She waited patiently as the exchange was made from the officer to the young recruit. All she could hope for now was the young man spoke a bit of English and had not lied about how much.~Part One

In broken English, she was asked if she made lunch.

The look of confusion on her face must have been seen by the officer in charge. He started berating the young man. The lady held up one hand, quietly saying the word "Stop." while looking into the eyes of the officer pleading for him to hold on.

Grabbing the young recruit's hand, she looked him in the eye. Taking a deep breath she lowered her voice telling him she did make lunch each day. She inquired if they needed food. Knowing this wasn't the reason they had knocked on her door at dawn. Never the less, she used the question as a place to try and unravel the mystery of why a troop of soldiers was standing at her door at an ungodly hour of the day.

The young recruit kept bringing up lunches. He spoke about selling food. She tried to explain she didn't sell food. He kept going, saying the same English phrases over and over again. She was ready to pull her hair out. Glancing at the officer in charge she could tell he was at the end of his patience too.

Concentrated on figuring out what the young recruit was saying she had missed her name being called from the street. The commotion, reaching ear-splitting proportions, brought everyone in the room out of the daze they had been in while trying to find a way to communicate.

She ran to the balcony to see what the fuss was about. What greeted her eyes was a sight to behold. Tears started to form. The whole neighborhood was there. Shop owners, the homeless, and the elderly, all looking up at her calling her name.

Through the crowd, she could see a small path opening up. Two people were running like their lives depended on it. Grabbing her glasses she noticed the officer was right beside her. His face showed no emotion at all. Glasses on, she looked again to see who was running up the path and saw her son.

Letting out a sigh of relief, she turned to the officer. With hand gestures, she explained who was running through the crowd. She made motions to bring him up to the apartment. All would soon be figured out. Waving to the crowd below, she bowed in thanks. She owed them for sending someone up the mountain to fetch her son.

Turning away from the balcony she walked to the front door so she could see her son's face as soon as he made it up the stairs.

Out of breath, half-dressed, the man walked straight to his mother enveloping her a big hug. Happy to see her alive and untouched. He then turned to the officer. Speaking perfect Spanish he asked what was the cause of their visit.

Spanish flew faster and faster between the officer and her son. Soon it grew louder as her son kept shaking his head no. Tired of not knowing what was going on in her own home, she once more stood between men talking. Holding up her hand she quietly said: "Stop."

She had everyone's attention. She asked why they were here. She had things to get done today. She didn't have time for any more foolishness. She knew she had done nothing wrong.

Her son turned to her explaining the soldiers were at her house to arrest her for selling food on the black market. She looked at him like he had grown a third eye. Laughing, she asked why in the world would she do that. Not to leave out she had no idea how to even go about embarking on something like that.

Her son explained, worry showing on his face, they had evidence it all lead to her. Her spine straightens even further as she turned to the officer in charged and said one word. "Where!"

Raising an eyebrow the officer barked out a command. Shuffling could be heard as something was being passed through the ranks. Catching a small glance of the package her eyes widened. A thing that wasn't lost on the officer in charge as the package was placed in his hands.

Staring her in the face was the care packages she made for anyone to take for free when in need. Oh, Lord...

~Good Night...