One of his books, "Los Barrabases (Cosas de mi Pueblo)", published by Editorial Diana S.A., Mexico D.F., is about the exploits of him and his companions and their adventures as young boys growing up in Aguadilla. It also includes many humorous happenings in his home town. In this book, everybody had a nickname, he tells of the origin of the nickname, but he never revealed who was who. He would only say, that each of them (members of the group), recognized themselves in the stories.

Las Fiestas Patronales

In the chapter entitled "Las Fiestas Patronales" (The Patronal Fairs), which was celebrated during a whole week, each year. In those days, every town had a Municipal Band, (or Firemen or Police band). I Aguadilla, the Municipal Band, played every Thursday and Sunday, in the town plaza. For the Fair, Don Filo, the esteemed director, would put together a small orchestra, that was considered by the experts on the subject, (the piano teacher and the parish priest) to be one of the best.

The big event at the end of the Fair, was the fireworks display put on by Don Tito. This was the battle of the castle. Don Tito would build a castle on one side of the plaza, and a battleship on the other side. The whole town would turn out for this event, as rockets and fireworks were fired from each side, simulating the bombardment between the fortress and the ship.

Every year, the city council, tried to out do the previous years displays. It occurred to them one year to put on an "Exhibition of Acrobat" as the main attraction, the last day of the Fair. At the appointed hour, the whole town came to the Plaza to see the main event. Especially, since it was rumored that the acrobats were part of the Circus Magallanes, which only performed in the capital, never in the small towns. The people were surprised and deflated when they found out that the acrobats were none other than Ño Cangá, Pino and Culebra, all black men of the community. The people became upset, but the town council informed them that I was better to support the members of the community, especially the local artist's.

The act was initiated by Ño Cangá, who performed many types of fancy jumps, Fan Jumps, and Mortal Jumps, Next came Culebras, who placed a glass of water on his forehead, and laid down on a chair, and got back up, without spilling a drop of water. This was followed by the final act, which was a tight-rope walker act put on by Pino, an enormous Black man, dressed in the red costume of acrobats, that attracted the attention of everybody in town. He had strung a rope between the church steeple and a tree in the park, that was about 10 feet over the heads of the crowed. With the help of a ladder from the Firemen, the Great Pino, climbed up on the rope. Using a long pole to help him balance himself, and after drying his face and hands, two or three times with a dirty handkerchief, and waving to the crowed, his started his act. A small "jíbara" band, started to play a waltz, and Pino, walked on the rope, keeping rhythm with the music and perfectly balanced on the rope. While in the middle of the rope, he performed some pirouettes and knelt on the rope, waving to the audience. All along the people were applauding and pleased with the performance. "This is really worth it!" said a woman next to us shouted enthusiastically, "They should contract him in the Capital!". See all the enthusiasm of the crowd, he prepared to do his most difficult act. With a prearranged sign, the band stopped playing, just like the great moments in the big circuses. Pino performed his "split", separating his legs while sinking to the rope, until they extended a right angle to the body on the rope. He had the bad luck, that after so much enthusiastic effort, his red pants, tore at the seam and he was not wearing underwear, exposing the poor man to all the town, that had gathered below to see the performance. They were shown much more than they expected at Pino's public revelation.

La Invasion

This chapter is about his experiences when the US troops, entered Aguadilla, during the Spanish-American War. What follows is a translation of that chapter

"There are events that occur that although the young mind does not comprehend there importance, are inscribed in it with the most minor details and for many years, are remembered with the most minor details. Such occurred to me with the entrance of the American troops into our town. From the azotea (a flat roof made of concrete, that is very common in Latin American countries) of the pharmacy where several families had aggregated and witnessed how a company of American soldiers marched to the plaza and formed in front of the Kings House. The captain, accompanied by two others, climbed up to the azotea of the old town-hall building and while the company presented arms, and played the trumpets, lowered the banner of gold and scarlet, and raised the flag of Stars and Strips. The ceremony was over in profound silence. I don't remember of anybody applauding, The town, very emotional, watched the act in silence, wondering of their future. In our location, I noticed that Don Marcial, dried the tears from his eyes, avoiding attracting attention. The captain, after a short conference with the mayor, returned to his command, and the company marched in the direction of the old Spanish Fort at the end of town. That way, with much simplicity, we stopped belonging to our old, Mother Country, and were converted to "Americans"! . . .

