90 Miles to Freedom (10 page)

Coast Guard Perez was a regular with the evening shift aboard the patrols. Perez stood out from the rest of the officers. He was clearly not American born and had a strong Spanish accent, though he spoke English very well. Collin figured Perez would be a great asset to the Coast Guard, in case they happened to find any Cuban refugees floating on rafts in the Florida Strait.

Despite the fact that Collin still felt he was helping people by transporting them from Cuba, he also knew that what he was doing was not only illegal, but also highly dangerous. If Collin were ever caught by the Coast Guard, he would be thrown in jail, though he sometimes wondered if the Coast Guards might show a little compassion and turn a blind eye to what he was doing. While there was a slight possibility of that, Collin knew he would never get any kind of kindness from traffickers. If he were ever caught by human traffickers, he would be killed.

In addition to the occasional day trips with his friends, Collin also took friends scuba diving a few times a week. Everything was a brilliant cover. Not even Collin’s closest friends knew what he was up to. They just thought he was treating them to a fun day on the sea.

Often it was just Collin and Joey in the boat. He and Joey were as close as any brothers could be, and Collin was a typical overprotective big brother.

Even though Joey wasn’t keen on the boat he loved the water as much as Collin did. Collin thought it was important that Joey know everything there was to know about the fishing boat and sonar equipment. He encouraged Joey to learn as much as possible about the ocean and boating. At times Collin wondered if Joey knew more about some things than he did, but Joey never let on.

The other person Collin spent most of his time with was Adelio. They had become friends, sometimes meeting just to fish or enjoy a conversation out on the water.

He learned that Adelio had grown up in poverty and when he had managed to find work he saved every bit of money he could. As he’d grown he’d worked two jobs and long hours. One job paid him small wages and the other job provided him food in exchange for his work. Adelio eventually saved up enough money to purchase a fishing boat. With it he started his own business of helping Cubans, like himself, find a better way of life. Now he was married and his wife was expecting their first baby.

In a way, Adelio reminded Collin of Harriet Tubman. She was the escaped slave from Maryland who had eventually become recognized as the “Moses of her people”. Over ten years she put her own life at tremendous risk so that she could guide hundreds of slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad. When Collin told Adelio that, his friend looked shy but pleased.

Over time Collin and Adelio became the best of friends. Unfortunately, their friendship was limited to whatever they could do on each other’s boats. Collin thought it would be great to bring Adelio home to meet his family and friends. He knew Adelio would enjoy himself and that he would love George’s fine grilling. He thought how awesome it would be if he could take him to a ballgame with some of his other friends.

But Adelio never mentioned coming to America. Collin often wondered why he simply didn’t get on Collin’s boat and go to America with him. But he never asked. And Collin figured if his friend hadn’t mentioned it, there was probably a good reason. He assumed it was because Adelio didn’t want to leave his wife and unborn baby. Then he would be just like his father before him, when he had left his mother and Adelio. It was also probably difficult for the Cuban authorities not to notice a pregnant woman getting onto a fishing boat. And after the baby was born? Well, the sight of a woman with a baby, boarding a boat was even more obvious.

Adelio loved his country. He told Collin all the time about how beautiful it was. He raved about the architecture, the endless countryside and pristine white beaches. No. Adelio would never leave his country or his family.

But that did not keep Adelio from being curious about America. He asked Collin endless questions then sat attentively, listening in amazement to the answers. Once in awhile he’d contribute little bits of trivia that always spiked Collin’s interest.

“
Did you know,” Adelio asked one time, “that many sailors used to wear gold earrings so that they could afford a proper burial when they died?”

Collin laughed, lifting one eyebrow with surprise. “No, I didn’t know that one. That’s fascinating. You sound like my mother, knowing little bits and pieces of information that no one else knows. I’ll have to tell her that one.”

Adelio stared at him, stunned. “I sound like your mother? What do you mean?”

This time Collin laughed at his friend’s expression. “Oh, nothing, really. It’s just that my mother loves to enlighten people at any given moment whether it pertains to the situation or not. Her mind is full of random pieces of information that no one would probably ever need to know. ‘Tidbits’ she calls them.” Collin said, then chuckled, recalling some of the useless information his mother had mentioned. “Truth be known, my mom could probably write a book filled with all those tidbits.”

“
Like what? What other tidbits did your mother tell you?” Adelio asked, his curiosity piqued.

“
Well, let’s see.” Collin rubbed his chin, trying to choose one instance. There were so many. “Ah,” he said, remembering one. “When the clans of long ago wanted to get rid of unwanted people without killing them, they burned their houses down. That is where the expression ‘to get fired’ comes from.”

Collin was more than willing to tell stories about his family and about his childhood for as long as Adelio asked questions, which was continuously. On days that they planned to do nothing but just hang out, Collin brought newspapers and magazines for Adelio to read. They spent a few relaxing hours just reading on the boat, but Adelio would never take any of the reading material back with him. If anyone every found them on his boat he would be in great trouble. But he was always very happy to see them. He thoroughly enjoyed reading them all.

