| Stories about Honduras |
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His name was Ruben. He was, as I later learned, the sweeper of the floor
for the market in Santa Rosa de Copan. Josh, my Peace Corps volunteer and
interpreter, was taking me around the city on a tour. I had the easiest
job on the team. I was the bus driver for the workers. My CB handle (how
we kept in contact with each other) was "Mobile 1", and I ferried the real
workers to and from the Hotel and the Hospital. We had a little time and
off we went for our tour. We were walking around the market when Josh offered
to take a picture of me with my camera in the market. I was trying hard
not to pose as I posed for the picture when I noticed a man right next
to me. He was about 55 years old and was holding a broom and grinning irrepressibly
as he stuck his face near mine to get into the picture. I told Josh to
wait and pulled Ruben next to me, my arm around him (I'm 6'3" and Hondurans
average a lot less). The photo was snapped and away went Ruben. The workers
in the market were enjoying the moment and I asked one of them who he was.
Through Josh, I learned his name, and that he was "not quite right." His
"home" was the market and as far as anyone knew, he had no family. The
moment passed and on we went. It was one of many moments I had during my
stay. After I got home, I had the film developed and remembered Ruben as
I saw the picture. It is a great picture, that I cherish to this day. The
next year when we went back to Santa Rosa, I took a copy of it with me.
Going to the market I found Ruben. He seemed to remember the tall gringo,
and I pulled out the picture. All of the nearby workers had seen it and
were anxious for his reaction. It turns out he had never seen a picture
of himself. Ruben took one look at the picture, took the picture itself
and let out a shout/scream of surprise and joy. He stared at it for a second
then, without warning or word, ran away. The look on his face was wondrous
and wonderful. I know I did not change that man's life, but I do think
I shared a joyous moment with him. And my life has certainly been changed.
Bill Wendell 7/26/99
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