"The guys ran to the Fort and, accustomed as we were to the familiarity we had with the Spanish soldiers, entered into the field to see, up close, the "gringos". One of the soldier, that had the face of someone with few friends, approached us, uttering a "lingo" that we did not understand. "He is kicking us out!" said Fosforito,. But a very nice sergeant said something to the soldier, and then came toward us with a large smile, and said in Spanish, "Americano, mocho amigo". We immediately started talking with him, but this proved to be difficult, since he only know a few words in our language. During the time the American troops were in our town, we became very good friends with the soldiers and the officers were welcomed by the principle families of town, attending the dances at the "Casino" and parties in private homes. They showed some of our young women how to play tennis, they showed them how to dance the Danza and the Rigodones. Not only the officers, but also the common soldiers, behaved like perfect gentlemen and left a very good impression of the American people.

"During the First World War, Motorito told me that while he was in the United States, enlisted in a regiment in Texas, and one day, after he signed a receipt for property he received at the "Quartermaster's", the captain, upon seeing his signature, said to him:

-- "You are from Puerto Rico, Right?"

-- "Yes, my captain --" and what did not occur to our companion, who thought that the captain had guess his Puerto Rican origin by his Hispanic name.

-- "You are from "X". -- This was too much for Motorito, who could not contain his curiosity and asked the officer:

-- "How in the devil do you know, captain?" -- To which he answered:

-- "In "98" I played tennis with your sister in "X"! -- And extending his hand with the diplomacy that I always liked of the American Army, he started to remember the good times that he had in "X", how nice our friends had been, and the many friends he had made in our town.

"He compared the attitude of the invasion troops that came to conquer an enemy country, with the attitude of the American troops that served in the past war, on American territory, with his American nationals. I have to ask myself: Has it been that the average American has changed? Could it be that the triumph of their great nation, has gone to their heads? I hope to God, no, since there is nothing in the world worst, then to be hated!

"It stands to reason, that in every invading army, there were Americans that were undesirable, but in general, those Americans that were good representatives of the country of Washington, were nice, courteous, honorable and safe. Now, the way it always happens in these cases, following the troops, came the carpetbaggers (troublemakers), Americans only interested in exploiting the island, caring very little of the poor Puerto Rican. When the troops left, the carpetbaggers remained and made up the "American Colony", that for many years caused the impression that the Americans were course, without manners, "mascaba manilla", would put their legs on the tables, even in the presence of ladies, and the only thing they were interested in was the dollar. These impressions, that for over have a century, has been responsible of the bad feeling, and misunderstandings between our courteous and hospitable boricua people, and our "brothers from the North".

Thank God!, that over the years, the infamous "American Colony" that was left over after the invasion, have been disappearing, along with the disagreements and the differences between our communities and the continents. The truthful and sincere fusion of our boricua people, conserving our Latin heritage, with their beautiful customs, good manners, morals and religion, with the good American elements that bring the productivity and aggressiveness and other good qualities of the real North American people, have to result in a bright future for our beloved Puerto Rico. At least, this Jibarito from "X" thinks so.

''El Cementerio (Para A. Pavía)

"Como en la mayor parte de los cementerios de los pueblos pequenos de la Isla, en el nuestro tampoco había tumbas lujosas de mármol, ni monumentos de granito, pero con sus modestos panteones, sus callecitas alineadas con sauces, y sus flores, muchas flores, el cementerio de mi pueblo era un lugar bonito que inspiraba respeto y devoción. Cada familia conocida del pueblo tenia su panteón de varios nichos que con carino conservaba limpio, pintadito y con flores alrededor. En los aniversarios de la muerte de -.!lg6n ser querido acudían sus familiares a llevarle flores a la tumba y rezarle un rosario por el eterno descanso de su alma...

"El dia de los Difuntos se llenaba el cementerio desde por la: manana y no quedaba flor en los jardines del pueblo que no fuera a cubrir las lapidas de los seres queridos. . . El cura iba por la tarde a bendecir con Bran solemnidad todas las tumbas... Al oscurecer se prendían infinidad de velas que por la noche daban al recinto un aspecto fantástico.. . Por cierto que comp todas eran velas de cera, nosotras los muchachos hacíamos provisión de cera para fabrican nuestros "boleros"...

"El Encargado del cementerio de mi pueblo paraquella época era un tal Genaro Muñoz, a quien todo el mundo llamaba Don Muño, señor muy serio, cuyo único defecto era "meterse en palos" de vez en cuando. Como el sueldo asignado en el presupuesto municipal para el "Administrador de la Necrópolis" (este era el titulo oficial) era algo escaso, tenia el pobre Don Muño que agenciarse sus "entraditas". Entre ellas contaba con las propinas particulares de las familias ricas por cuidar de sus panteones, regar las flores e impedir que las cabras se las comieran.. . Don Muño sostenía una guerra sin cuartel contra la invasión de cabras propiedad de los vecinos pobres de los alrededores del cementerio . . .

