Imancua struggled to look after his bed ridden father, mother, wife, and new member to his family. As sanctions on Venezuela aged, daily livelihood of local people turns out to be more miserable. There was no regular job in that village. Young ones in village turned to become full time smugglers, though the risk of getting caught by of Colombian or Venezuelan military was imminent. When Ferrero was age 5, Imancua was making money and he started to construct a new house near to his old house.

Imancua waked up early morning, joined his friends. Bought petrol for cheap price from agent. Then he walked 4 to 6 kilometres, carrying 8 gallon of two plastic tanks in his shoulder along with his friends till river near the bush, on paved road, without getting attention from Venezuelan and Colombian military. Then cross the river, to handover the tanks to his partners in Juan Firo. Before Colombian Soldiers find them. Imancua saved his earning to build a new small house adjacent to his old house.

Once poverty finds a home, it tries even harder to make it permanent.

One day, Imancua waited for his partners’ call in the bushes, but they never showed up. Despite his friends’ warnings, Imancua decided to cross the Tachira river and check behind the hills in Juan Firo . Unfortunately, as soon as he reached the river, a bullet spring from Colombian military gun entered his head and killed him instantly. This was devastating news for Imancua’s wife, Marcie.  House construction hit halt hard at its mid way. Marcie was helped by few relatives for some months to a year to feed her son and sustain the family. She didn’t see any future for her and Ferrero in Venezuela. She wants to leave Venezuela, so she arranged, Imancu’s father and mother to be looked after by their relatives.

 Marcie reached Cali, Colombia. With help of her friend, she get job in bars and pub. She wants to Ferrero to get education and send some money to old members in Venezuela. Which later lead to her engage in prostitution to make ends meet. She eventually met a widowed man named Rafael who helped her set and start a small grocery store outskirt of Cali, but their marriage was conditional on her to be mother to Rafel’s two children. She saved some money and send Ferrero to a local school in Cali. Marcie’s second husband didn’t like Ferrero much and tried to keep him away from Marcie and his two kids.  

Marcie never revealed the actual place to anyone or too her son, where they came from, no one should know her past and work she do in Cali.  Marcie loved Ferrero, she supports him in education and want him to get a permanent job, to see him free of struggles.

Years passed. Ferrero grew up to be a reserved young man who felt like he didn’t belong in Cali. He often felt like a fish out of water in the city. Ferrero’s heart was filled with mixed up melancholy as he reminisced about his childhood. He often cherished thoughts about his childhood memories playing with his neighborhood friend Gonzales and his younger brother, playing hide and seek, tasting mangoes bitterness and many others.  He often found solace in the memories of his father, who used to playfully tease him and treat him with his favorite chocolate and ice-cold Pepsi after a long day of playing with his friends. However, these memories also brought sadness. He never thought of going back there, he never bothered to ask his mother.  Ferrero hoped and longed that someday he would forget about his past and move on and start anew.Deep inside he missed any serious closeness to someone he knew. He was a disconnected young man.

 It was Rafel who bring up idea of sending Ferrero to Colombian military, so that he will stay away from his mother and his family. Due to their animosity towards each other, Ferrero willingly tried to get into military and leave Rafel’s house and leave his mother so, she could be happy with her other life.

Ferrero was strong and intelligent, which made it easy for him to pass the selection process on his first attempt. He received his training in the north of Colombia under the guidance of his trainer, Donovan. Donovan observed that Ferrero was sad but dutiful and young compared to others in military. This led Donovan to develop a soft corner for Ferrero. After completing his training, Ferrero continued his work in the same location.

Many years passed, Ferrero never tried to see his mother, but only contacted went through phone and let her know he was alive and passing by descent life. Meanwhile Donovan who was chief of trainer was promoted to become superintend of Military and was direct in charge of East of Colombian province. He brings Ferrero under his direct supervised area near Venezuela border.

Ferrero found a new friend, Salvatore.  Salvatore was in border patrol for one year now. His posting was in Juan Firo. Salvatore was set to guide by Donovan to show Ferrero, how things work there. Salvatore indicated Ferrero that Donovan likes you, that’s why he brings you here so that you can make money.  “How” asked a curious Ferrero.

Salvatore shared his experiences of the area with Ferrero, including the rampant corruption and illegal activities that occurred in the border town and villages. Salvatore told Ferrero about a powerful criminal organization in Venezuela, who took share from local Venezuelan smugglers and give bribe to Colombian authority to turn a blind eye to their activities.

“If they don’t like someone, they put their prey in front of Colombian military to target and kill them. We get good amount for killing someone to least monthly bribe for let pass through our guard. A man called Alejandra Matteo have influence in their government and our own bribed Colombian officials. So this is what happening for many years.” told Salvatore. 

