Solito

The chapter opens in 1999 in the town of La Herradura, El Salvador. Javier is a boy who lives with his grandparents and beloved aunt Mali. Javier respects his grandfather, Don Chepe, who used to be a soldier, but he also fears him because he is a violent drunk.

Javier’s parents emigrated to the US years earlier; his father left when Javier was a baby, followed by his mother a few years later. Javier is intelligent and gets good grades at the local Jesuit school. More than anything, he wants to reunite with his parents.

Javier’s family is in contact with a coyote (smuggler) named Don Dago. His parents have already tried twice to get him to the US. First, they tried to legally obtain a visa, which didn’t work. They then tried to lie about Javier’s identity to get a visa, but the man who posed as his father lost his nerve at the last minute. Now, they hope Don Dago can take Javier on the long trek to cross the Mexico–US border with a group of other migrants.

On the day before he leaves, Javier invites his friends over, and they play with his most prized toys. He gives each of them an older toy to keep though he doesn’t tell them he is going away.