Chapter 18: The Ground Shakes

Héctor and Imelda let their children stay at home for the next few days in order to get their bearings. While Coco spent most of her free time with Rosita, Matty stayed close by either playing with Dante in the courtyard or hanging around his mother as she crafted shoes. He watched with a growing interest and asked plenty of questions, to which Imelda was more than happy to answer. He even offered to help around the workshop: sweeping the floor, fetching drinks and snacks for all of the workers, retrieving tools and materials all without being asked.

For a while Héctor just let the boy be, but soon he began noticing that the boy was deliberately tiring himself out every day. As soon as he got up in the morning he was working nonstop, barely eating anything at meal times, before crashing into a dead sleep at night. This repeated for a few days until Héctor pulled his son aside.

"Mijo, are you alright?" Héctor asked. "You've been acting like a fire is under your britches these last few days. You were supposed to be relaxing."

"I wanna learn how to make shoes." Matty simply said.

"You do?" Héctor was surprised. While he wasn't opposed to the idea, and he knew Imelda would be tickled pink at the news, he never noticed that his son had any interest in the craft.

"Its tough work, but it's a skill that I think I'd be good at and it's very rewarding." Matty reasoned. "Mamá's shop is very popular, and someday she'll want to expand it. She'll need all the help she can get, especially from family."

Héctor nodded. "Well alright then. Just make sure you take a breather every once and a while. You're running poor Dante ragged." He pointed to the half-grown pup, who laid on his side panting with his tongue flopped out onto the dirt. Matty gave a little laugh and Héctor smiled. "One other thing: I think it's time that you and Coco go back to school tomorrow. Is that okay with you?"

Matty paused for a second before giving a little shrug. "Sure."

"You don't have to," Héctor said. "If you're not ready just yet."

Matty shook his head. "No, Papá. You're right. It's time to go back. Besides, I don't want to get too far behind."

Héctor patted Matty's head, careful not to ruffle his hair since he knew that was his son's pet peeve. "That's my boy." He turned to go back into the house but paused and turned back. "Matty, do you want to talk to me about anything else?"

"No Papá. I'm alright." Matty said as he gave a small smile.

Héctor nodded, but wasn't convinced. "Okay. Just remember I'm here if you need to talk." And with that he walked back into the workshop, not noticing his son sinking to the ground to hold his dog close to him for comfort as he stared off into nothing.

And so Coco and Matty went back to school on Monday, and for the most part everything was back to normal. The shoe shop was as busy as ever and when Héctor wasn't tacking together the occasional boot he was fiddling with different songs on his guitar. Coco and Matty came home at around the same time after school, went to their respective bedrooms to do their homework and then helped out with the household chores. The only thing they seemed to do little of was talk. Even at mealtimes conversations were kept to a minimum, everyone more concentrated on eating quickly in order to get back to whatever it was that kept their minds occupied.

Anything to keep their minds off of their own sorrow.

By the time Wednesday had come Héctor decided it was time for a family discussion. Imelda had been acting too strong, Coco too aloof, and Matty was going to work himself into exhaustion if he didn't start to take it easy. When the children came home from school and the shop was closed for the day he would sit everyone down and finally have a discussion about Leti.

Héctor scooped the eggs, beans and pork that were left over from breakfast into a bowl and walked out into the courtyard with a whistle. "Dante! Ven aqui! I have your breakfast!" He anticipated the sound of the clumsy dog trip in on himself and come barreling out from whatever hole he had chosen to lay down in to get to the scraps of food, but nothing came. "Dante, comida!" When Dante still did not come Héctor dropped the bowl to the ground and shrugged. "Whatever."

He walked into the workshop and nodded his greeting to all the other workers before making his way to Imelda. "Have you seen Dante today?"

Imelda shrugged, not looking up from the sewing machine. "He's been walking to school with Matty these last few days and then comes back with him."

Héctor frowned. "So what, he just sits outside the school all day waiting for him?"

"I guess so," Imelda said. "As long as he's not tearing up my flowerbed it's fine with me."

Héctor hummed a laugh and walked back towards the kitchen when suddenly something hit him that made his hair stand on end. A sudden sinking fit in the pit of his stomach and… A rumbling beneath his feet. He looked down at the ground and saw a few small pebbles tremble slightly and a small bit of dust come crumbling from the ceiling. Then all of a sudden the slight tremble turned into lurching jerks and Héctor was almost knocked off his feet. A few of the workers screamed, some frozen in place and others running out the door.

A shout brought Héctor's attention toward Imelda, who was trying to flee as well but her skirts were caught on a sharp edge of the sewing machine. Another shifting of dust from the ceiling caught Héctor's eye and with horror he saw a support beam start to come loose right over Imelda's head. Without thinking he lunged at his wife into a tackle. "IMELDA!"

Imelda cried out as Héctor barreled into her and they both slammed into the ground, hearing a shattering crash behind them. Still the building continued to wobble and jerk around and Héctor shielded Imelda with his body as bits of wood and plaster came tumbling down on top of him. It was several long moments before the trembling finally stopped and all that was left was the sounds of people crying and screaming in fear all over town.

