The Next Day….

Luz awoke to find Amity was already awake. She had been busy getting herself ready, fixing her hair and making sure she was well dressed."Luz oh thank titan you are up. Is my hair good? Is this outfit too much? I just want to make a good first impression." Amity said before Luz cut her off."Amity, we're going to my family's coffee farm. Just dress in jeans and a t-shirt. I'm certain my uncle will be in his everyday work clothes." Luz said, giving Amity a good morning kiss. "It's just I want to make a good impression." Amity said as she went to change her outfit."Don't worry my uncle's cool." Luz explained as she got ready for the day….

A Few Hours Later…

Luz and Amity had arrived in Lares. After a short look around town they headed to the Noceda family the car the two got out as they saw a field of coffee beans where workers with buckets were collecting berries."Hello I'm looking for Hector Noceda." Luz asked the workers in spanish."He is working on his car." One worker said as he wiped the sweat from his brow and pointed toward the house. Luz and Amity walked toward the house. Like most Puerto Rican houses it was made of concrete with 2 floors and had a bright coat of yellow paint. Alongside the house was an overhang. Underneath the overhang was a pickup truck where someone was hard at work on the wore jeans covered in dust and dirt with a shirt stained with grease and sweat with a beat up baseball cap on."Puñeta this thing is a piece of crap." The man said frustratedly when he looked up.

"Hi uncle Hector." Luz said as Hector went to give her a hug."Luz it's good to see you. Your mother told me you would visit. Had you called, I would have cleaned myself up." Hector explained."Well I wanted to surprise you." Luz explained."And you must be Luz's wife Amity. It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Casa Noceda." Hector said as he shook her hand."It's nice to meet you Mr. Noceda." Amity said, wiping the engine grease off her hand. "Please call me Hector." He said as he led them into the house. They were soon in the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle of water."Want anything to drink?" Hector asked as the two nodded no."Uncle, have you seen Luis?" Luz asked."No clue but knowing him he is chasing some bochinche for that darn independent newsite he works for." Hector remarked as he took a sip of his water."What's that mean I'm not too familiar with Puerto rican slang?" Amity asked. "Oh it means gossip in slang. Come on Uncle Hector, Luis works hard as an investigative journalist." Luz said. "Right and I'm roommates with Ponce de León." Hector said as he finished his water."How about we change the I'd love to see the farm and learn about coffee." Amity exclaimed, wanting to avoid what was turning into an argument.

"Sure I'd love to." Hector exclaimed as he led the two back to the fields." So this farm has been in the Noceda family since the 1st coffee plants were brought to Puerto Rico in 1736 and we use the same methods to grow and roast that were established by our founder Juan Pedro Noceda." Hector explained as they saw two men picking berries."So the berries are the coffee." Amity said." Yes they are, the brighter red the berries are the better the coffee beans you'll get." Hector explained As he led them to the next area Where 2 men were hard at work. one man poured a bucket of berries into a machine all the other operated a hand crank." This device we use to separate the berries from the beans. Once this is done we let them dry for 6 minutes then they head to roasting where after 20 mins at 480⁰F and a day of rest they are ready to use." Hector explained as they passed by the roasting facility. The 3 returned to the house where Hector prepared coffee for them."Here try this batch we roasted the other day." He explained as he handed them their coffee. Amity smelt the rich aroma of citrus and chocolate. After adding some sugar she took a sip to find it was the best coffee she ever had."Oh my this is so yummy." She exclaimed."Of course it is, they don't call it the coffee of popes and kings for nothing." Hector exclaimed as they enjoyed their coffee." Wow uncle,it seems the farm is doing better than ever." Luz exclaimed." For you can thank the government. Ever since the new guy came into power they invested into agriculture. The island went from producing 15% of its food before he entered office to 60% by the end of his first term. The man has been a godsend ever since he came into office actually fixing the problems instead of ignoring him like every other idiot who was in office before him." Hector said with passion.

