The Book Report episode 26: Stories that Must Not Die by Juan Sauvageau: Un reloj de mas alla
This next story takes place in my hometown of Los Saenz and Roma. a man, his wife, and three daughters were traveling to a small Mexican town called San Pedro de Roma when some federal troops kidnapped the husband to join their ranks. I’m imagining border patrols, but if it was around the time Roma was still Mexico, that would make more sense. whatever the case, the woman was left alone with her three children so the lady walked about a mile with her children to this ranch to ask for lodging. Javier Gonzalez, the owner of the ranch, replied “I don’t like beggars! But you could spend the night in that shack I have over there, just be careful with the rats and ghosts.”
The woman stayed up to protect her children from the rats and prayed for the souls of the ghosts that might be lingering around. In the middle of the night, she could hear footsteps upstairs and a light that looked like a candle. As the sound of the footprints became louder and the light got closer, she realized that she wasn’t alone! Too terrified to move or say a word, she just laid in there. At first, she could only see the light but within time, she could see an old heavyset man with a white mustache dressed in a nice suit with a pocket watch connected to a gold chain that ran from one pocket of his vest to the other. The man smiled kindly and told the lady not to be afraid “I came to thank you for your prayers. My son Javier, who sent you to this miserable place, has never said a prayer for me. You have helped my soul with your prayers now it is my pleasure to help you.” He told her to look in the loose board under the first step. The lady found a box filled with gold bars and jewels. The lady thanked him but said that his son will never let her leave with the box.
The man said, “yes he will, tell him his father said he gave it to you.” The lady replies, “He won’t believe me.” The man thought for a second and then took his pocket watch off and said, “Show him my watch, and tell him I’ve given it to you along with the box.” The lady was doubtful, but she agreed.
The next morning, the woman walked out dragging the box of gold bars and jewels and Javier stopped her, “What are you stealing from me, you didn’t have that yesterday, the box is mine.” after describing Javier’s father, the lady replied, “Your father Remigio Gonzales visited me last night and said I could have this box.” Javier was shocked she described him so well, but then regaining his composure said, “One of the ranchers told you about my father.” The lady then reached into her pocket and showed him the watch and told Javier that he gave her the watch as well.
“Javier couldn’t believe his eyes. He saw the letters R.G. engraved on the back cover. There was no doubt it was his father’s watch, the one he had in his pocket when he was buried.” Javier lost his arrogance and became very nervous and couldn’t even look at the lady. Looking at the ground he said, “Excuse me, lady. Now I am certain it was my father who came to talk to you, last night. That gold is yours indeed and I hope it brings you happiness.”