With a groan Héctor pushed the debris off of him and Imelda with as much force as he could, wincing as he felt several cuts on his back sting and warm blood running down it. His eyes were only on Imelda as she gasped to get the air back that had been knocked out of her lungs by Héctor's tackle. Her dress was ripped away on one side at mid-thigh, but other than that she seemed unharmed. Still he had to be sure. "Imelda, are you alright?"

Imelda panted shakily as she pushed herself up and flung her arms around Héctor's neck. "Yes, thanks to you!" She kissed him graciously on the cheek and hugged him tightly, before she looked around her shop with a small whine. "The workshop!" she moaned. "And my new Singer sewing machine from America!"

Héctor looked around towards the sewing machine and sure enough it had been crushed and destroyed by the beam, exactly where Imelda had been sitting. "Believe me I would rather it had been the sewing machine than you, diosa."

"Oye!" a voice called from outside. "Imelda! Héctor! Are you alright?!"

"Si, we're fine Felipe!" Héctor called out as he helped Imelda to her feet and they gingerly made their way past all of the wreckage and out into the courtyard. Oscar and Felipe came over and hugged them both tightly, with Oscar relenting when Héctor hissed out in pain.

"Cuñado, you're hurt!" Oscar cried out.

"It's nothing!" Héctor panted. "It's just some scratches."

"Can you believe what just happened?!" Felipe said as he gestured to the whole complex. Almost all the shingles had slid out from the rooftop to shatter to the ground, the outdoor kitchen had caved in on itself and pronounced cracks were in the walls, but other than that the whole house was still standing. "There hasn't been an earthquake in Oaxaca for over thirty years!"

"Guess we were overdue for one then, eh?" Oscar deadpanned.

"Is everyone alright?!" Imelda called out to the workers. Everyone was there and in one piece and Imelda relaxed until a horrifying thought came to her. "Héctor! The children!"

"I'm on my way there now. You three stay here with the workers. I'll bring them home." And with that he raced out of the complex and out onto the street, where he nearly ran into his neighbor. He cried out as his injuries were jostled and bit back a swear. "Facundo!"

"Héctor!" Facundo said as he got his bearings back. "Are you alright?"

"Fine!" Héctor huffed out. "Gotta get to the schools!"

"Si, my children are there!" Facundo said fearfully. "The secondary school is closest! Vámanos!"

With that Héctor and Facundo raced down the winding streets towards the school, passing by toppled over buildings, new cracks in the ground and several people huddled together as they cried and hugged each other. As they rounded the final corner they were aghast to see the condition of the building. A huge corner of it had been leveled by the quake and several trees had been uprooted, with groups of teenagers gathered around in different meeting places as they reunited with their parents. Some people were digging into the rubble and pulling out bloodied, dust covered individuals. Some of them not moving.

"Coco?!" Héctor cried out as he looked for his daughter throughout the crowds. "Coco!"

"Amigo, there they are!" Facundo cried out as he pointed.

Héctor looked and was immensely relieved to see Coco, Rosita and Julio sitting on the ground underneath one of the mossy trees. He sprinted towards them before collapsing onto the ground and embracing Coco in a tight hug. "Ay, gracias a Dios! Coco, mija, are you alright?!"

"Si, Papá." Coco said faintly, not looking at him but instead looking at Julio. Héctor turned to look as well and winced as he saw the boy covered in plaster and splinters of wood. He was leaning against the tree and holding a bloodied arm as he panted in pain, with smaller cuts adorning his face. Facundo dropped to his knees to embrace his son.

"Julio! What happened to you?!" Facundo cried as he gently placed his hands on Julio's face.

"Oh, Papá!" Rosita cried out, large tears rolling down her pink cheeks as she cried. "Hermano was so brave! We were standing under the tree when all of a sudden the quake started! There was this big cracking sound and a huge branch was coming down and it was going to hit Coco! But Julio, he-!" Rosita hiccupped and sobbed. "He pushed her out of the way just in time and got hit instead! Oh Julio! Oh Julio!"

"Th-think my arm's broken." Julio said between clenched teeth.

"Good thing it wasn't your head, you brave stupid pendejo!" Facundo said proudly as he wrapped his son in a tight bear hug, not hearing the boy's groaning protest. "That's my son for you! A real hero! That's my boy!"

"Gracias Julio." Héctor said gratefully before turning back to his daughter, who was still looking at Julio with wide, bright eyes. "If you're alright Coco, I need to get to the primary school and check on Matty, okay? You head on back to the house with Facundo and be careful on the way there... Coco!"

Coco blinked and shook her head before nodding. "Si Papá, I'm fine. Go see Matty." She gave her father a hug and watched him run off in the direction of her brother's school. Feeling something sticky she looked down at her hands and was startled to see them both wet with blood.

Héctor made his way through the crowds of people as he headed towards the primary school and when it came into his view he sighed in relief. The building was still in one piece, and just like at the other school the children were all gathered out on the front lawn to await their parents. Héctor soon realized that each huddled group was composed of individual classes so he kept an eye out for Matty's teacher. When he saw her he trotted over to where they were gathered.

