio. He posed many questions to clarify that these two young people were orphans and would reside at least a year at Lolita’s home. He was sympathetic and concerned about Julio’s education and future as he glanced over at Julio’s school record and commented that he was an honor student, one year ahead of his classmates. At this rate, in one year, Julio will be attending high school, at age 12. You do love to study! The principal fixed his eyes on Julio’s.

Yes, I do. In my family, everyone was highly educated. My parents were very strict supervising my homework before my playing or going to bed, Julio replied.

If properly guided, I predict that you will continue earning high grades. What are your highest goals? The principal posed the question.

"Well, Esperanza can tell you better than I can. She is planning for us to fly to the USA as immigrants and earn our higher degrees.

Right, Esperanza? Julio looked at his cousin.

That is correct. Sir, our goals are high and in just five years, we will be immigrants in that great country of which Julio is dreaming, Esperanza replied.

Is Lolita financing your education? The Principal asked.

"No, sir. She is going out of her way to provide us with shelter and some food. Julio and I will be working to cover our expenses, no matter