1931 - My Epilogue for Esperanza Rising

                                      “1931”

 My epilogue for  "Esperanza Rising"

Esperanza rising was an amazing book it was very suspenseful and fun to read. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat.

“Bang!” Esperanza woke up to the loud bang; startled by the noise she got out of bed. Esperanza heard cheering but not in a good way through the door. The people who were cheering were saying “Strike! Strike!" Suddenly she heard indistinct voices calling “Esperanza, Esperanza.” She woke up startled from her dream “Esperanza it is your birthday.” Mama said. Mama was there holding a cake with fifteen candles, and she spoke “Today is your birthday.” Esperanza was very confused. She realized it was all a dream Mama then said “Esperanza is something troubling you.” Esperanza did not want to tell Mama about her dream because she knew it was her birthday and she wanted to have a delightful day and forget about the past when the strike happened. So, Esperanza decided to reply “No, no Mama I am perfectly fine.”

 When she climbed out of bed and went to the other room Abuelita was there in her chair with a new a crotchet. With a warm smile she spoke “Today is your birthday and you are fifteen today. We will celebrate.” Esperanza was overjoyed by Abuelita’s smile. Esperanza went out to the grocery store with Mama to buy some food for Esperanza's birthday. While they were at the store Esperanza wondered where everyone else was. Miguel was not there with Abuelita in the morning. She then heard Mamas soft voice “Esperanza would you like a piñata for your birthday?” Esperanza replied, “Yes, Mama, thank you.”

When Esperanza arrived home, She saw something unusual no one was in the room and when she turned around, Mama was nowhere to be seen and she was right behind Esperanza before. Then there was cheering in the room she went to go investigate. Suddenly she heard “Suprise!” Esperanza was so startled by the noise she fell. Miguel and Isabel helped Esperanza up. When she stood up, she saw a huge cake twice the size of the one Mama was carrying this morning. Hortensia, Josefina, Miguel, Abuelita, Isabel, and Mama were all there Esperanza was so happy to see everyone here for her birthday it felt just like her old birthdays in El Ranchos De las Rosas. Everyone started singing happy birthday to Esperanza. Abuelita then said it is “Esperanza we would not want your cake going bad, it is rose flavor just like you like it to.” Esperanza cut cake for everyone. 

That night Esperanza could not sleep because of the nostalgia of her birthdays in Mexico. The next morning Esperanza woke up alarmed by the noises outside. When she went to go open the door Mama burst into the room and said, “Esperanza gatherwhat ever you need we are leaving” Esperanza was so confused she asked, “Mama what is going on and what is all that cheering outs-” Mama cut her off and spoke “I will explain later we have to go.” When they went outside everything was burning with fire like the camp was being swallowed up into a black hole. It was still dark, which made it much harder to see for Mama and Esperanza, the only thing to light their way was the rage of the fire. They ran as fast as they;  Esperanza’s heart was racing as fast as the speed of sound. When they ran out of the camp, you could see the whole view of the camp being burned to bits, and  people were running and screaming. The fire was ruthlessly taking the lives of people with ease by swallowing them up. Esperanza got so lost in watching the flames she did not notice when the tears slowly dropped down her face or when Miguel and Abuelita pulled up in the truck and Mama started nudging her to come to the truck. Mama pulled her away Esperanza felt like she was being shocked back into existence. In the car she asked Mama “What is going on how did the camp catch fire who started the why are you so rus-” Mama cut her off in a calm voice and said, “How about we go one question at a time?” Esperanza asked how did the fire start. Mama said “No one knows who it was. We are going to stay low for now.” 

Esperanza woke up and wondered where she was, then she remembered how the fire had burned down the whole migrant camp. Esperanza felt sick to the stomach at the thought of the fire and how many lives were stripped away in one night it was like warfare. Mama called breakfast “Esperanza breakfast.” Esperanza entered the room to dull faces. As Esperanza was eating, she looked out the window and remembered she had left the camp but did not know where she was. When Esperanza asked Mama where she was Mama said, “We are in the mountains.” Esperanza tightened her fist and said in enraged tone “What are we going to do about this man we cannot keep running, first Tio Luis kicked us out of Mexico, this time I do not want to leave because a man burned down the migrant camp. Esperanza exited the room full of anger her plate was full Abuelita said “I wonder how she gets so angry without breakfast?” Mama replied, “This is not time for jokes!” Abuelita burst out in laughter.

Esperanza woke to azure sky and the sun bright as ever. Esperanza jumped out of bed, and she went to Mama and said “If we are going to be living in the mountains, we need food. "I will go to the grocery store. Mama was reluctant to letting her go because if the man who started the fire was around the area it would be bad. Mama also thought that it would be good to get some fresh air. She sighed and said “Very, well you can go but be back in 4 hours.” Esperanza pondered why she gave 4 hours. When Esperanza was going down the mountain, she realized it took almost two hours to get down the mountain by car. Esperanza heard cheering and thought a festival was going on. When she got out of the car it was a strike! People were setting things on fire guards were yelling this was berserk. Miguel and Marta came in the truck and said, “let’s go!” Miguel and Marta explained that someone was forcing the migrants at different camps to strike. Esperanza said, “We have to stop this somehow!” Miguel replied in an even more enraged voice than Esperanza. “You must think and use your head Esperanza. People died because of the strike!” The conversation ended on that.

Marta had a secret she was keeping from everyone her mother had died in the strike. There was no way to say how my mother passed away. The next morning Esperanza knew something was wrong with Marta, she had been acting very coy lately and not even accepting breakfast from Mama. Esperanza went to see what was wrong with Marta she asked what is “What is wrong Marta you do not have to feel left out because your family is not here.” Marta burst into tears “My mother died during the strike.” over the next few weeks Marta grew depressed she did not know how to react to her mother's death. Esperanza always made her feel at home. Esperanza was upset and angry with the man who did this to Marta. One month later Marta was herself again although Esperanza knew she was still hurt. Miguel also felt Marta’s pain and helped her feel better Miguel was dealing with so much stress but was still able to put Marta’s needs before his own. Esperanza admired Miguel for this. 

Esperanza planned to move all the migrant workers who lost their home to the mountains. She did this in secret, only her family knowing. Esperanza’s plan was successful, no one saw them moving to the mountains. They grew crops and fed their families. The migrant camp was small but free and they were happy to live there. They hid their migrant camp so well that they thought if they left they would not find their way back. Esperanza was so happy she had done all this with her family. Esperanza and everyone would not let anything get in their way.