Trujillo- a story...

Rewritten better, I hope.

Trujillo -A story.

                       Trujillo..

My delusional mind and forsaken dreams seem so far away. I consoled myself with Honduras rum and I roamed the discos and nightclubs. I was fatigue from suffocating in goals of work and money.

I have volunteered for every mission since I rejoined the Army in 1991. I got lucky and I’m on a medical mission in Honduras. Assisting Doctors with water and fuel for giving treatment in the mountains. 

Today I’m in Trujillo. Me and one Soldier got stuck in the beautiful city for a few days because
of rainy season. All the road were damaged and closed. We stay at the American Inn. The Hotel is on the mountain. You can see the Caribbean sea for miles.

A beautiful young woman brought food to us. She told us.
‘Un gran fiesta en la cuidad en la noche.”
She poured the flesh juice into our glasses.
She smiled and looked at me.
“You may be able to enjoy yourself.”

Trujillo is a old city. So beautiful and so much history. The people of the city don’t seen to see us. They are busy with their lives. As always I roamed alone into the city. Night was coming and I heard music being plays on the beach. The people were dancing and celebrating being alive.

I’m being waved over by a young woman. She is standing by a fire on the beach and she ran to me. Took my hand and she brought me to the fire. She puts me into a chair. The woman is wearing a light dress showing a young, strong and beautiful body. Many more women are near by talking and laughing.

I asked for a rum and coke. She came back and her dark eyes are sad. Her hair flowed down her back and her body was young and strong. She puts a mosquito net over me and she whispered. “The mosquitoes are muy malo en la noche.” I thanks her and try to give her money. She wouldn’t accept it.

She told me. “Un gran fiesta hoy in la noche. Un fiesta de Libertad. Ignoro como explicarlo. Encantado.
Estoy a sus ordenes.”

I sat and drink my rum and coke. The moon  appeared and the night begins to overtake the day. Many people on the beach now. Everyone is kind to a misplaced American. A old man came and sat with me.
The same young woman bring a mosquito net and put it over his large chair.

In perfect English the man told me. Welcome to my party. I’m a Doctor and my name is Roberto.
I shook his hand. He point at the young woman and he told me. She is my daughter Rosa. She is my joy and pleasure in my world.

I asked did he want a drink? He gave me a kind smile he told me. I’m a old man and I can see you are not a well. The rum won’t fix your problems. You are twisted up and looking for the wrong things.

He ordered us a elixir of fresh fruit and he told me taste the gifts of the spirits. I drank the drink and I told him the drink is amazing.

He told me. Look at the old city. We have been here awhile. A lot of bad times and the people of Trujillo overcame them. The tropics bring the fruit and food of Nature’s gifts to us. The drink is the combination of the fruits of life. You must release the darkness. Celebrate every new day and try to do something worthwhile.

Rosa ran to us and she told her father. It is time to dance. Her soft brown eyes begged me to dance.
She picks me up. The soft drums are playing and I tried to follow her movements of her feet. She is young and full of life. I just try to keep up.

Many people on the beach now. Rosa brought me to a group of people. All are very kind and I shared my cigarettes. Rosa smiled and told me. Hoy es un buen noche.

I sat with the old man and he ordered us coffee. He told me. All things have a purpose. Somehow you wander into my Trujillo and I’m thankful for a new friend. Rosa brought the strong coffee. He told me.
I have a story for you.

“There was was young man.
He thought he had nothing and
he fell on the beach crying.
The Sky Spirit came and told him.
Look up.

He looks up and saw the banana tree around him.
The mangoes growing in the back of him.
He reached for the fruit and
they were sweet and good.

He still cries sitting on the beach alone.
The Spirit of the sea came to him and
told him, look at the ocean.

The man see a net for catching fish.
He works all morning and
he caught many fish.
He ate what he needed.
He went into the village and gave the
extra fish away.

He sat down and started crying again.
The Spirit of the mountain came to him and
Told him to look up.

The man looks up and see a beautiful woman
bringing him bread and coffee.

She thanks him for the fish.
She asked why was he so sad?

He told her I’m alone and
do not know my reason for life?

The woman smile and sit with him.
Told him, you could work for my uncle.
My uncle always need strong men who can fish.
She took his hands.