" You don't like the guys who came before." Amity asked." You have to be crazy to like them, especially in this family. Wait, did Luz not tell you." Hector said." Tell me what?" Amity asked." The Nocedas have been staunch independence advocates since El Grito De Lares in 1868." Hector exclaimed. "My Dad was never one to talk about it much. All he ever said was he didn't want it to be a state." Luz exclaimed. Her father rarely mentioned the status issue of Puerto Rico as a she didn't understand what the different Puerto rican flag colors meant until she was 16." Well why don't I give you a family history lesson over some of our homegrown coffee." Hector said as the three made their way back to the family house….

10 minutes Later…

Hector handed both Luz and Amity cups of coffee as he pulled out a massive photo album. The scent of fresh arabica beans wafted through the air delighting the senses of Amity. "Ok so it all begins with my great-great-great-grandfather José Manuel Antonio Noceda. He along with other coffee farmers were growing frustrated with the taxes imposed by the spanish gov't which favored recently relocated spaniards of the locals. José began reading the writings of a doctor by the names of Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán. Dr. Betances believed that the best option for Puerto Rico was to gain independence. When it became apparent that revolution was the only option José began to fund the revolution. It is even said the Final planning of El Grito de Lares took place on this very farm." Hector said as the three sipped on their coffee."Wow that is fascinating. What happened next?" Amity said."Well 2 idiots spilled the beans on the whole revolt and they were forced to move the revolt 5 days early and without the guns and reinforcements from the Dominican Republic. So it failed miserably. José narrowly escaped execution when the incoming Governor opted to pardon the remaining rebels to prevent further revolts." Hector explained as he finished his coffee. He then handed them the photo album. Luz and Amity looked into the album to see some very beat up black and white photos showcasing the family. One caught Amity's eye of what had to be the coffee farm but what she saw was a massive house. "What happened to the house in the photo?" She asked.

"The old family estate was lost when the Americans came in. At 1st it was hoped that they would grant independence to Puerto Rico but it became clear that we traded one colonizer for another. They devalued the local currency. José's son Pedro Luis Noceda had to sell a third of the family's land to pay off their debts, losing the house in the process. It left bitter resentment and he swore to fight for independence till his last breath." Hector said. "That is awful." Amity said, quite disgusted at what happened.``Yes Pedro quickly aligned himself with the newly established union party headed by José de Diego y Martínez. However with all final decisions subject to the Us govt there was little they could do to further the cause of Independence. When WW1 began the US conveniently passed a law granting Puerto Ricans citizenship and Pedro's 2 sons Miguel and Julio were drafted by the army with Julio dying from the influenza outbreak of 1918. Afterwards Miguel took over the family farm and kept it going but never forgetting his fathers ideals. Soon a new figure emerged, Pedro Albizu Campos and his nationalist family joined the party after the Ponce massacre where 17 innocent people were murdered while peacefully protesting on the orders of an american governor. " Hector said as they saw photos of Luz's family with a black flag with a white cross.``My grandfather Ricardo Noceda was arrested for helping to arm the nationalist party ahead of the 1950 revolt. Whilst waiting in a police jail he met my grandmother two would spend the next year in prison writing to each other. When they got out they were horrified to learn that many of their friends and family had been killed in the revolt." Hector explained.``Oh that is just awful." Amity was laser focused. Why nobody in her family had told her about it left her stumped.``Why was I never told about this family history." Luz asked.

