Blanca rustled in her bed sheets and threw her soft, fuzzy blanket on the floor. With temperatures in the 100s during the day, a comforter on the bed was just too hot. Bedtime was hours ago, but she had awakened and couldn’t get back to sleep. Such an aggravation. Her only comfort was that tomorrow was Saturday. At least there was a chance she could sleep in.
Wait. What was that noise? Oh yeah. Blanca knew that sound. Since her bedroom was just one wall away from the front door of their home, she could hear everyone’s comings and goings. Glancing at her clock, she couldn’t help but think, What is Carlito doing coming in at this time? Carlito was her teenage brother, a troublemaker in the family.
Blanca could hear him stumbling around making far more noise than usual. What a jerk, she thought. He deserves to get in trouble. This would serve him right.
Then, out of the blue, Blanca heard her father step into the hallway. Wow. Papa sure could yell when he was mad!
“Carlito!”
Blanca nearly fell out of bed, shocked by the volume and intensity of her father’s voice. “Carlito, what do you think you are doing coming home at this hour?”
Oops. Carlito knew he was in trouble. At least he ought to have known, but still he answered with a flippant response. “Why? What’s it to you?”
Blanca actually hid under her covers waiting for her father’s response. It wasn’t going to be good, that’s for sure. She couldn’t actually see Papa’s face, but she imagined it bright red and ready to explode even more. Holding her breath, she waited.
“Have you been drinking?” bellowed her father. “Have you been out in the desert? What have you been doing?”
“Only hanging out with my friends,” replied Carlito, his words blurring. “I didn’t do anything that the other guys don’t do. Relax, Dad.”
Blanca heard her grandmother, her abuela, come into the hallway. Abuela lived with them and always tried to protect the children. Tonight was no different.
“Carlos,” she said to her son, Carlito’s father, “now is not the time. Let us go back to sleep and deal with this tomorrow.”
There was a long pause. Blanca had all sorts of thoughts running through her head. Carlito might be beyond help at this point. He certainly was asking for it.
Finally, Blanca heard her father mutter, “Go to bed, Carlito. We will deal with this in the morning.”
There may have been some input from her mother, but Blanca was surprised not to hear more from her papa. She was certainly surprised he didn’t react more, maybe with his belt. Blanca had never been spanked, but Carlito had met Papa’s strap many times. Astonished that tonight wasn’t another opportunity for the strap, Blanca instead heard her papa slam the bedroom door, Abuela quietly go back to her bedroom, and Carlito slither into his own room. Thank goodness!
Blanca hoped that would be the end to any disruption the night, but no. Instead, she was jarred awaked two more times by the sounds of her brother retching in the bathroom. Good grief, she thought, he might puke all night. Though Carlito was down the hall in the bathroom, Blanca found the echoes and odor made her feel nauseated as well. Ugh.
Then, at 5:30 in the morning, Blanca heard another sound. What was that? Her father was pounding on Carlito’s door.
“Get up! You have a paper route. You need to make your deliveries!”
Okay, this is funny, Blanca thought. Serves him right. Carlito pleaded for mercy, begging for more time to sleep,
but none came. Papa made him get up, dress, and be ready to go, even if there was a decrepit stench coming from him. Vomit and liquor were not the best combination.
Papa took Carlito out and forced him to make his newspaper deliveries.
Blanca chuckled and went back to sleep.
The whole house came alive at 8 am. Mama and Abuela made a wonderful breakfast that smelled like bliss to Blanca. Unfortunately, when Papa and Carlito came in from the deliveries, Carlito turned a strange color of green and ran to bathroom. The rest of the family enjoyed a scrumptious meal. Blanca fought off her laughter as she thought of Carlito. Blanca actually thought that was going to be the end of it, but after breakfast Papa went to Carlito’s room and hammered on the door once again.
“Get up, Carlito! Take a shower. We are going to visit your bisabuela. Don’t take too long!”
Blanca heard Carlito whine. “Why, Dad? I don’t want to go visit my great-grandmother. She’s okay, but she’s so old. The whole house even smells like old people. Can’t I just stay here and sleep?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?” sneered Blanca’s father, his eyes narrowing into tiny slots no bigger than a coin edge.
Again, Blanca thought Carlito would get smacked, but he was lucky that time.
“Never mind,” snickered Carlito. “I’ll take a shower.” Blanca snorted. This day was going to be a real treat,
mostly because it would make her brother so miserable. It brought a smile to her face. Seeing her brother suffer really was a pleasure.
The drive to Nogales took only ninety minutes, but crossing the border took even longer. That’s why Blanca knew this trip was important. Mama was never thrilled to wait in line at the crossing but rode in the back seat to keep Blanca and Carlito from squabbling. Abuela sat in the front passenger seat. Like most of her family, Abuela was from Old Mexico, and she was anxious to go back to her home country.
