Introducing... Pepita

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Chapter 19

Lee was unsure that he wanted the responsibility of caring for a nine- year-old girl while on a mission in Mexico.

Meanwhile, Jorge Muñoz had knelt in front of his daughter and was whispering in quiet Spanish to her. This gave Lee the opportunity to talk with Amanda.

His tone was low, "Amanda, I know what you're thinking, and there is NO way we can take a little girl with us! No way, no how!"

Lee bossing her around was like they were back to square one, when Amanda had first gone on missions with him.

When Amanda turned to him, her eyes were flashing, "There you go again, Lee, telling me what WE should do on a mission! You've forgotten that this time, this is MY mission, so stop being so bossy!"

"I'm not being bossy!" Lee defended himself, "I'm...I'm..." he paused, "...simply making suggestions with no other options!"

"Well, don't do that, either!"

Lee licked his lips and tried again, "Look, Amanda, we are right in the middle of a mission and WE cannot afford to watch a little girl at the same time!"

"I didn't say we were taking her!" Amanda sensibly answered back.

There was a glimmer of hope for Lee.

"Oh? So you're saying we might not take her?"

She was about to answer him, but Jorge had finished talking with Pepita. The little girl nodded. Then she timidly walked over and stood quietly next to Amanda. When Amanda looked down, Pepita had trustingly placed her tiny hand into Amanda's.

Amanda's expression instantly softened and she enclosed her hand firmly around Pepita's.

That's when Lee knew the little girl would be joining them.

And he hated that idea.

However, the touching gesture between Amanda and Pepita wasn't lost on Jorge. His eyes glowed with relief and warmth.

"Ahhh, Pepita has already taken a liking to you. Señora! Excellente!" he approved, "My Pepita is very smart and she does not complain! She will be no trouble at all!"

"I am sure she will be delightful company for us," Amanda assured her father, "I am only sorry I can't communicate with her. Will you tell her that we are happy she is coming with us?"

The little girl had been solemnly staring up at Amanda the entire time, but now her lips upturned into a smile.

"I understand what you say, Señora," she unexpectedly announced, "I know the English!"

Amanda's surprised look turned to one of delight, ""You most certainly do!" She knelt down until she was eye-level with the girl, "but, Pepita, you were so quiet and shy when I first met you!"

The girl looked back at her with sincere eyes, "Papa always tell me not to speak with strangers, so I listen good to what he say," then her eyes brightened, "But we are not the stranger anymore, are we, Señora?"

Amanda's smile became wider, "Not at all, Pepita! We are most certainly friends now! You may call me Amanda. And that man over there? His name is Lee."

And as Amanda stood up, she leaned over to let Lee know, "We are taking her."

Just as Lee thought.

Pepita walked over to Lee and tugged at his pant leg, "Hello, I am Pepita," she introduced herself, "Señor Lee, it is good we meet."

Lee looked down at the little girl with the large brown eyes and gave a stiff smile. He knew when he was beaten.

"Yeah, okay, kid," he stated, as he awkwardly patted her on her head like what one would do with an obedient dog.

Amanda couldn't help grinning at Lee's awkward approach in dealing with a little girl.

Then Lee resignedly announced, "Okay, so I guess we'll take off...with, uh, the kid. We have a long way to go to get to the next village."

Amanda gave a satisfied nod, "I'm ready to go."

Pepita enthusiastically piped in "Me, three!"

"Alright, but first, Amanda, I think we need to change into our villagers' clothing again," Lee suggested, "Otherwise, it will look strange; two tourists traveling with a village girl."

So while Lee and Amanda changed back into village wear, Pepita said goodbye to her mama and her abuela, knowing that it will be a long time before she will see them again.

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After dressing, Lee, Amanda, and Pepita went out through the back door towards the many booths at the local marketplace. It was a busy part of the day, with lots of people shopping and bargaining. Besides purchasing apples, more oranges and sweetbreads, they bought packets of beef jerky (because it packed and kept well) and also bottles of water.

The next booth was selling dresses for little girls. The dresses were either hanging for display above the booth, blowing enticingly in the wind, or folded in multiples on the table. Amanda couldn't help but noticed that although the yellow dress Pepita had on was clean, it was obviously too big for her and very faded.

Amanda pointed to a simple blue smocked dress with puffed sleeves, hanging in the corner, and then addressed Pepita, "Pepita, if you like that dress up there, please tell the booth-person we will take it in your size and those sandals, too!"

Pepita looked wide-eyed at Amanda, "For me, Señora?"

"Yes, Pepita. Then we can start on our new adventure with new traveling clothes!"

"Oh, I am much happy! Thank you, Señora!"

Lee came up beside Amanda, "I hope you don't plan to spoil the kid throughout the entire mission."

"Oh for heaven's sake, Lee, it's one dress and one good pair of shoes!"

Pepita tugged at Lee's pants legs, "Señor Lee, please do not be upset with the Señora! Do not worry about money; I will help pay!"

And when Pepita opened her fisted hand, they saw the few pesos Amanda had given the girl the first day she had met her at the bricked well.

Amanda smiled down at Pepita and insisted it wasn't necessary as Amanda paid for the dress and shoes.