``Your grandfather told your father and me to keep it quiet until you and your cousin turned 18." Hector explained as he finished his coffee. "Now after the revolts my grandparents got married and decided to look for a better life and moved to America settling down in Spanish Harlem where your grandfather and his siblings were born." Hector explained as he handed Luz and Amity Photos of Luz's grandfather as a young boy with his brother and 2 sisters. "That big of a family in a tiny nyc apartment." Luz said.``When your grandfather turned 10 the family moved back to Puerto Rico to take over the Coffee farm after the passing of Miguel. Your grandfather was the hardest to adjust. His classmates teased him for his Ny accent and for being born outside of Puerto Rico. It was your grandmother that helped him feel welcomed. When they met they became the best of friends." Hector said as he showed a picture of Luz's looked at them with detail. She never got to know her grandmother since she died a year after her birth."I wish I had known her. She must have been such a kind woman." Luz exclaimed. "Oh she was. She convinced your grandfather that he could manage this farm when it was passed down to him." Hector exclaimed as the sound of a car pulling into the driveway could be heard as a man shouted."Dad I'm back!" Luz ran at full speed colliding with her cousin as she gave him a massive bear hug. "Luis, it's good to see you!" Luz exclaimed.``Luz it's been too long. Now could you let me go, you're kinda crushing me." He responded as Luz let him go. "Oh sorry cuz I got carried away." Luz said. "Well what brings you down here anyway?" Luis asked. "I'm on my honeymoon." Luz replied as Amity walked over to meet him."Ah you must be the lucky girl who stole my little cousin's heart." Luis said, shaking Amity's hand. "Yes my name is Amity, nice to meet you Luis." She replied. "Wait what do you mean by little you're only older than me by a month." Luz responded,"It still makes me older." Luis retorted while sticking his tongue out.``That's enough for you two or I'll get abeulo's correazo. So let's get back to these photos ok" Hector said as the two came inside the house they sat back down as Hector continued…

20 Minutes later….

Luz and Amity were looking over pictures of Hector and Manny laughing their buts off at the stories Hector was telling. "So you father and I spent a whole night camping out looking for El chupacabra. We ended up getting lost in el yunque and they had to call the national guard to find abeulo was so mad at us for not telling him he made us spend the whole summer working in the farm." Hector said as Luz had to dry tears from the sheer amount of laughing."Looks like getting into trouble runs in the family." Amity responded. As Hector turned over the next page Amity caught a glimpse of a picture of Manny being smacked in the face. The culprit wore a bright multi-colored jumper and had a mask that was painted with vibrant colors and had horns."What's going on here." Amity asked. "Oh those are the vejigantes of the carnival de Ponce. They dance and cause mischief by smacking people with inflated dehydrated cow bladders." Hector explained. "Luz remind me if we ever go to that carnival to keep my distance from them at all times." Amity exclaimed to which Luz nodded. As Hector turned the pages, Luz saw Her parents as young adults."Uncle, what's going on in that picture?" Luz asked.

"Oh that's when your dad brought your mom home to visit for the 1st time. I remember your abuelo almost had a heart attack when he found out your father was dating a tea drinking Dominican." Hector said Laughing his ass off. "Though he was quick to warm up to her." Hector exclaimed as he closed the book. "That was quite fascinating Hector." Amity replied. "Well the History of the Nocedas is tied with Puerto Rico for better or worse. I hope you all will carry that history and pass it to the next generation." Hector said as Amity's stomach began to rumble.``Well now that we're done talking about a home cooked meal." Luis exclaimed as he went to the kitchen to cook. "Luis, let me help you." Luz replied only for Luis to stick his hand out to stop her."Nonsense you are our guest. It's my job to make dinner for us." He replied,"Bec your real job doesn't pay the bills." Hector retorted drawings of discontent from Luis as he went to work making dinner..

1 Hour later…

The group finished off the Arroz con gandules paired with steak, tostones and avocado. "Wow that was great Luis you got to give me some pointers." Amity remarked. "Of course I can get you cooking like a Boricua in no time." Luis responded as his phone began to buzz. Pulling it out of his pocket it was a message from a source of his, Carlos, an intern working for a PNP politician. "Meet me by the outskirts of town. I have something big. Can't say more they are on to me." A secondary message had directions to the spot in question. "Sorry guys I have to go, it's work related. I shouldn't be gone more than an hour, ok." Luis said as he left for his car. "Grab some mallorcas while you're out ok. I want something to go with my coffee." Hector replied as Luis nodded. As he drove out toward the location little did he know what hell he was about to get himself into.

Author's Note: The story of Luz"s family may not be real but it is inspired by real events. Colonialism is a disgusting practice that sadly still plagues Puerto Rico to this day. The scars it has left on my people can still be felt to this very day. It is the right of all peoples to decide their own fate. Statehood doesn't solve colonialism, it completes it. Please remember that. Long live Betances. Long live Diego. Long Live Campos. Viva Puerto Rico Libre