Blanca agreed with her mother. It was a hassle to go through the border with all of the delays, especially coming home when everyone had to show identification, but it was a pain with which Blanca could easily live. Her bisabuela lived with her daughter, Blanca’s great aunt, her tía abuela, in Nogales, Sonora, just over the Mexican border. Though a small town, Nogales had plenty of attractions as far as Blanca was concerned.
Blanca genuinely enjoyed visiting the old county. Intrigued by history, she loved seeing the brightly colored houses and enjoyed the aromas that came from the different vendors selling what her father called “authentic Mexican food” right on the streets. Her mouth actually watered despite the fact that she was still stuffed from breakfast.
As they pulled in next to the bright blue house with the neon yellow flower boxes, Blanca grew excited. Before the engine of their station wagon was off, she burst from the car and ran to the door. She exploded into the house with a booming greeting of love and exhilaration, without even knocking. Blanca adored this house and everyone around it, in it, or even nearby. Mexico was heaven on earth, a beautiful paradise for everyone.
Blanca was greeted in much the same way. Being the only granddaughter (and great-granddaughter) to the women she adored gave her a special place of honor. How much fun it was to feel that boundless, overwhelming adoration. She could only sigh with deep satisfaction as she hugged her bisabuela and tía abuela, her grandmother’s sister, with sincere affection. Can anyone really explain the love of a grandmother? Blanca’s abuela was overcome with joy as well. She had not seen her mother or sibling for a long time. Blanca saw tears roll down Abuela’s cheek.
Blanca’s parents, with Carlito trailing behind as slowly as a sick snail, entered the house soon after. Even amidst the delight of the greetings the women had for the family, Blanca could tell they were extremely concerned about Carlito. It was scary, even to Blanca.
After greetings of affection and hugs all around, Blanca heard her father ask her bisabuela, his grandmother, something in Spanish. By the look on his face, she knew it was time for her to “go outside and play.” If she was sneaky enough, she just might be able to stay close enough to the door to hear what they were going to say. Declaring her intention to play outside, Blanca let the screen door slam as she ran out into the yard.
Back indoors, the family started a conversation that Carlito was not particularly happy to hear, but Blanca knew that he was kept in his chair by their father’s glare. As Bisabuela only spoke Spanish, her daughter, Abuela, translated for him. Blanca, standing close outside so she could hear and actually watch much of the action, knew Carlito wanted to roll his eyes, but she was also keenly aware that Carlito recognized that the backhand of his father’s fist would follow, so he kept quiet and tried to keep any emotion from showing on his face. Of course, Blanca was smiling ear-to-ear.
One sentence at a time soon grew into long, quickly recited information. From the best Blanca could hear, the story went something like this:
“Recuerdas, Mija,” began Bisabela. “Cuando eras una adolescente y esos chicos malos a quienes creías tus amigos.” The oldest woman spoke to Blanca’s father.
“You remember, Mija. It was when you were a teenager and, how you say, uh hanging with those bad boys you called your friends,” translated Blanca’s abuela while glaring at Carlitos.
“Te lo había dicho y te había dicho que te quedaras en el interior para no entrar en el desierto.”
“She told your father again and again to stay indoors, to not go into the desert.”
“Eso fue por lo que había ocurrido en mi pueblo cuando era una niña pequeña.”
“That was because of what had happened in her village when she was a small girl, a very young girl, younger even than Blanca.”
The words began to flow like a river and sounded like a flood rushing past. Blanca could hardly keep up with both grandmothers.
“El origen de nuestrafamilia se remonta a la gente Jakalket y vivió en las estribaciones de las montañas Cuchwmatan en el noroeste de Guatemala. Mi abuelo trasladó a la familia a Coatzacollos, México, ‘El lugar donde se esconde la serpiente.’ Este es el lugar donde Quetzalcoatl hizo su último viaje al mar hace más de mil años. Coatzacollos era un lugar difícil para le sobrevivencia de familia, así que el padre de mi madre se trasladó todo el norte al pueblo de Huaulta de Jiménez, Oaxaco, México. La familia comenzó a criar cabras por su leche. Vivieron allí muchos años antes de que comenzaran los problemas. De hecho, ese era el pueblo en el que nacimos nosotros dos, tu tía abuela y yo.”
“Our family dates back to the Jakalket people and lived in the foothills of the Cuchwmatan Mountains in northwest Guatemala. Mi abuelo’s grandfather moved the family to Coatzacollos, Mexico, ‘The place where the snake hides.’ This is the place Quetzalcoatl made his final journey to the sea over a thousand years ago. Coatzacollos was a difficult place for the family to survive, so my mother’s father moved everyone north to the pueblo of Huaulta de Jiménez, Oaxaca, Mexico. The family began to raise goats for their milk. They lived there many years before the problems began. In fact, that was the pueblo in which both of us, your tía abuela and I, were born.”
