The Road of Life Page #3

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Louder. Speak up, I understand anything.

Pedro Romero, at your service.

Hush, hush!

What, you don't bring a handkerchief? Blow your nose and say your name.

Go on, tell us, what's your name?

Pedro Romero, at your service.

Hush, hush!

"Pedro Romero, at your service."

Children, children!

Children!

Children!

You come here.

Guys, show some respect!

How well you start your first day of school!

But I'll teach you to respect me. Stand there facing the wall.

Silence! Silence!

Silence! Everyone to their places.

In punishment for your insolence you'll all remain an extra hour in class...

and you won't go to recess in the playground across the street tomorrow morning.

~ No!

~ Silence! Silence!

Fight, don't run, Dumbo!

~ Fight, don't run, brat!

~ I don't run off!

Miserable mute, I'll separate your soul! Come on, fight!

You stay away, stay away, beggar!

Look out, here comes the director, the director!

Come on, recess is over!

But what's all this? Thugs!

Do you think this is a ring for cockfighting?

He was the one who started it, professor!

I don't want to fight, but he jumped on me.

Very nice, just yesterday you came and you're getting in trouble,...

but I'm going to do whatever it takes to straighten you out. Walk.

Over there.

To help you learn, today you skip dinner.

Don't move from here until I get back.

And don't even think of fighting again, because you'll learn who I am!

Whenever you want, we'll have another go at it.

I haven't even started in on you yet, shrimp!

The past tense of the verb to love in the indicative: "I loved", "you loved", "he loved",

"We loved", "you loved", "they loved".

Let's see who can repeat it.

Not you, Pedro. I know you can but you'd better tell me later, alone.

You, Roberto.

The past tense of the verb to love in the indicative:

"I loved", "you loved", "he loved", "we loved", "you..."..."you..."

~ "You loved."

~ "You loved."

Silence! Silence! Silence!

Today I'll punish you all.

I told you not to talk, Pedro.

Well, this... you, Rafal. You repeat it.

What the hell is going on here? They can hear your laughter in the street! Sit down.

What's the story, Professor Magana?

Are you unable to maintain discipline in this group?

Can't you wield your authority?

Mr. Director, I can no longer take my class with Pedro Romero. Or he goes or I go.

He unwittingly is a distraction. All he does is open his mouth and all hell breaks loose.

This happens several times a day. I can't do this anymore.

Assert yourself by harshly punishing the guilty.

It is useless to try to prevent Pedro from talking during class.

Every day I stick around with him to give see to his lessons,...

because others can't stand his voice.

It's totally useless. I'd better quit.

I'm not stopping you.

I already got all the drops that available at the pharmacy and that cold or whatever doesn't go away.

On top of that there's daily punishment for his quarrels.

Pedro, go to my office and stand there for an hour.

Then come and apologize to your teacher.

I don't know why this defect of your companion is so funny.

Suppose any one you were lame, one-eyed, or humpbacked...

and people mock of you, what would you make of it?

The next time you resume this scandal...

I'll suspend you all, so you stop your nonsense. Remember that!

~ Professor, Professor.

~ What is it, Antonio?

~ I want to say a word.

~ Let's see, say them.

"Pedro Romero, in God's service and yours."

"Mr. Pedro Romero, Rancho El Ccono,...

"Saint Damin de las Tunas, Guanajuato.

"Dear Dad:
...

"like I mentioned in my other letters, I still very happy at school.

"All my friends are good people.

"They treat me well and don't make fun of me or treat me badly like there in the village.

"I don't fight. I even think I'm becoming able to vocalize a little bit.

"I study a lot and I'm good.

"Also my teacher and Don Panchito like me.

"I eat my fill and it's all very tasty.

"Anyway I miss you a lot, and my mom, and my uncle Jacinto and my donkey 'the crooked'.

"You don't know how eager I am sometimes to go there,...

"but not because they don't want me here but because I miss you a lot."

I won't hurt you in the throat.

Beware fighting again because you'll expelled from school.

God! How did you like that seat?

Oh, he poked my eye out! Oh, my eye!

My, my, my eye! Oh, my God, he tore my eye out!

Look for the director, get him to come immediately! Call the Red Cross.

It's time for your tablet.

As I say, suddenly I didn't know what I did,...

but then I realized and I got very scared.

I thought they were taking me to jail.

When Don Panchito told me he would bring me here, I was more scared than ever.

You see:
here rather than scolding or punishing me...

I saw many doctors and women who asked many questions,...

to see why I'm such a messer.

Then the director told me I had to have surgery on my throat...

so I could speak well and no one would make fun of me.

And you see, I speak well and I won't have to fight with anyone.

All I want is for my papa came to see me and take me away.

Your dad is coming soon. Don't worry. When he comes you can go with him.

Well, Pedro, try to behave yourself from now on,...

be studious and try to really become a useful man.

While you're here we'll continue to see each other.

Well, well, well. Don't be sorry anymore.

Come on, tell me what you want to be when you grow up?

I don't know.

Would you like to study?

Yes, but I hardly could so far.

My mom never could get my books...

and then they scold me at school for not having them.

And what if I buy you the books, would you study a lot?

Yes, sir. Do you know? I'd like to be an aviator to handle these huge airplanes that fly along.

Doctor, if I take responsibility for Luis, would you consign him to my care?

Naturally, Counselor, I don't think he could be in better hands.

I think I could put his mother in charge of my house,...

so I could insure that Luis and his sister were well cared for and would come to a school.

Magnificent.

If you want, tomorrow I'll have all the papers ready for you to sign...

and in a few days you'll have Luis.

Perfectly. Then, with your permission I'll retire. I'll come sign them tomorrow. Until morning, doctor.

Good evening, Counselor.

Until tomorrow, Luis.

Don't cry. Don't cry, calm down. Every one of us here will give you love.

Sit.

I'll be right back. I'll prepare something to calm you down.

What's wrong? Why are you crying? Are they going to operate on you, too?

Leave him alone, Pedro, don't bother him.

Let's see, I'll give you a nip you'll hardly notice.

You see how painless? You see? There we go.

Try to get some sleep, it will do you good. Later I'll bring clean clothes so you can change.

They operated on my throat so I could speak well, but it didn't hurt.

I went to sleep and felt nothing. When I woke up, I could speak well.

They brought me here because I accidently took out an eye from another boy.

And you, why are you here?

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