Up for a change – Part Two
Disclaimer: This story was written solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe on any copyrights held by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.
Chapter 1 - Juanito
Juan Alfonzo de la Vega or Juanito as he was called stopped being a child when he was seven years old. It was on the day when his father stepped out from a secret tunnel into the library. He was dressed all in black as Juanito had seen Zorro several times before in the plaza. Without the black mask Juanito instantly recognized him as his father. He was leaning heavily on the wall barely able to keep himself up. His left hand was clutching to his right side where he was wounded. Juanito saw the blood dripping through his fingers.
"Father," Juanito was white with shock.
"Help me to my room before anybody sees me."
His father was leaning heavily on him when Juanito let him to his room. He slumped onto the bed closing his eyes.
"Get your mother quickly."
Juanito was about to run when he was held back by his fathers strong hand.
"Don't say anything. Just get her." It was a command that was not to be ignored.
His mother was outside playing with his five year old twin brothers Roberto and Alonzo and his little sister Elena who was only two years old.
Victoria looked up in alarm when she saw her son running into the garden. He was white in the face and on the brink of crying although he was not easily scared.
"What is it Juanito?"
"Father, he wants you to come quickly." Victoria wanted to ask for the reason but then she saw the blood covered hand of her son.
Instantly alert she got to her feet and rushed to her eldest son. "Where is he?"
"I helped him to his room before I got you."
Juanito never forgot the hour when he was helping his mother to treat his unconscious father. At first she wanted him to leave but he argued with her that since he knew what was going on anyway he could also help. Together they removed his bloodstained shirt and Juanito handed his mother the bandages and the poultice she needed to take care of the bleeding wound. His mother worked swiftly and with grim determination showing experience. She hardly spoke a word until she was finished with her task.
"Will father be alright?" he asked anxiously when his mother finally covered his father with a sheet. "Why didn't you tell me that my father is Zorro?"
His mother took him in her arms and held him close. "He just needs some rest. In a few days he will be fine again. Don't worry. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. We wanted to protect you. You can tell nobody that your father is Zorro. Promise me."
For the first time he saw the fear in his mothers eyes that he had never seen before. "I promise mother. I won't tell anybody. You can trust me," he said sincerely with his young voice.
Juanito realized the full impact of the secret the following days. He saw his mother smiling and telling everybody in the household that his father was in bed because of a cold. He remembered the other times she had done so before, only realizing now that it must have been a lie as it was now, leaving the impression that his father was a weak man who went to bed for the slightest illness.
It was about three weeks later when he finally understood the life his parents were living. He was on the plaza with his mother when he saw Zorro, arriving out of nowhere, performing one of his amazing stunts. Before he could step forward or say a word his mother bent down to him and covered his mouth for a second. "One wrong word, one shout now and your father will die," his mother whispered close to him so nobody could hear her. Again he saw the fear in her eyes. He nodded silently.
He began to understand what it meant to know Zorro's secret and why his parents didn't tell him. He saw the lies they were telling everybody to keep the secret, the disguise his father was keeping up to make him the least suspect for being Zorro. The long talks he had subsequently with his father helped, but couldn't take away the constant fear for his fathers safe return whenever he was away as Zorro. Finally he had a father he could fully admire who was the hero he dreamed of but couldn't tell his friends about. There were his parents he could talk to and he never felt closer to them. His adopted brother Felipe came over from Monterey on their request to spend some time on the hacienda. Felipe became his confidant to whom he could tell his worries he couldn't tell is father. Felipe had been some years older than Juanito when their father started being Zorro, but he was the one person who could understand him best. To be a child who could merely watch and try to help to cover up. To fear for Zorro and that he would not return from one of his rides. To have a father who could die every day.