Ferrero also get bribes in chain of bribe and months went by silent. One day a special task was given by Donovan to Ferrero to target few Smugglers in particular area of Tachira river.  Ferrero was not sure about the killing he must do.

Salvatore helps him to go strong by putting his thought in another way.  “The target must have given from Alejandra Matteo to Donovan, as secretly. Even if you don’t, someone will from our side.  If you done… you get money”.

 Salvatore’s advice to him was to seize this opportunity, as it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to climb the ranks, same us Donovan himself. He was here in same post long time before and look what position and kind of wealth he made. ‘Don’t you want a house your own and marry your dream girl’ told Salvatore.  

Ferrero was convinced well and accepted the chance. Ferrero got instruction with a photo as target and location to kill.

It was evening, he saw slow movements across the Tachira river. Behind the bushes a face he saw in photo. Without further waiting, he flung away few shots. Someone fell and someone cried in distress “Gonzales”. “We give bribe, then why you fuckers”. The loud shout out echoed all around. Ferrero find relief in following his instruction and hit the target. Ferrero disengaged and backed off. But his relief was short lived. The name was striking to him. Soon his relived mind was overwhelmed with something terrible happened. Gonzales! Ferrero’s heart sank. He had just killed his old friend. Ferrero prayed that it was not Gonzales he had shot, but deep down he knew it was. The guilt and sadness overwhelmed him.

He remembers his old friend “Gonzales and his brother” and recognized it was his own village across the border, it was the same damn bushes and river where his father died.

He didn’t talk to Salvatore, as he was afraid, of Donovan might know. He weeps silent all through the night and made his mind to go to other side very next day. He took few days leave from his duty.

The next day, Ferrero put on civilian clothes and slipped away from the military base without telling Salvatore. He made his way across the border and headed towards his village, filled with a sense of dread and sadness.  As he walked down the familiar road, he recognized some of the old buildings and landmarks. Ferrero felt a rush of emotions as memories came flooding back to him. He felt like he was walking down memory lane. Eventually, he identifies the house where he was born, where he learn to walk.

But little far he could hear people mourning. He knew he had to see who it was, even though he was afraid of what he might find. He walked towards the source of the noise and saw a crowd of people gathered around a velorio, wake. He learned Gonzales has wife and two children and saw Gonzales younger brother in crowd at another end.

No one recognized him, and Ferrero didn’t want to reveal himself. Someone from crowd behind him whispered, to other near him. “Alejandro came”.

 He looked back to find some local political representatives arrived. He continued “Look, who came. even though he has disagreement with Gonzales over some public fund issues. See who came to see him. He is a good candidate for politics, and he consider all people as same, and can understand feelings of poor people.”

Ferrero was stunned by seeing Alejandro and his act of disguised sadness. Gonzales’s two kids was crying and his wife near to the casket just keep on weeping. Ferrero left, unable to contain his emotions with unfortunate ending of his friend and a guilt on its brink. 

He went back to his old home to see some one still resides there. A few moments later, an old man with a paralyzed left side approached him. The old man was someone he knew from his childhood and seeing him triggered memories of his father.

The old man, who turned out to be his grandfather, looked at Ferrero with surprise and asked, “Who are you, young man?” Ferrero wiped his tears and replied, “Grandfather, it’s me, Ferrero, your grandson.” His grandfather looked at him, taken aback, and then burst into tears, “Ferrero, my dear grandson! I can’t believe it’s really you!”

Ferrero hugged his grandfather tightly and wept. After a few moments, his grandfather asked,

 “What brings you here, my dear son and why it took long, where is your mother?” Ferrero replied silence.

As his visit came to an end. He hugged his grandfather and said, “I have to go back, but I promise to come back soon.”

Ferrero promised himself that he will educate Gonzales two children and finish his father’s unfinished house.

His grandfather nodded and said, “Be safe, my boy. And remember, no matter what happens, you will always have a home here.”

Gazing behind him, Ferrero held his hand on his grandfather’s shoulder and saw the land that his ancestors had once called their own and nurtured with crops, but now it appeared barren, withered, and devoid of life.

=================================End=====================================

Venezuela – A failed country where generations resort to smuggling to simply sustain their miserable existence. Where fathers are compelled to deceive their children about their work. Where no schools are permitted to educate on sound political and economic principles. There an older generation took capitalistic western iron fist punch in face, but I want to ask why this generations and to come are punished, to no return.

Dedication to migrants who are compelled to flee their homelands just to survive in another country in a modern slavery.