"Pero la "entradita" mejor que se agencio el encargado del cementerio era la despedida de duelos en los entierros pobres, sobre todo, los de los campesinos. . . Tan pronto se presentaba un entierro de altos, Don Muño se acercaba al pariente mss cercano y en voz baja le preguntaba misterioso "L Tiene quien le despida el duelo?" . . . Por to regular, el infeliz jibaro no labia qua era aquello, y en su tribulación, creyendo qua se trataba de un requisito como la "papeleta", aceptaba el sincero ( ?) ofrecimiento de Don Muño de encargarse el de "aquello".. . Se enteraba éste del nombre del difunto y tan pronto llegaba el cortejo ante la fosa, hacia descansar el ataúd en el suelo, asumía una "pose" muy digna, se persignaba y comenzaba su gran despedida de duelo que ya nosotros, los Barrabases, nos sabíamos de memoria por haber silo escrita por Polillita:

"Cuando la parca inexorable nos arrebata un ser querido, el Omnipotente en su inconmensurable saber nos da las suficientes fuerzas espirituales pare resistir el inmenso dolor que nos agobia. . . etc., etc., etc.", y finalizaba siempre con "Recemos ahora un Padre Nuestro por el alma del que en vida fue nuestro querido Cheo (o el qua fuera)". ...

"Esta despedida de duelo par to regular le valía a Don Muño medio peso qua el jibaro pagaba gustoso y qua terminado el entierro el gran "despedidor de duelos" se iba a. be ber a la tienda mss próxima . . .

"Cuando Pildoritas, ya estudiante de medicine en una universidad de los Estados "Jundido-esta-usted-compadre", vino un verano, nos comunico qua en sus estudios de anatomía necesitaba una calavera y qua por alla costaban carisimas.

"-Pues no te apures, qua nosotros to la conseguimos, le dijo Meditas.. .

"Nos hablamos con Don Muño y por medio peso (parece que asta cantidad era su tarifa "standard" pare todo) accedió a tirar una calavera en buen estado, sin pelo, peso con todos los dientes (especificaciones de Pildoritas) por encima de la pared de atrás del cementerio, al oscurecer cuando nosotros la estaríamos esperando. . . Fué cosa fácil pura Don Muido escoger del osario donde tantas había, una que llenara las "especificaciones" y nos fuimos con alla a casa de Meditas a desinfectarla en la oficina dental de su papa, puss la familia había salido esa noche.

"Pildoritas se puso en seguida a "bregar" (palabrita de moda hoy en día) con su calavera y Meditas salio de la oficina a explorar para ver si se "agenciaba" algo para obsequiarnos. Cuando volvió con un dulce de naranja y un buen trozo de queso de prensa,, se encontró conque Pildoritas, a falta de otros utensilios, había cogido un cepillo de dientes, del baño de al lado y en el lavamanos de la oficina frotaba vigorosamente los dientes y huesos de la calavera, con agua Y jabón...

"-Pero, hombre, ¡esto es un abuso! ¡Y que coger mi cepillo de dientes para semejante porqueria! -dijo molesto.
"Y Pildoritas muy fresco le contesto: --- No to apures que cuando acabe te to lavo bien y lo podrás seguir usando. .

"Terminada la "brega". a Pildoritas se le ocurrió darle una broma .a la buena de Siña Clotilde, la vieja sirvienta de la casa... Con unas almohadas, la chaqueta: de Polillita y alguna otra ropa vieja preparamos en el sillón dental un muñeco al que por cabeza pusimos la calavera ya reluciente. Estaba sumamente realístico... Llamamos a Siña Clotilde para que le trajera un vaso de aqua a un paciente que se había puesto malo y nos escondimos.. . La pobre vieja se acerco muy servicial a la silla diciendo solicita: "¡Aquí tiene Don, su agüita! Le puse unas gotitas de ron!" . . . y al ver la calavera, del susto soltó el vaso y "abrió a gritos"! . . . Acudieron los vecinos y tuvimos que correr de casa de Meditas, Pildoritas llevando su famosa calavera envuelta en su chaqueta...

"Habrá hoy lujosos "Memorial Cementares", con sus panteones de mármol y sus monumentos de granito, pero, yo preferiría, que al morir, me encerraran en un rinconcito del modesto cementerio de mi pueblo.. ."