Vignette Summary: Maria and Diego visit Gregory Edgeworth's office, looking for help navigating Japanifornia's immigration system.

Tags: Hope/Slice of Life

Word Count: 2,060

Date: Friday, March 17th, 1995

Time: 4:37 pm

Location: Edgeworth & Co. Law Offices, Los Tokyo

Maria was starting to lose hope that she and Diego were ever going to become Japanifornian citizens. The pair had been traveling back and forth between there and home for years now and they didn't seem to be moving any higher up on the list for green cards.

Her skillset was not "in-demand;" she was told. She didn't quite understand. Japanifornia wasn't exactly America. The country had hemorrhaged citizens fifteen years ago, and they still hadn't recouped all those losses.

Talking to some local friends, they informed her that both Japan and the US had strict immigration policies prior to the split and new country formation. Part of the delay came from a government that didn't shift its sentiments, even as the country sank further into economic recession. The other part was bureaucracy, unnecessary red tape, and inefficiency.

Maria's parents still called her crazy. Why waste her life traveling back and forth to this failing nation when she could live in paradise and have family close by? She waved them off. Japanifornia was still the land of opportunity to her. A chance to live her own life. Then, there was the smallest part of her that still hoped she'd find the truth about Jack one day.

Today, she was attempting a new way forward for the two of them. Diego had seen several articles in the newspaper about this great defense attorney who was taking Los Tokyo by storm. His name was Gregory Edgeworth and, at just 28, he had been dubbed the "Atticus Finch of his era." Diego didn't quite know what that meant, but he knew it had to be something good.

He asked Maria if they could go see this man. The news said he was one of the few lawyers willing to fight for those less fortunate. To give them a chance to have their cases heard.

Maria was uncertain about this idea. This lawyer didn't deal with immigration law. Even if he did, she had gone to other firms before and she couldn't afford any of them. She would have paid them whatever it cost if she had the money. Diego convinced her though, as he always did, and the two made their way to his office today.

Since Maria refused to let Diego get behind in his studies, she said they couldn't make the visit until he completed his schoolwork that morning. She was homeschooling him on the Dominican curriculum in the mornings and working most evenings as an office cleaner. However, as they transferred from the train to the bus to another bus to make the trip, she regretted not giving themselves the morning off to leave earlier.

They only landed at Edgeworth & Co. Law Offices at 4:37 pm, and Maria felt like an idiot. The firm probably closed at 5 pm. She gave them no time to meet with him and they must have looked so foolish. Just two poor immigrants barging in 20 minutes before close on a Friday. She almost turned around as soon as they arrived but pressed forward anyway.

"Hello, how can I help you?" the secretary asked.

"Hello," Maria responded in heavily accented English. "We would like to speak with Mr. Edgeworth, please."

Maria looked at Diego and he nodded back. He had given her the English phrase to use while on the second bus, and she had mentally repeated it to herself on the ride over.

"May I ask what your meeting is regarding?"

"Immigration law."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Edgeworth works in criminal law. I don't think he'll be able to help you."

Maria had strategically picked jobs where minimal English was required, and all her local friends and Diego's babysitter were bilingual. However, at times like this, she wished she had pushed herself more. She looked again to Diego for assistance.

"Can you repeat that, please?" Diego asked.

The secretary repeated what she said, and Diego gave a rough translation to Maria.

"We saw… in the newspapers. He helps," Maria managed back.

The secretary smiled. "Yes, he is quite renowned. He really isn't familiar with that area of law though. I'm sorry."

Diego interpreted again and Maria's face fell. This was what she assumed would happen. She tried her best to exhaust the option anyway. "Can we talk?" she asked.

"I don't mean to be indelicate… but I don't think he's taking on pro bono cases right now."

Diego didn't understand the term "pro bono" or how to translate it. Maria did though. "We pay," she said. Realistically, she knew she didn't have enough, but she wasn't expecting charity either.

"Okay," the secretary replied skeptically. She wasn't trying to be rude, but even Mr. Edgeworth's wealthier clients underestimated the cost. Besides, she wanted to go home on time today.

Diego asked Maria for her purse, and she obliged. Usually that meant he wanted a piece of gum or a tissue. This time, he pulled out a wad of cash. Hard-earned savings that Maria kept on her person because she didn't trust leaving it at their motel room.

He slapped it down on the secretary's desk. "How much is it?" he asked.

"Oh," the secretary reacted. "I'm not sure –"

Maria grabbed the bills and pulled him away from the desk. "Diego," she lectured in Spanish. "You can't just take money from my purse without asking. Also don't wave it around like that. You made us look so low-class."

"She didn't think we had money," he argued. "I wanted to show her."

Maria knew he was right, but she wasn't going to encourage this behavior. "Don't argue with me."

He simply nodded.

Maria and Diego walked back to the desk. She was going to speak again but stopped herself. Maria knew she lacked the ability to say all the things she wanted to say. She asked Diego to translate her words too, and he agreed.

"I'm sorry we arrived so late," Diego interpreted. "My son had school in the morning… I don't want him to fall behind. The first bus was late… so we missed our next bus… we had a train ride before that… and a walk here. Can we make an appointment for another day?"

