(Act One, Scene Two): Rosita: Im not sure that I understand! Ramon, what are you even talking about? Are you saying that you do art? Ramon: Yes, Mama, I do and I have been since I was nine years old. Rosita: Well, why havent you told me about this before? Why is this the first time that Im hearing about this? Ramon: Ive never told you about this before because I was scared of how you might respond and what you may think of my dream if I told you. I was afraid that you may even try to discourage me like the rest of my co-workers do all the time. They say that my art is good, but whenever I talk to them about becoming an artist or wanting to work to La Semilla some day, they get really quiet or begin talking about something else entirely! They always tell me to focus on the responsibilities right in front of me, home and work and to not reach too high in life, to not chase the wind! Rosita (seriously): Ramon, Im afraid that Im going to have to agree with your co-workers on this one! You have responsibilities that you must tend to and art seems to be just a distraction from the more important things in life. As you know, with Papi gone to the States to look for work for these past four months, you are needed to work the fields and farms. Because you are the oldest, you are the man of the house and must fill the hole left by your fathers absence! This is your lot in life as a campesino, and you must accept it! Ramon: Yes, I am a campesino, but today, Alejandro told us that art is a ticket to a better life and an escape from poverty and he is right. I If I am able to work as an artist, then our family wont have to suffer so much! We can earn more for the family from my artwork and I can move the family to a bigger house in a better neighborhood. Papi wont have to keep on leaving us to look for work and we can be a family again, under the same roof. The baby can see a doctor for the first time and we can finally get him some help! Art can do all of that for us and more! Arent those the things that youve always wanted and what youve prayed for the most? Rosita: Indeed, they are, Ramon, but I dont think that art is the way to a better life because I feel that its too risky and too uncertain! To me, youre taking a huge risk and if it doesnt turn out the way you hoped it to, what will you do then? Ramon: But I must take this risk, not just for me but for our family as well! Mama, I may be young, but I see things. I see how worried you look counting the few colons in the small jar on top of the kitchen sink wondering if it will be enough for us to live on until Papi returns or begins sending money home. I see the tears stream down your face as you hold the baby (I have to give him a name), tightly in your arms and wonder if hell make it through the night with no medicine for his fever! I see you looking at the drawing of you and Papi in the living room and wondering how long its been since you last heard him call you Buttercup. Rosita: This is true, but Ramon, youre only 13 years old! You have many responsibilities in life to bear, but youre too young, to bear all of mine as well! My love for your Papi will see m La Palma art is indeed beautiful and inspiring to me. I love looking at the murals on the town walls, on the houses and the art in church. It seems as though you cant go more than a few paces in La Palma, without seeing the work of some dedicated and talented artisan, but it isnt something that I could ever do, and you shouldnt be too concerned with it either. Your foreseeable future is being a campesino and tending the fields just so our family can survive another day! Ramon, you know this! Ramon: But, the farm cant be my only future! It just can’t be! Not when my dream is this strong, this persistent and urgent. Not when it shakes me awake from the nightmare of hopelessness and urges me to continue on. You know, other La Palma artists have risen up from the very same fields that we now work. Other La Palma artists have felt the call to become more and have answered it, and I want to be one of those people. I want to be someone who has no regrets when its all said and done! Today, Alejandro encouraged me to keep my dream alive despite my circumstances and I intend on doing so! He told me to believe in myself, no matter what my circumstances may look like and no matter what odds may be against me! Rosita: Im glad youve met someone so positive and encouraging, Ramon, but please think about this honestly for a moment without letting your passion blind you from stark reality. What money do we have for private art lessons? We cant expect him to teach you for free, that wouldnt be fair to him, would it? Im sorry, but theres no money for anything extra! You must accept that! Also, I know you said that you want to someday go to art school and become a La Palma artisan Ramon: Youve always said that you want a better life for me. Well, art can be that chance, not just for me, but for my brothers and sisters as well, our familys ticket out of poverty. Consuelo is a successful artist. I can teach what Ive learned from him to my siblings and that chance for a better life would finally be possible! Rosita: How would our family survive in the meantime, Ramon? It takes years to get as good as Consuelo, and if by some chance we did have the extra money, I would use it for a regular education, not art school! None of my children know how to read or write and that is necessary for success in this world. What good is it to take a risk and learn art? Risks wont put food on the table, Ramon! (Ramon looks as though he just received some sort of an epiphany and looks excitedly at his mother.) Ramon: Ill be right back! (Ramon runs offstage.) Rosita: Where are you going? Ramon (from offstage): I just have to get something that I want to show you! (Ramon comes back in the room with his sketchpad and gives it to his mother who looks at it in complete shock and amazement.) Rosita: Ramon, whats this? Ramon: Its my sketchpad that has all of my drawings. I do art, Mama! Open it and take a look! (Rosita flips to the first page and looks at the picture, Ramon stands next to her.) Ramon: These are the fields around our house. Here is a campesino coming home from work with a large basket on his shoulder. (Rosita turns the page.) Ramon: This is Mrs. Fuentes washing her familys clothes in the river. Rosita: This is a beautiful picture! It looks just like her too! (Rosita flips the page and with each