Pedrito’s 30 Days with ICE.Fictional Memoir

Pedrito’s Diary, Day 19

February 9, 2025

I don’t know how much longer I stayed up last night. I was just waking up, when I heard the loud announcement on the megaphone. “LISTEN CAREFULLY! Half of you will be moved to a smaller facility with a bathroom this afternoon. It will be a long ride. You must take care of your toilet needs here. When we announce that the busses are ready, we will call out your names. You will form a line quickly, and take your blankets with you. Now, get your breakfast!”

“Half of” us will go, the rest of us will stay, but which half would be in the count? All 6 of us looked for Mr. Matias anxiously. He was kind to us. We would ask him to please not separate us. He wasn’t at his usual table. We looked around a little longer, but we didn’t see him anywhere. “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? MOVE!” A very angry voice ordered us to move, and we did so immediately.

We formed our usual circle on the floor. No one was speaking. What if they separated us? No one was eating. We were all afraid. Only after some time passed, we slowly finished our breakfast.

I was so very worried about my possible separation from Gabriel and the brothers. First, they took Mama and Papa from my little sister and me. They then took Gabriela from me. And now maybe my dear friends?

Gabriel had laid his head on my lap as soon as he finished his food. I was just sitting on the floor without saying anything. Gabriel then lifted his little head up, and said: “Pedrito, you won’t leave me, promise! We will be together, promise!” I stroked his long curly hair. “My dear Gabriel, I am going to ask the guards to please keep us together. I promise. I will ask them many many times.”

Gabriel put his head back on my lap, and I watched the brothers. Alejandro and Jose were looking at each other without speaking. I could see their anxiety on their faces. Diego had his arm on Jesu’s tiny shoulder. I heard him say, “we will be okay, Jesu. Everything is going to be okay. I want you not to worry, promise?” Jesu hugged Diego, and said softly, “I promise.”

How was everything going to be okay? Nothing was up to us. The guards were going to call out our names. What if the 6 of us would no longer be the 6 of us?

© hülya n. yılmaz, February 20, 2025