Chapter 2

Now that brings me back to watching that girl hide in my truck. I walk out pushing my groceries. Things you can’t find in a Panamanian store. Things like peanut butter, cornmeal and pickles. You never know how much you miss simple things until you can’t find them. Things like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pickles on your hamburger or cornbread. As I put my purchases in the truck I say, “Just stay quiet. I am not going to turn you in. But we do have to pass a police check point. If you remain still there will be no problem.” I said this in Spanish and I heard a “Gracias” in reply.

The Sgt. running the checkpoint just waved me through and I waved at him. He received a Christmas bonus for his service every year from the coffee company so I knew he would not be a problem. A little further down the road I stopped and told the girl to get in the passenger seat of my four door truck. My groceries were on the back seat. The road was going to turn to sand and rock so riding back there was going to get real uncomfortable. That’s when I got my first good look at her.

She was dirty and stunk of body odor. I thought maybe I had made a mistake letting her ride in the cab with me but it was too late now. I asked if she was Colombian and she answered that she was from Medellin. She was on her way to the States to start a new life. Things were just too tough in Colombia.

I told her to stay quiet as I pulled up to the gate at the bridge over the river. As one of my men opened the gate I asked the other to secure the bridge for the night, meaning I did not want any visitors. No mention was made of my companion. As I drove across the bridge I noticed her grab the seat.

“This bridge is perfectly safe. I regularly drive my 2 ton truck across so do not be afraid.” It did sway a little as we crossed.

At the house I parked in the garage which is located under the house. That would keep my new sprayers from getting rained on tonight. As we exited the truck I told her to wait before I opened the door to the stairs leading up to the house.

“The washing machine is down here and your clothes need to be washed. Strip off and I will bring you a towel.” I hurried up the stairs and found a big beach towel and brought it back to her. She was standing there shivering in her bra and panties.

“Cover up and take off your underwear and leave all your clothes here. I will put them in the washer while you bathe.” I led her up the stairs to my bedroom which has an in-suite bath.

“This is my bedroom and bath. Feel free to use any soap or shampoo you want. There are razors in the drawer by the sink. Make yourself at home and get cleaned up. If you need anything just look around I am sure you will find it. I will have something for you to eat when you get finished.” I shut the bedroom door and went to the kitchen.

It was a half an hour later when she re-appeared. And all I could say was WOW! In English I said, “You sure clean up nice.” In almost perfect English she said, “Thank you.”

“You can speak English! Where did you learn?”

“At the university.”

“That’s why I want to go the United States. I think it would be easy for me to get a job there since I know the language. You are American right?”

“I was born in Panama but grew up in the states, now I am back running this coffee farm.”

“You don’t mind that I borrowed some of your clothes do you? All my things were stolen in Colombia. All I have is what I had on.”