Read Across the Great River for Free Online

the hoe in hand, blocking the sun from my eyes with the other hand. I see a vehicle that approaches slowly, so I drop everything and run to meet it.
    â€œMama! Welcome back!” I shout. I stop in front of her. “Oh, Mama! That is the most beautiful skirt I have ever seen.”
    â€œDo you like it, Kata? I hated to spend the money, but in town one must look decent, especially whenlooking for a job.” She holds the skirt out and circles around.
    â€œYou needed a new skirt, Mama.”
    She falls on her knees to hug me. “I missed you, Katarina. I have a little present for you and for Pablito.”
    â€œPablito! Where are you?” I shout, glancing around.
    Mama enters the house and greets Anita, who is preparing tacos and a drink for Don Juan. I follow at their heels, eager to hear the news.
    â€œAnita,” says Mama, “we are back at last. With your blessing, I have found a job as a seamstress and Don Juan knows the lady for whom I am to work. It is good, no?”
    â€œAh, at long last Don Juan has the privilege of repaying his duties to mankind. It is just,” grins Anita.
    Don Juan removes his hat and smiles, “I always try to help. You know that, dear Anita.”
    â€œI know, Don Juan. It just takes you a long time to figure out how to be of help. That’s all,” snaps Anita.
    Mama turns to me, “Kata, go fetch Pablito.”
    I turn and run outside. I run completely around the house and I do not see him, so I run back into the house. “I cannot find Pablito.”
    â€œWhat!” gasps Mama. “Surely, he’s around here some place.”
    All of us hurry out the back door. Mama leads while I follow, but I glance back to see that Anita and Don Juan are stuck together in the door.
    â€œMove man, or I shall clobber you!” shouts Anita.
    â€œBe calm, Anita dear. The madder you get, the harder it is for me to slip through.”
    â€œPablito!” shouts Mama. “Baby, come to Mama!”
    I hear him cry softly like a kitten, so I run to the outhouse, thinking he might be playing behind it. He is not there, so I turn and look toward the well. I see many stones lying loosely on the ground and then I notice a hole in the wall. It had not been there before. “Mama! Anita!” I shout. “Come, look!” I point to the well wall.
    Anita runs over and sticks her head down into the well. “Pablito!” she calls.
    Don Juan pulls her back. “Get away woman or you shall be down there!” With one great heave he moves her out of the way, then he climbs to the top of the rail to peer down into the well. “Yes, I see something, but I need my flashlight from the truck.”
    â€œI’ll get it, Don Juan.” I tear across the garden, leaping rows of plants. When I return, I am breathless. “Here.”
    Don Juan hangs onto the rope with one hand, then flicks on the light with the other. Again I hear a small cry that seems to echo from within the well.
    â€œMy baby, my baby!” screams Mama.
    Anita grabs her and hugs her tightly. “Be calm. We shall get him up. Be thankful that since we can hear him cry, we know he is alive, and that I will be able to work with him.”
    Don Juan jumps off the well and races to the front of the house. He drives his old truck over the garden, smashing the plants, and parks it as close to the well wall as he dares. From the bed of the truck he pulls a long rope and ties it to the front bumper. “It is a good thing I bought this rope at the market,” he says. “Anita, hold here,” he commands, “and see to it that the knot does not come loose.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do, you old fool!” she asks.
    He glances up at her. “Something you could not do, my dear.”
    I hug Mama and watch as Don Juan lowers himself into the well. Between his teeth he holds the flashlight. Anita holds tightly to the rope. The seconds seem like hours and soon