The Wall

Short Story of division from a childs point of view.

Written By:     Rodney L Dodig

Enrique sat huddled against the wall, ear pressed to the cool concrete, listening to the sounds on the other side. He could hear children playing, their yells of encouragement, screams of delight and laughter. The sound of water splashing, balls being kicked and other games being played enticed him to try to go to the other side. But, his mother had told him never to go there; the people on the other side of the wall would not welcome him. Still the sounds called to him, a siren´s song to a child.

His small nose picked up the smell of delicious comidas (foods) being prepared. His mouth watered at the thought of what they might be. Maybe there were delicious Chicharrons (BBQ pork sandwich) with sweet camote (sweet potato) and other tasty ingredients. Then he thought he caught a whiff of mouthwatering choclo (corn), boiled and swathed with mantequilla (butter) and mayonesa (mayonnaise) while it was still hot. Perhaps they would have a sugary chicha morada (drink made from purple corn) for drinking and spiced picarrones (deep fried dessert like a donut) for dessert. His little tummy rumbled as he thought of all the possibilities.

The wind carried the sound of a father scolding his child. He was too close to the water and he didn’t know how to swim. How Enrique longed to hear the sound of his own father’s voice. He hardly ever saw him, his mother telling him that his father was busy and couldn´t be home with them. That same breeze carried the soft cooing sounds of the Mother´s caressing their children, encouraging them to play with others but to be careful. Enrique’s mother was too busy, all the time working or meeting with friends. He couldn’t remember the last time she had held him in her lap.

Enrique wished he could see all the wonderful things that were happening on the other side. Here where he was partially hidden by plants, there was nothing to interest him. There were no other children for him to play with. As a matter of fact, there was almost no one here at all. Everyone was too busy to come here. The same old umbrellas and some tables, the smelly boats anchored off the coast and the empty beach.

Suddenly he heard his name being called, “Enrique, Enrique, where are you?” He pulled himself up tighter trying to hide but to no avail.

“Oh, there you are my little gordito.” It was his Nanny Felipa. “It’s time to go; your mother wants us back at the house for almuerza (lunch). Osvaldo has the car ready, let’s go.”

On the other side of the wall, a young boy reached up to his father. The husky man grabbed up his son in a big bear hug as the child said, “Papi, tell me about the other side of the wall again.”

“Well hijo (son), your mother has our lunch ready. I will tell you about it later. You know I only saw it once when I went there to apply for work. You must study hard, go to University, and have a good profession. Then you can pay the money to be a member and take your children there to play.”

“I will Papi, and I will take you too.”