An ecstatic Pepita went to change into her new clothes behind the makeshift curtained dressing area. When she came out, she looked so proud of her new outfit. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up to Amanda with new adulation as they clasped hands once again.

And Lee could see that the kid had already won Amanda's heart.

Don't get attached, Lee thought to himself, not quite sure if he meant Amanda or himself.

The three of them were now walking towards the beat-up red truck. Pepita's face lit up instantly and she dropped Amanda's hand as her thin legs began running towards the vehicle.

"This is yours? This is your truck?!" she asked excitedly, as she looked through the dusty window and all around the truck. She acted as if she were admiring a new Mercedes.

"Unfortunately, yes," Lee ruefully stated as he opened the driver's side door. Luckily the front seat was a benched seat, so Pepita would be able to sit between them, "Get in, Kid, and then slide in towards the middle."

After Pepita happily climbed in, she scooted to the center. Then she reverently touched the old steering wheel and stroked the dashboard as Amanda got in through the passenger side.

"I think you must drive very well because of this fine truck, Señor Lee!" she exclaimed.

Lee got in and shut the door, "Most of the time I drive very well, but I've also been known to have a lead foot."

Pepita's face fell and she sounded distressed," Oh no! Very sorry to hear about your bad foot, Señor Lee!"

"No, no, Pepita," Amanda explained in a friendly tone, "there is nothing wrong with his foot! It's just an old American saying! Having a lead foot means he sometimes presses the 'go' pedal too hard and that makes the vehicle drive too fast! Especially at yellow lights!"

Lee bit his lower lip to keep from smiling.

Pepita's expression changed to one of relief, "Oh! He is not hurt then! That is very good !" she then added, "One day, when my foot can touch 'go' pedal, I will own truck like this!" she stated, admiringly looking around, "and when I am grow up all the way, I will be professional truck driver!"

A smile peeked out from Lee, "It's always good to have lofty goals, I suppose."

"Oh yes!" Pepita enthusiastically nodded, "I will be the best lofty truck driver in all of Mexico!"

She looked so certain and determined that all Lee and Amanda could do was trade looks of that's -too- cute above Pepita's head.

#

However, before they could drive away, their truck was immediately were surrounded by a group of begging kids, who were yelling in Spanish as they eagerly held out their hands.

And Lee realized he would not be able to maneuver the truck without bumping the vehicle into a child.

"I can't get out," a frustrated Lee declared, stating the obvious.

"These precious kids only want money," Amanda commented as she began to take out her purse, "Perhaps if we give them some, they will go away."

"No! Do not do that!" advised Pepita, "If you do, they will want more and will not leave!"

"Then what should we do?" Amanda asked, slightly louder than usual to drown out the muffled shouting from outside.

"Do not worry, Señor Lee, Señora Amanda," Pepita assured them, "I will make them go away!"

Lee stared outside at the begging children. A few of them were taller and older than the kid, "Uh, aren't you only a nine-year old little girl?" he reminded her.

"But I am good with words," Pepita calmly explained as she now turned to Amanda, "Please, Señora Amanda, roll down your window and I will make them understand."

Somewhat unsure, Amanda rolled down her window, and several children got even closer to the vehicle, clamoring insistently in Spanish.

Pepita leaned over the passenger side of the truck and to the surprise of Lee and Amanda, she instantly began to spat out strong Spanish words at them. The begging children stopped holding out their hands. They looked shocked, as they stared befuddled at one another.

"What is she saying?" Amanda asked Lee.

Lee grinned, "Seems our little Mexican Princess has quite a mouth on her!"

"Oh my gosh, really?" Amanda looked shocked, "What is she saying?"

Lee lifted an eyebrow, quizzingly, "You sure you want to know?"

"I do," she nodded, "because even though our journey with her will be a short one, I want to know if we need to correct her behavior or words!"

Just like Amanda to insist on being a responsible parent, even if the child isn't hers, Lee thought.

"If you say so," he complied, as he listened attentively to Pepita's onslaught of words to the children outside.

Lee translated, "She just finished saying to one kid: 'I was going to give you a nasty look, but I see you already have one!' and previously she said, 'You are the one gray sprinkle on a delicious sprinkled churro!' and now she is saying, "Go away, your face makes onions cry!' Oh! And here's the latest one, which is the best one yet: 'May you catch a fever without perspiration!'"

"Oh, a fever without perspiration! That is indeed scary!" Amanda agreed, pretending to look indignant as she suppressed a grin.

One by one, the discouraged group of children turned and left, with Lee and Amanda looking relieved.

"It is done," Pepita stated assuredly, "They know who is boss."

Amanda complimented her, "Wellll, it was rather an unconventional method of negotiation, but a job well done, nevertheless, Pepita!"

Lee teased Amanda, "Encouraging a child to bully other kids? What kind of parenting is that?"

Amanda already had her answer, "It's the kind of parenting that ensures Pepita will be able to take care of herself out in the big world...so let's get going before some other situation befalls this beauty of a truck!"

"Hmmph!" Lee grunted as he started up the truck.

When the old engine finally turned over, he couldn't help giving Pepita a look of admiration.

Pepita may look tiny and weak, he internalized, but she has the heart of a lion.

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