Juan Rogelio was born to the fields. His life was measured by planting, hoeing, harvesting. As he grew up he was happy in the fields. But he was much happier once he had his own small farm. It wasn’t much, but his uncle had left him enough land to live, to grow food, to tend animals, to sell some of what he raised to pay the taxes and raise his family. It was a life of hard work. But a good life.
One day Juan Rogelio went into his house after checking the fields in the pre-dawn light. He said to his wife, Renata, “We have a pig.”
“We do not have a pig,” replied Renata.
“ Well, yes, we do not own a pig, though I have dreamed of owning a pig many times. We have a visiting pig. It visited our watermelons last night and ate many.” Juan Rogelio was upset. He cherished his watermelons and they were a good cash crop.
Renata was also concerned, “What will you do about this pig?” she asked her husband.
Juan Rogelio stood up straight, looked Renata in the eyes, and said, “I will catch this pig. We will then have a pig and also save the watermelons.”