She told him.
We are all family in the end.

The man realized the spirit had taught him to see
that life can be good for him.
The young woman and the man walked together back into
the city holding hands.”

  I smiled at the old man and told him. My ailments ain’t so easy to fix. I’m contaminated by bad decisions. My exhausted spirit saw the fraud in my way of life and I can’t find discarded dreams of youth. I’m defaced love with my greed. I’m here for consequences of many poor decisions.

Rosa is at my feet now. Watched my eyes. The old man laughed and he told me. You are young and many mile to go. Just try to learn yesterday was just education. To teach us right from wrong. Stay with me in Trujillo for a few days. Your spirit will become strong again.

I accepted his offer and kindness. Rosa is behind me. Caressing my head and hair gently. Singing a sweet love song in Spanish. The old man smiled and told me. We don’t need a lot in life and in the end we take nothing with us. You need to figure out what is important.

Rosa is dancing barefoot on the beach and I leave my chair. Dance on the beach of Trujillo with a
beautiful woman.

The old man smile and I can hear his laughter.
 

                        Coyote

                        1994

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Dara]

Your story is simply mesmerizing, an excellent reminder of how the simple things can make us happy. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by people who care and lift us up. As always your stories have a personal and spiritual component to them and this one is no exception. I really loved it. It also lifted my spirits by simply reading it. :-)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Dara for reading and the comment. I was lucky. Army send me to Central and South America for two years.

[W. Barrett Munn]

It's taken me awhile but I finally figured out who you remind me of in your writing-it is Homer, of the Illiad.
You tell your stories with your figures god-like and mysterious but without judgment. It is quite effective.
Enjoyed it again, Johnnie.

Winston

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Winston. Like Homer. Someday maybe. I appreciate the comment.

[Carola]

an interesting story of how a young man later recognised his earlier poor life decisions when he forgot about consequences.

in my opinion, parents are too focused on academic education & creating material comfort & not teaching kids HOW to make good life decisions.....they probably don't even know themselves!

opportunities recognised can still overcome earlier poor decisions, & who knows sometimes it is a longer path than was meant to be.

i particularly like these last few sentences... "We don’t need a lot in life and in the end we take nothing with us. You need to figure out what is important." ....that says it all in a nutshell!
thanks for sharing coyote.

cheerio carola

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Carola for reading and the wonderful comment. I agree. We must allow the children to gather wings, fly away and have great adventures.

[Soren]

Coyote a wonderful story akin to the garden of Eden and your putting it into Spanish and English was masterful. It made it much more alive, at least for those of us that understand a little Spanish. A great Tale with good moral my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

I spoke Spanish once. I learn in the High School. Mostly forgotten. In my Army days. They used me as a translator in Honduras and South America. Thank you Soren for reading and the comment.

[Dave Brown]

A wonderful story that speaks of life and love in a tropical surrounding
All a treasure except for those mosquitoes which are a curse
It reminds me that for the last few years our insect population has been declining and this year there are very few bugs to be seen
Not good, however your tale was a pleasure to read

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dave for reading and the comment. I was lucky. The Army send me on many missions to Honduras and South American. I never had a bad day.

[red93]

Fabulous memories of a happy time, told with a Storyteller's true deftness. I enjoyed this very much ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading and the kind words. I was lucky. U.S Army send me everywhere. And some places were very beautiful.

[DIVYA]

There is so much joy out there that doesn't cost anything
but the effort to just reach out for it.
I loved your story, dear Coyote.
As always, your words have such a surreal, spiritual touch.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Divya. You are right. The gift of friendship and nature cost nothing.

[Neville]

wow Coyote you have always been able to tell a mean story and this is no exception .. it has just about everything an avid fan like me is looking for .. certainly one to return to time and again .. top notch sir C .. Neville

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Neville for reading and the comment. And I agree. I appreciate the kind words.

[Sami Khalil]

I like this story that has adventurism, dance, friendships, wisdom from the elders, purpose of life, gratefulness for the Sky Spirit.
I like how you added Spanish, too.
Marvelous.

[Coyote Poetry]

Once I could speak Spanish. I was station in Central and South American for two years. Thank you Sami for reading and the comment.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! You are welcome Coyote