turn of the page, Ramon becomes more and more excited to tell her about his pictures. They finally reach the end of the sketchpad and Rosita closes it.) Ramon: Well, Mama, what do you think of everything I showed you?” Rosita: All of your drawings are amazing, Ramon! You definitely have a talent for art, thats for sure! I never knew about this side of you and I realize that Im still learning new things about my son. Why have you never shown these to me before? Ramon (shrugs his shoulders): I dont know! I guess I was never really serious about art until now! I just drew every day so that I wouldnt be bored during the field breaks! It was just something that I did to keep my mind occupied. I never really thought of becoming a real artist until I met Consuelo! He encouraged me to continue with my art and saw potential in me! Rosita: From your drawings, anyone can tell that you are already an artist, so why do you want to learn from Consuelo? Ramon: He can be like the big brother I never had and I can work with him someday as a La Palma artisan. I want to do the same thing that he does and bring joy to the people of La Palma through my art. He can become my mentor and challenge me and shape me.” (From offstage, Ramons younger sister Marisol calls out to him.) Ramon: Im coming, Marisol! (Ramon runs offstage.) Rosita: What if Ramons right? What if art is the ticket to a better life for my family like Alejandro had said? Is the life of a campesino merely following tradition or is it keeping our family trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty generation after generation? Is my fear of change keeping Ramon from following his dream? These are the hard questions that I must start asking myself, ones I never thought about until now!” (She puts his sketchpad down on the table, leans over it and closes her eye; a single tear escapes down her cheek.) Rosita: La Palma art is indeed beautiful, Ramon! I love looking at the murals on the walls in town and the crosses in church, but its not something that I could do. I do admire and appreciate art, but Im not too concerned with it and you shouldnt be either. Your future is being a campesino and tending these fields so that our family can survive! Ramon: But, the farm cant be my only future! It just can’t be! Other La Palma artists rose up from the very same fields that we now work. Today, Consuelo encouraged me to keep my dream alive despite my circumstances and I intend on doing so! He told me to believe in myself, no matter what my circumstances may look like. Rosita: Im glad youve met someone so positive and encouraging, Ramon, but think about it! What money do we have for private art lessons? We cant expect him to teach you for free, that wouldnt be fair to him, would it? Im sorry, but theres no money for anything extra! You must accept that! Ramon: Youve always said that you want a better life for me. Well, art can be that chance, not just for me, but for my brothers and sisters as well, our familys ticket out of poverty. Consuelo is a successful artist. I can teach what Ive learned from him to my siblings and that chance for a better life would finally be possible! Rosita: How would our family survive in the meantime, Ramon? It takes years to get as good as Consuelo, and if by some chance we did have the extra money, I would use it for a regular education, not art school! None of my children know how to read or write and that is necessary for success in this world. What good is it to take a risk and learn art? Risks wont put food on the table, Ramon! (Ramon looks as though he just received some sort of an epiphany and looks excitedly at his mother.) Ramon: Ill be right back! (Ramon runs offstage.) Rosita: Where are you going? Ramon (from offstage): I just have to get something that I want to show you! (Ramon comes back in the room with his sketchpad and gives it to his mother who looks at it in complete shock and amazement.) Rosita: Ramon, whats this? Ramon: Its my sketchpad that has all of my drawings. I do art, Mama! Open it and take a look! (Rosita flips to the first page and looks at the picture, Ramon stands next to her.) Ramon: These are the fields around our house. Here is a campesino coming home from work with a large basket on his shoulder. (Rosita turns the page.) Ramon: This is Mrs. Fuentes washing her familys clothes in the river. Rosita: This is a beautiful picture! It looks just like her too! (Rosita flips the page and with each turn of the page, Ramon becomes more and more excited to tell her about his pictures. They finally reach the end of the sketchpad and Rosita closes it.) Ramon: Well, Mama, what do you think of everything I showed you?” Rosita: All of your drawings are amazing, Ramon! You definitely have a talent for art, thats for sure! I never knew about this side of you and I realize that Im still learning new things about my son. Why have you never shown these to me before? Ramon (shrugs his shoulders): I dont know! I guess I was never really serious about art until now! I just drew every day so that I wouldnt be bored during the field breaks! It was just something that I did to keep my mind occupied. I never really thought of becoming a real artist until I met Consuelo! He encouraged me to continue with my art and saw potential in me! Rosita: From your drawings, anyone can tell that you are already an artist, so why do you want to learn from Consuelo? Ramon: He can be like the big brother I never had and I can work with him someday as a La Palma artisan. I want to do the same thing that he does and bring joy to the people of La Palma through my art. He can become my mentor and challenge me and shape me.” (From offstage, Ramons younger sister Marisol calls out to him.) Ramon: Im coming, Marisol! (Ramon runs offstage.) Rosita: What if Ramons right? What if art is the ticket to a better life for my family like Alejandro had said? Is the life of a campesino merely following tradition or is it keeping our family trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty generation after generation? Is my fear of change keeping Ramon from following his dream? These are the hard questions that I must start asking myself, ones I never thought about until now!” (She puts his sketchpad down on the table, leans over it and closes her eye; a single tear escapes down her cheek.)
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 01:36:08 +0000
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