Areli is a Dreamer: A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA Recipient Flashcards
When evening came, she sat around a noisy table and ate mounds of tortillas and pollo con frijoles for supper - her favorite.
Areli is a dreamer
At Abuela’s house, Saturdays were filled with family and sunshine.
Areli is a dreamer
“It’s your mama and papa,” said Abuela.
Areli is a dreamer
“From America!”
Areli is a dreamer
“Hola, mi nina,” said Mama.
Areli is a dreamer
“Did you get the toys we sent you?” asked Papa.
Areli is a dreamer
Papa always asked about the toys.
Areli is a dreamer
“Gracias, Mama. Gracias, Papa.”
Areli is a dreamer
Mama and Papa had been away so long, they felt like strangers.
Areli is a dreamer
“When are you coming home?” she asked.
Areli is a dreamer
She knew the answer.
Areli is a dreamer
“Oh, mija, we can’t come back to Mexico,” said Mama.
Areli is a dreamer
“We’re trying to get you here to America. With us.”
Areli is a dreamer
“Your mama and I dream of the day we will all be together,” said Papa.
Areli is a dreamer
“We will send for you soon. I promise.”
Areli is a dreamer
“Mama and Papa think about us all the time,” he said.
Areli is a dreamer
“They’re working hard, mija,” Abuela siad,” for all of us. They want us to have a better life.”
Areli is a dreamer
Abuela had told her the answer many times.
Areli is a dreamer
” You were born here, so it’s harder for you.”
Areli is a dreamer
“How hard?”
Areli is a dreamer
Abuela didn’t answer.
Areli is a dreamer
“Your mama and papa want you all to be together. As a family.”
Areli is a dreamer
But they weren’t all together as a family that year.
Areli is a dreamer
Or Dia delos Muertos.
Areli is a dreamer
Or even Navidad.
Areli is a dreamer
But she already knew.
Areli is a dreamer
“I’m going to Nueva York!”
Areli is a dreamer
He flashed her a big grin and gave her a drawing of the two of them in the yard with the chickens.
Areli is a dreamer
“So you won’t forget us,” he said.
Areli is a dreamer
A few days later, he was gone.
Areli is a dreamer
She was so proud to be at school!
Areli is a dreamer
She learned to tie her shoes and write the letters of the alphabet.
Areli is a dreamer
She played al escondite with her new friends.
Areli is a dreamer
She barely thought of Nueva York at all…until the day Abuela greeted her with tears in her eyes.
Areli is a dreamer
“Your mama and papa are sending someone to take you to New York.
Areli is a dreamer
“I want to stay here with you! And my friends. And my home.
Areli is a dreamer
To live with them at last.”
Areli is a dreamer
Abuela’s voice was shaking.
Areli is a dreamer
Please don’t make me go, Abuela.”
Areli is a dreamer
“If I could take care of you here, I would, my sweet.
Areli is a dreamer
But I am old, and there is no future for you in Mexico.
Areli is a dreamer
You don’t understand now, but someday you will.”
Areli is a dreamer
The next Saturday night’s dinner was very sad.
Areli is a dreamer
She said goodbye to her friends.
Areli is a dreamer
She said goodbye to the mountains and the chickens.
Areli is a dreamer
“I’ll never forget you,” she said.
Areli is a dreamer
They held each other very tightly.
Areli is a dreamer
“This man is a friend of your mama and papa, and he will take you to America,” Abuela said.
Areli is a dreamer
The man was a stranger to her.
Areli is a dreamer
Then she left for her new country.
Areli is a dreamer
Her hair was a different color, and it was curly.
Areli is a dreamer
Papa had lines around his eyes.
Areli is a dreamer
They held each other for a long time.
Areli is a dreamer
Everything in New York was bigger and faster and noisier than in the mountains.
Areli is a dreamer
It wasn’t home at all.
Areli is a dreamer
She couldn’t speak English, and when she tried, the words came out all wrong.
Areli is a dreamer
She made friends with the other girls who could speak Spanish.
Areli is a dreamer
But she couldn’t stop kids from teasing her.
Areli is a dreamer
“She’s so backward!”
Areli is a dreamer
“Her mom cleans my house. She’s our maid!”
Areli is a dreamer
She had never felt this way before.
Areli is a dreamer
“Illegal means against the law,” her mother began.
Areli is a dreamer
“Of course you’re not,” said her mother.
Areli is a dreamer
“But you were born in Mexico.
Areli is a dreamer
So even though you are growing up here in America, you are not a citizen of this country.”
Areli is a dreamer
“I hope so, mija. I hope so.”
Areli is a dreamer
Her mother wouldn’t say anything else.
Areli is a dreamer
“If you’re a citizen, you can do whatever Americans do,” he said.
Areli is a dreamer
She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.
Areli is a dreamer
He wouldn’t look at her. “Without us.”
Areli is a dreamer
But she knew she should stay quiet about her first home in Mexico.
Areli is a dreamer
She did not want to be sent back to Mexico all by herself.
Areli is a dreamer
She did not want to break the law just by being who she was.
Areli is a dreamer
It wasn’t easy.
Areli is a dreamer
By second grade, she could count by fives.
Areli is a dreamer
In third grade, she learned about the Constitution.
Areli is a dreamer
By fourth grade, she could write a book report and read it aloud.
Areli is a dreamer
Now she spoke English like any other girl from America.
Areli is a dreamer
She played jump-rope games and watched TV shows.
Areli is a dreamer
They rode the F train all the way to Coney Island, where she saw the ocean for the first time.
Areli is a dreamer
Every Fourth of July, she was mesmerized by the fireworks in the sky.
Areli is a dreamer
She was a New Yorker.
Areli is a dreamer
They got on a boat and sailed into the Hudson River.
Areli is a dreamer
“More than twelve million immigrants passed through here on their way to America,” said the tour guide.
Areli is a dreamer
“Almost every one of us has family that came to this country from a foreign land.”
Areli is a dreamer
She pictured the millions of other people who had made the long journey to America, and how Lady Liberty welcomed them with ther shining torch.
Areli is a dreamer
She did not feel illegal.
Areli is a dreamer
She felt like she was part of something very big.
Areli is a dreamer
On Saturday, she called her abuela in Mexico.
Areli is a dreamer
“Are you working hard?” Abuela asked.
Areli is a dreamer
She told Abuela all about Ellis island.
Areli is a dreamer
“Those immigrants are part of America.
Areli is a dreamer
Remember when you said I might have a brighter future here, Abuela?”
Areli is a dreamer
I think I understand now. And I think you were right.
Areli is a dreamer
She might be a writer and tell her story.
Areli is a dreamer
She might be a teacher to help children who found themselves in this new land.
Areli is a dreamer
“Someday, I will.”
Areli is a dreamer