"Matty?!" Héctor called out. "Matty, I'm here!" He looked through the two dozen small faces, but Matty was not with them. With a growing worry he turned towards the teacher. "Señora Jimenez. Where's my son?"

Señora Jimenez looked to see that it was Héctor Rivera asking her this question and her brow crinkled in confusion. "Mateo?"

"Si, Mateo!" Héctor said in an irritated tone. "My son, he's not with your class! Is he still in the building?"

The teacher slowly shook her head and a look of fear came to her face. "Señor Rivera, I thought Mateo was staying at home for the time being. You know, after everything that has happened…"

Héctor's throat clenched up and his heart seemed to stop. "No… No! He's been going to school for the last three days now! I see him go every morning and come home in the afternoon!"

"No Señor!" the teacher said as tears came to her eyes. "He hasn't come to class at all this week!"

An icy cold fear formed in the pit of Héctor's stomach and spread out to his chest and limbs, beads of sweat broke out all over his skin as he started to pant in terror. His eyes darted all over the yard in search of his son, even though he knew he was nowhere to be found. Still he raced to and fro across the courtyard, screaming for him. "Matty?!... Matty!... MATEO RIVERA!"

Coco sobbed into her hands as she cried out in guilt. "I'm so sorry, Papá!" she choked out. "I asked Matty if he wanted me to walk him to school, but he said he didn't need me babying him! I should have just done it! I'm so sorry! So sorry!"

"It's not your fault, mija." Imelda said as she embraced her sobbing daughter. "Don't cry Coco."

"Your Mamá's right." Héctor said as he packed up a bag with bandages, rope, a knife and a canteen of water. His back still burned and stung, even after Imelda had hastily bandaged it up, but now was not the time for rest. His son was out there somewhere in an earthquake ravaged city. "Don't blame yourself. But listen, I need you to stay here in case Matty makes his way home. The rest of us are going to go searching for him. Can you do that for me, Coco?"

Coco sniffled and nodded. "Sí, Papá."

"Good girl." Héctor said and kissed his daughter goodbye while he, Imelda, Oscar and Felipe made their way out into the street. As they turned around the corner they met Facundo and dozens of other men. "Facundo."

"I gathered up a little search party." Facundo said. "There weren't many that weren't injured or preoccupied with excavating, but I think this might be a sizable amount."

"Gracias, amigo." Héctor said before addressing the small group. "Alright listen up! I want to thank you all for helping me find my son! So here's what we're going to do: The city has five main corners, so I want you all to split up in five groups and search every building, even if it's damaged. After one hour we all meet up at Mariachi Plaza to reconvene. If you find Mateo, please bring him there as well. We will do this every hour on the hour until my boy is found! Understood?" The group yelled out in agreement and Héctor nodded. "Vámanos!"

For hours the search party looked in every house, building, restaurant and every pile of rubble in search for Matty, hoping to find him alive and well but that hope was starting to grow faint. Every hour they met up at the plaza to rest for a few minutes and get a drink of water before the search continued. No one looked harder than the Riveras. By the afternoon nearly all of Héctor's strength had ran out and he dizzily leaned against a wall in an alley way as he panted the nausea away. His back was screaming for him to rest, but his heart would not let him. He would not give up on another child. He would not let another of his children die!

"Héctor!" A voice cried out and Héctor forced himself to stand upright and hold back the pain. Felipe came running up to him. "We searched all through the Diaz's leveled house, but there were no bodies."

"Mierda!" Héctor cursed as he pounded the wall. This jostled his back even more and he had to pause for a second so he could swallow back the bile in his throat.

"Héctor, it's alright!" Felipe said as he patted Héctor's shoulder, not noticing the pained flinch. "That means Matty wasn't in that building."

"Of course he wasn't in that building!" Héctor snapped and he jerked Felipe's hand away. "There'd be no reason for him to go into the Diaz's house, nor the church, nor the firehouse! We've been searching all over town and it hasn't gotten us anywhere! Not even the places he would go!" Héctor lowered himself to the ground with a groan and gingerly let his back rest against the wall as his body sunk in exhaustion.

Felipe knelt down next to Héctor. "It's okay, Héctor. Matty'll be alright."

"Matty…" Héctor moaned out as his eyes fluttered closed. "Where are you, mijo?... Mateo…"

…

It's my fault, okay?!

I'm the one who wanted to ditch school…

I just wanted to go someplace… fun, and… safe.

…

With a gasp Héctor sat upright, his eyes wide with terror and understanding as he looked at Felipe. "He's not in the town." He struggled to stand back up, groaning as his stiff muscles protested from their disturbed rest. "Dios, all this time, I never even thought-!" As he stumbled he was caught by Felipe.

"Héctor, what are you talking about?!" Felipe asked worriedly.

Héctor grabbed Felipe by the collar and stared at him with wild eyes. "The creek, Felipe! Matty's at the creek!"