At this point, Blanca simply had to tune out her great- grandmother, her bisabuela, and just listen to Abuela.
“The terror began when your great-grandmother was a small child. She heard terrible screaming from the herd of goats. Terrified, she scurried to tell her mama. The screams had come very close to where your bisabuela had been. Her mama, my abuela, sounded an alarm and everyone ran as fast as they could to find the animals. When they arrived, many of the goats were dead and all of the blood had been sucked from their bodies.
“This happened many times as the years passed, and not just to our family. It happened to other familias as well. Every occasion began with ghastly screams and ended with many goats dead with no blood. Some people were able to see the creature doing these evil deeds. They described it as walking on two feet with spikes on its back and long, sharp teeth. A name soon followed: El Chupacabra.”
At this point, Blanca realized that her bisabela had actually stopped speaking. Her abuela was simply going through the tale from her own memories.
“When I was born, I knew little of these happenings. My mama and papa were very careful with me, though. It was a rule that I could never be out of their sight, but one time when I was about cinco, oh I mean five, years old, I decided to have an adventure. I wandered off and began to pretend I was an exploradora, an explorer. What fun! But I didn’t watch the time, and the darkness began to fall. That was when I heard those dreadful cries. I, too, started my own ear- piercing screams and headed home, running and crying, nearly frightened to death! When I finally arrived at our home, the look of terror in my parents’ eyes told me they had been very worried. Both of them grabbed me and hugged me and started talking very fast. They told me of El Chupacabra, the goat sucker. I had nightmares all night!
“In fact, my nightmares continued for weeks, and that is when my papa decided he was no longer willing to put his family in danger. Papa told everyone, including tías and tíos, aunts and uncles, that we were moving to America. That is why we came to this country, and why your papa and you and Blanca are Americans. You are so lucky.” Taking a breath, she glared at Carlito.
That pause gave Blanca her chance. “What about mama?” asked Blanca, who had finally given up with pretending to play outside. “Did she know about El Chupacabra?” she called through the screen door.
“Sí. My family was with your father’s familia when we came to America. Your father and I were born in Arizona as well,” replied her mama, “and we knew El Chupacabra very well.”
“I am tired now,” Abuela interjected, “and I think the stories are upsetting your bisabuela. Perhaps we should go and your father can tell you the rest of the story on our way home.”
“There’s more?” exclaimed Carlito and Blanca at the same moment. However, Blanca was thrilled; Carlito was not.
“Yes,” replied their father. “There is more, but your abuela is correct. We need to start home. Let’s get to the car.” Kisses and hugs were exchanged, for the most part anyway. Carlito thought he was too old for that, but their papa insisted he say good-bye and thank his great aunt and great-
grandmother. Blanca did it with love and without prodding.
When they finally managed to settle down in the automobile, Blanca was ready to hear more. Jumping up and down, even though she wore a seat-belt, she begged her father to continue.
“I am a little tired,” grumbled her papa. “Let’s make it through the border crossing before I say anymore.”
There was no use in arguing, so Blanca began to relax and melt into the seat. Once they were at the crossing, the tempo of the car (slow, very slow) and the rhythm of the engine (not much faster) lulled Blanca into a light slumber. It might have occurred to her that the nap was her father’s intention, but she was too tired to notice. She fell deeper and deeper into dreamland…
Wait! As soon as Blanca realized they were moving again, she became wide awake. Sensing the situation, though, she decided to stay quiet and act like a slumbering baby. A shrewd smile crossed her lips.
“Carlito, I am going to finish the story of El Chupacabra, but I want you to listen, not speak. It is not easy for me to share, so please stay silent.”
Carlito nodded to show he understood, but his expression didn’t seem very interested. Blanca, silent as a saguaro in the desert, was ecstatic.
“When I was about your age, I started to make friends with some boys who were not the best influence. Of course, it is easier to blame them than take responsibility for myself.
“We lived in Picture Rocks. Do you remember visiting there when you were younger, Carlito? It is just a small community west of Tucson.”
Again, it was easily apparent that Carlito wanted to roll his eyes. Instead, he spoke up and said, “Can’t you just call me Carl like my friends do?”
Well, that did it. Carlos began to pull the car off the road. Blanca figured her papa was ready to use that belt and use it well.
“No, please don’t pull over,” Blanca’s mother and grandmother said at the same time. “Please.”
“Alright, I will not pull the car to the side of the road, but one more interruption, and I promise you I will, Carlito! I am tired of your mouth.”
The story continued. “I was out with my friends in the desert.”
“Why were you in the desert?” asked Blanca, forgetting that she was trying to pretend to be asleep.
“When I say no interruptions, I mean no interruptions from anyone. Have I made myself clear?”
