(Continued from page 17) The Anglo establishment, So when J.B. care home on Columbus Drive; looking P. You do know how to use a
 By the late thirties Ybor City inheriting thelegacy of the Civil with the joyful news that Fer- down the empty thoroughfare dictionary?"
was a self contained commu- War and the Reconstruction, die would be allowed to go for the first signs of the blue "Yes, Sam, I think so," Fer-
nity of Europeans, boasting a placed the blacks at the abso- with Sam on his daily route to truck. His mother dressed him die said, unsure of how to do
cradle-to-grave socialized med- lute bottom of the scale. They deliver drugs, Ferdie was filled in a seer-sucker shirt which what he was being instructed
ical system, their own banks were considered but one step with questions. she had made for the occa- to do. He took the book and
and important Social Clubs. An above a slave, and as a beast of Why does his father trust sion. She had even made the slowly found the word.
immigrant coming from Spain burden, barely human. Sam with his most cherished buttons, an item that caused "To put off doing something
could spend the rest of his life Dumbly accepting the sta- possession, but they can't eat him embarrassment. Why until a future time," Ferdie
in Ybor City and never have to tus quo, the Spaniard adjusted together? couldn't she just buy a shirt read the words slowly.
learn the English language. In to a moderate view of blacks. "These things are wrong, at Fernandez and Garcia, so "Good. Write it down." Sam
fact, he did not have to chanee They were allowed to work in son, but it is the way it is in he could look like all the other stuck his left arm out of the
any of his ways or habits, for the cigar factories, but not America. Maybe when you are boys? "Well,' he thought, at window and turned into Twelfth
Ybor City was Spain. have lunch together. They rode big, you can change them." least I won one argument. He Aveue. "Now tomorrow when
 Unfortunately, immigrants to work in a trolley car, but "I will," Ferdie said, jutting stood up so he could feel the you get in this truck I want you
to a new country, anxious to they rode in the back. hisjaw out. This always caused manly sensation of having long to be able to spell it, and use it
be assimilated into the existing As Ferdie grew, he ques- J.B. to laugh and pat his head'- pants. He had put new white in a sentence."
social order, quickly adopted tioned his mother about why affectionately. shoe strings in his Kinney's "Did my father ask you to
the prejudices of the home. Sam had his own utensils and "First, you. will be a doctor. sneakers, and he had checked do this?"
country. So it was, that many had to eat on the back porch, Then you can be a crusader," his workutensils over and over "Your father doesn't know I
a Spaniard would land in Tam- even when it was raining. he would say tucking him in again. A pencil, a jack-knife, can speak English, and that's
pa, free from racial prejudices, "It's the way things are in at night. a large handkerchief, with a the way we are going to keep
and find himselfwitha new list this country, Ferdie. I don't Ferdie sat on the porch at dime tied into a corner knot, it, otherwise he might polarize
of prejudices. know why." the top stair of the large house and his comb. He leaped to himself, and gravitate into an
 the curb as'he spotted the blue untenable position."
 Ford turn the corner and pull "Gravitate?" Ferdie was
 up in front of his house. leafing through the dictionary
 .* As he had everyday since he trying to think how to spell
 Scould remember, Sam.-shok the word.
 Shis hand solemnly and left a "And polarize," Sam smiled
 piece:of candy init. This ritual as the ten year old boy buried
 had led Ferdie to refer to him his head in thebook. "Those
 as Sweet Sam. three words will be enough for
 Ferdie hopped into the truck the first day. That takes care
 Sreveling in the smells of new of my part of your education.
 Sleather and the deliciously From here on out, we'1 take
 clean aroma of pharmaceu- care of Mister J.B.'s part."
 ticals. Sam handed Ferdie a The day passed in a blur
 clipboard of invoices. of activity, visiting the Emer-
 "Right on time, Sam," Ferdie gency Room at Tampa General
 Si said brightly, hoping to say the where Ferdie saw a man with
 a ppy -ol0day and c Jet Wihes' or right thing to Sam. his skull split open, and a boy
 P) N \/ "Procrastination is the thief with a broken arm. He met the
 S [-rosperous. -e ecar of time," Sam said, shifting pharmacists at Lodato's and
 smoothly into first gear. Trelles' Clinic, and they all
 "What did you say?" Ferdie remarked on how much Ferdie
 asked dumbfounded. looked like his father, giving
 Not taking his eyes off the him a great deal of.pleasure.
 road, and continuing shifting Sam made him do some of
 Sgears, Sam pointed to the glove the work, carrying the lighter
 box. Ferdie opened it to find a boxes, but -he allowed Ferdie
 Sthick dictionary, and a pad of the job ofhaving the custom ers
 papers, which were really the sign for the goods. In this way
 backs of used invoices. Sam made Ferdie feel impor-
 L A ~~~~ "- "Now, Master Ferdie. Today tant and responsible.
 is your first day at work. I told When lunch came, Sam
 S j your Daddy I'd take you to all drove to their house on Colum-
 the clinics, hospitals, and drug bus Drive and went through
 1/04 RoT pFra 7 A ustores in town, I'd teach you his ritual ofwiping offthe Ford,
 the drug delivery trade. But locking it, washing his hands
 what you are going to learn is with the garden hose.
 the English language and how When Ferdie saw his plate of
 to use it properly." food, and glass of milk in the
 Ferdie was dumbfounded dining table, he waited until
 by this astounding change in his mother was in the kitchen,
 Sweet Sam. He'd barely ever then hurriedly took his lunch
 heard Sam speak, and when to the back porch and put it
 he did it was usually yassuh next to Sam's.
 and nossuh. Now, he sounded By the middle of that sum-3
 like the man on the radio that mer Ferdie was feeling the
 read the news. joys of learning and of matur-
 "Take the pad and write ing under the tutelage of the
 down the word procrastinate." strange professor. In addition
 Sam patiently spelled it out for
 him. "Now, look it up under (Continued on page 19)




 ca
 ~ Meir Cltwtm a




 from






 The Ybor City Lions Club


 Marcelino Huerta, II All fundraising activities of the Lions Club
 are conducted by our own members and
 Board Cerfified Trial Lawyer volunteers with 100% of funds going to the '

 109 N. Brush St. Suite 200 various sight conservation programs.
 Tampa, Florida 33602

 229-7623 tlo johin us cL[ 933-1869
 www.lawyers.com/huertalaw


 Page 18 Section B/Friday, December 22, 2006