Andrés Segovia is looking up at the morning sky. Tears are streaming from his eyes. He wants to live in this sun all the days of his life. He is suddenly afraid of spending years and years in prison. Perhaps he deserves to be punished. But in this one second of clarity, he wants to become that old word he heard long ago. Emancipated. He is thinking that he will never be worthy of that word.
Father Enrique Fuentes, pastor of San Ignacio Catholic Church, is blessing the casket of an eight-year-old girl named Angela Gonzalez. He is sad for his church and for his people. These people have nothing. And after today, they have even less. The people who live here, most of them live for better days.
The church is filled to capacity. All the news stations have a reporter present. Angela will be headlines for yet another day. Politicians have sprinkled themselves among the congregation—two county commissioners, three members of the city council, two judges who are running for reelection.
Among those present is Mister Delgado. He could not keep himself away. Liz had lectured him the night before about attending a stranger’s funerals. “It’s not a zoo, Mister. It’s not a show.”
“I know, Liz.” But he is there. His presence is sincere. After mass, he will stop in and visit Vicente. He will hold him tight, then go back to work.