Food was also a favorite topic of conversation.

“
Since the early sixties all households in Cuba are given a monthly ration of rice, beans, cooking oil, salt, sugar and bread. Sometimes we get rations of eggs and meat, but very little. Only pregnant women, young children and the sick get milk.” Adelio shrugged, giving Collin a wry smile. “We will not starve, but we often worry about our next meal. And we have to be mindful of how we take care of ourselves, because we are also rationed soap and toothpaste.”

Collin was shocked. “But you have a fishing boat. You can fish as much as you want, right?”

Adelio nodded. “I’ve lived and worked in a fishing village for many years. I am fortunate because I supply many of the village hotels with fresh fish. I am trusted by all those in authority. I also take many tourists in the hotels out fishing. My wife works in one of the hotels in the village. Cubans are not allowed to eat any lobsters because they are considered only for the elite and the tourists. Because of what I do, my wife and I eat fish every day. We are lucky in that respect. The people that live in the city are not so lucky.”

“
Wow,” Collin said, leaning against the back of his chair. “You know, I never imagined I had it so good. I guess none of us do. We Americans take a lot of things for granted. I’d thought about the big picture of wanting ‘freedom’, but not the basics, like food. For example, I think if we didn’t have fast food joints, the entire country would go crazy.”

“
Fast food?”

“
Yeah. Like McDonalds, KFC, Arby’s, those things. Those are everywhere in the States. I guess you don’t have those.”

“
No. I’ve never even heard of those places.”

“
You’d love them. You just drive up and buy a burger through a window. If you have to wait longer than five minutes it feels like forever. Amazing what we take for granted.”

Adelio watched him with wide eyes. “A burger? I’ve never had a burger.” He shook his head. “That sounds like a whole different world.”

“
I guess it is,” Collin admitted, then frowned. “Tell me, is there anything I can bring for you the next time we meet?”

“
No. No, my friend. You are already doing more than any regular man would. You have already given me so much just by helping me with these people.”

Chapter 18

But the next time Collin and Adelio met up, Collin arrived with a special treat. As Adelio’s boat pulled alongside, Collin cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to him.

“
Adelio! I have a surprise for you!”

Adelio grinned and tied his boat to Collin’s. He clambered aboard the bigger fishing boat and embraced Collin, as he always did. “How are you, my friend?”

Collin hugged him back. “Oh, it’s a good day, Adelio. I’ve brought you something I think you’re really going to like.”

Adelio chuckled. “I always like what you bring. I am a lucky man to have you as my friend. What did you bring today?”

“
Lunch! I brought burgers since you said you’d never had one.  And fries and onion rings. I stopped in at my favorite place and picked up a few things.”

Collin reached behind him and opened the cooler he had set there. He had wanted to keep things as warm as possible so the cooler was packed with heated food warmers and towels. Once he had shuffled them out of the way, he pulled out two large bags and held them up for Adelio to see. He set them on a table and opened the bags.

“
Next time I will treat you to something called an Italian Beef,” Collin promised.

Adelio stared into the open bags, eyes as wide as a child’s on Christmas morning. The smell of burgers and fries rose from the bags and Collin thought he could practically see Adelio salivating. When Adelio looked back up at him, Collin was surprised to see tears in his eyes.

“
Oh, my friend. This is a treat! I do not even know what all this will taste like.”

“
I’m pretty sure you’re going to like it. Let’s eat!” Collin announced, grinning. He was so pleased with Adelio’s reaction. He decided he would have to bring different lunches every time now, just to see his friend’s expression. He reached into the bags and pulled out cheeseburgers and fries, then set them in front of Adelio.

“
After you, my friend. After you,” Collin said, gesturing at the burger. Adelio picked up the burger, handling it awkwardly at first. Collin grabbed his own so he could demonstrate how to properly dig in to a burger. He didn’t want Adelio to feel the least bit embarrassed. He took a deep breath then gave Adelio a thumbs up. “Go on. Take a bite.”

He watched Adelio’s expression as he took his first taste of American food. At first Adelio frowned, concentrating on the new texture and taste. Then the frown melted into a soft expression of bliss. “Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful!” he said through a mouthful of burger.

Collin pulled out another cooler, this one filled with ice packs and cool drinks. He let Adelio choose from the variety of drinks then added one more surprise.

“
For desert we have apple pie and plenty of it!”

When they’d finished the friends leaned back, rubbing their bellies and looking slightly sleepy.

“
I do not know how to thank you for such a feast,” Adelio said.

“
There’s no need. I’m just glad I could do it.”

Adelio grinned. “I have a surprise for you as well, my friend,” Adelio said, then released a low rumbling burp. He reached into the bag he’d brought and pulled out two cigars. “Cuban cigars. Now you are in for a real treat!”

Collin watched Adelio prepare the cigars with a cutter he’d pulled out of his pocket, then reach for matches.