Blanca and Carlito were smart enough not to answer aloud. They just nodded vigorously, making sure their father saw their response.
“I assume you are not speaking to me with that statement, my son,” said Abuela. “I assume you know not to talk to me that way.”
The kids’ mama actually burst out laughing, but no one else dared make a peep.
“Of course, not, mama,” said Carlos. “I would never speak that way to you.”
“And never like that to your wife, either. Am I right?” “Of course, Mama. Never to either of you.”
Blanca was surprised her mother could stifle her snicker, but she did.
“Good. Now I can return to the story. One night we were in the desert drinking beer, when we suddenly heard hideous, unbearable screams. We could not tell if the shrieks were from a predator or victim, or maybe both. We just knew that something sounded like death, and horrifying demise at that.”
“You were old enough to drink?” asked Carlito, forgetting not to interrupt.
“No! I wasn’t old enough! But I thought I knew everything, as my son does today,” yelled Carlos.
“What happened next?” inquired Blanca, also forgetting. After a short glare, Carlos continued. “We were too stupid to admit we were terrified. Instead, we decided to check out what was going on. As we moved silently through the desert, we came closer and closer to the brawl.
“Just when we were almost upon it, we suddenly saw a silhouette in the moonlight. It was easy to figure out what was happening. The shadows spoke, and we saw a huge creature using some sort of small animal as a toy that was about to be torn apart. It was hard to actually know what we were seeing, but when we saw the shadow seem to turn and look at us, that we understood.
“We ran, and I mean we zoomed across that desert landscape as fast as rockets. Yes, it was hard because the desert was so dark, but that didn’t stop us. From somewhere in back of us, we could hear the snorts and growling as some sort of weird animal was chasing us, and it was catching up!
“We continued our pace all the way back to Picture Rocks, splitting up only as we neared our homes. The creature was almost upon us when my friend Javier jumped into his yard.
“Unfortunately, my house was the farthest away, so I was the last to reach safety. Just as I turned at our street, I felt hot breath on my neck and then a scratch on my back. Even though I was wearing a coat, the claw of the beast was able to bring blood to my backside. Luckily, I still had a bottle of beer in my hand. I threw it behind me without even stopping or eyeing what it was attacking me. I was just too freaked out.
“Thank God I had that bottle and was able to distract my assailant. Judging from the horrifying sounds behind me, I could tell the monster had fallen behind ever so slightly. The grunting and shrieks from our hidden assailant never stopped until I reached home, hurried inside, and slammed the door.”
“I was worried, very worried,” Abuela interjected. “That’s why I was waiting up for your father.”
“And I thank the Lord she was there, because no sooner had I sat down to tell her what happened, we heard a noise that was the most terrifying commotion I have ever come across. I had no idea what would make those sounds until your abuela figured it out. That’s when she screamed out….
“Of course I screamed! It was El Chupacabra coming in the cat door! It was coming for both us! So I grabbed your father and ran to my bedroom and locked the door behind us!”
“What happened then?” Carlito asked. Finally, he had become interested in the tale.
“We heard the creature get stuck in the cat door,” replied Papa. “The screaming turned different. Hard to describe, for sure. It just sounded so angry! We could hear El Chupacabra thrashing around, trying to get clear of the door, but it couldn’t make it into our home.”
“But I don’t understand,” whispered Carlito. Raising his voice slightly, he asked, “How do you know it was El Chupacabra if you never actually saw what it was?”
“Because the next morning we found our cat, el gato negro, dead in the front yard. All the blood had been sucked from his handsome black body. When I picked him up, he was like an empty sack. It truly was hideous.”
Abuela continued right where Carlos left off. “We also found that each of the families from the boys who had been in the desert had suffered the loss of an animal. One lost a cow, another a horse, and almost every dog in the neighborhood was dead. How did they die? Each had been sucked dry of blood!”
“Oh my God!” said Carlito. “It could kill animals as large as a horse or cow? That means it could easily kill a human!”
“We were safe, but your father was lucky. He could have died that night, and he could have caused my death,” said Abuela. “And there would be no Blanca or Carlito.”
Both of the kids’ faces were chalk white and their eyes were huge, round, and looked ready to pop out of their heads. “Enough of this,” declared their mother. “No more in front of Blanca!”
Blanca wanted to protest, but the truth was that she was terrified, so she really didn’t mind. By the looks of Carlito, she thought he didn’t either. They both had learned a lesson, that was for sure.
The desert, especially at night, never looked the same to them again.
Mijos! Mijas! Do you understand? My brother, your Tío Abuelo, could have died! That is why I worry so when you want to go out at night in the desert. Please, por favor, do not make my heart give out. Do not wander in the night! Do not go into the desert! El Chupacabra lives there still and will come for you as it did Carlito. I do not want to lose my grandchildren, mis preciosos nietos, to the Goat Sucker.