Maria and Diego looked expectantly at the secretary, and she laughed softly, despite herself. How could she say no to those faces? Maybe her boss's optimism was starting to rub off on her. "I'll give Mr. Edgeworth a ring and see what he can do."

The secretary called Gregory's office line, but he wasn't answering. Seconds later, he walked by her desk, dressed in his tan trench coat and black fedora. She hung up. "Mr. Edgeworth, are you leaving for the day?"

"Yes, I was just about to. Do you require my assistance?" he answered.

"This woman and her son, they were looking for some immigration expertise. I told them that you primarily work in criminal law."

Gregory looked at Maria and removed his hat out of respect for a lady. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid Ms. Cross is correct. I'm not very familiar with that area of practice."

Maria nodded politely and looked at Diego for a translation. However, her son didn't notice her glance. Despite his average height and build, Gregory's fine manner of dress cut a striking figure. That and Diego had never seen someone "famous" in real life. He was awed seeing the man from the newspapers in the flesh.

Diego walked towards Gregory and extended out his hand. "Nice to meet you, sir."

Gregory shook his hand. "Nice to meet you as well. I'm Gregory Edgeworth."

"My name is Diego Juan Armando, but you can just call me Mr. Armando."

Despite his big heart, Gregory was a serious and proper sort of fellow. He wasn't very emotive. However, Diego generated a slight smile out of him. This kid had more confidence than most grown men he knew; Gregory thought.

"So, Mr. Armando, you and your mother are looking to immigrate to Japanifornia?"

"Yes, sir."

"Which country do you hail from?"

"The Dominican Republic."

"That must be a beautiful country. What interests you about living in Japanifornia?"

"Uh," Diego hesitated. He didn't have the answer to that question. He finally looped Maria back into the conversation, interpreting for her once again.

Maria was too embarrassed to say the real reason why she chose Japanifornia over any other country. She explained only in the most generic of terms.

"Freedom and opportunity," Diego offered.

Gregory nodded. He suddenly realized that his earlier apology was likely not understood. "Is it just the two of you looking to immigrate?"

"I have no brothers or sisters," Diego interpreted. "And my dad is… dead." Diego swallowed. His dad was either dead or a deadbeat depending on whom his mom was talking to. He was starting to hope that she didn't know which one it was because the uncertainty and lying troubled him.

"I'm very sorry." Gregory thought for a moment. "Was he from Japanifornia or from back home?"

"Japanifornia," Diego answered. He at least knew that.

Gregory faltered. He thought he might have a solution to their conundrum, but it seemed improper to discuss in detail. He decided it was too important not to say. "If your father is Japanifornian, you would be a dual citizen, Mr. Armando."

Diego looked at Maria. "No… he died before I was born… before my mom moved here. We don't have paperwork."

"I really am sorry," Gregory sympathized. "That is a horrible stroke of fate. It may not be identical circumstances, but I understand how you feel. My wife died too. Right after my son was born."

After Diego translated again, Maria became horrified. She felt guilty for forcing this man to confide such intimate information with them. It seemed like stolen valor on her part. Maybe Jack had died, but it was just as likely that she had unknowingly fallen for the charms of a married businessman, and he had abandoned her and his son after his wife found out. It was just too humiliating and difficult for her to explain that to a stranger.

Maria shook her head frantically. "I'm sorry."

"It's quite alright. She was a wonderful person, and I like talking about her. It keeps her memory alive."

Maria was reassured by his friendly tone. She nodded. "Your son… how old?"

"He'll be three in June." Gregory grinned. His son and his late wife were the only people who could consistently generate that reaction from him. "The time is going so fast. Before too long, he'll be as grown up as your son."

Another translation and Maria smiled back. "It's true."

There was a short silence. Then, Gregory checked his watch and turned to face his secretary. "Ms. Cross, would you be able to call the daycare for me? Please tell them that I'll be there to pick up Miles a few minutes before they close."

"Yes, sir," Ms. Cross replied.

"After that call, you're free to leave for the weekend. I'll take care of Ms. and Mr. Armando."

She beamed. "Thank you, Mr. Edgeworth. Have a nice weekend."

"You as well." Gregory gestured to the hall and towards his office. "Please come this way."

"Money?" Maria asked.

"We can discuss payment at a later date. I'd like to learn more about your journey and what other avenues you've explored."

As Gregory led them through the hallway and to his private office, he tried to temper their expectations. "I can't guarantee that I'll be able to help you obtain green cards, but I do have some former classmates from law school who are more versed in this area of law. They may be able to offer their knowledge."

After more back and forth, both Armandos replied with gratitude.

"I've gathered that you've been traveling back and forth for a long time. How many years has it been?"

"Almost seven years," Diego answered.

"I'm sorry the system has not been kinder to you." Gregory paused. "As I tell all my clients: 'the worst of times are when we calmly show our biggest smiles.' It may be hard to stay positive under such trying circumstances, but we'll do everything we can."

Diego met his words with a wide smile. That was advice he wouldn't forget.