It’s now or never.
It’s time for the runaway MJ and her cohort Nelson to leave the comfort of USA and cross the border at Brownsville, Texas to Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
With hearts pumping insanely they cross the first bridge they see. As they approach the Mexican side they know already they are in a different world, one with which they are unfamiliar. They pull into Mexican Customs and Immigration and look at each other, their eyes asking ‘now what’?
It’s time for the runaway MJ and her cohort Nelson to leave the comfort of USA and cross the border at Brownsville, Texas to Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
With hearts pumping insanely they cross the first bridge they see. As they approach the Mexican side they know already they are in a different world, one with which they are unfamiliar. They pull into Mexican Customs and Immigration and look at each other, their eyes asking ‘now what’?
It’s 8 a.m. and there is no crowd. They consider themselves lucky since their processing takes only about 20 minutes. Mind you, the female officer offers no help. Her name tag reads Sandra, and MJ refers to her as ‘Sullen Sandra’. SS pouts as she slowly settles about her work filling out forms, frowning at Nelson’s credit card, speaking only Spanish when Nelson and MJ know she is bilingual. Discussing her later, they agree Sandra is the perfect border bureaucrat.
They must copy all their documents: passports, car ownership, credit cards, driver’s license, visa, and on and on. Sullen Sandra ceremoniously directs them to two guys at the copias desk who dutifully make their copies and then slyly ask in heavily accented English: “you can make a donation to help pay for the copies if you want.” Nelson parts with two American dollars. The clerks look at the meagre amount and merely grunt.
Then it’s over to the bank---also located inside the Customs federal building-- to make a $40 payment for the importation license of Nelson’s car.
They must copy all their documents: passports, car ownership, credit cards, driver’s license, visa, and on and on. Sullen Sandra ceremoniously directs them to two guys at the copias desk who dutifully make their copies and then slyly ask in heavily accented English: “you can make a donation to help pay for the copies if you want.” Nelson parts with two American dollars. The clerks look at the meagre amount and merely grunt.
Then it’s over to the bank---also located inside the Customs federal building-- to make a $40 payment for the importation license of Nelson’s car.
Finally they are free to enter the country. As they drive on their way, MJ realizes with amazement and uncertainty that she is actually in Mexico…Matamoros, Mexico to be exact, directly across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas. Right away she notices differences. The Mexican town is dirty, dusty, crowded, with multi Carta Blanca beer signs.
For a few minutes, preoccupied with the newness and unfamiliarity of the sights and sounds around her, she never thinks once about her former partner and tormentor, Tommy.
Route: Brownsville,TX to Matamoros, Tam, Mexico
Next: Tampico
* Notes from my draft novel, Dare to Escape
new award: semi-finalist in John Kenneth Galbraith short story contest 2014
For a few minutes, preoccupied with the newness and unfamiliarity of the sights and sounds around her, she never thinks once about her former partner and tormentor, Tommy.
Route: Brownsville,TX to Matamoros, Tam, Mexico
Next: Tampico
* Notes from my draft novel, Dare to Escape
new award: semi-finalist in John Kenneth Galbraith short story contest 2014
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