The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child

The family picks grapes in Orosi for Mr. Patrini, a grower who lets them stay in an old house. Francisco contemplates his penny collection. Papá gave Francisco his first penny: a 1910 Lincoln Head—1910 is Papá’s birth year and was the start of the Mexican Revolution (See: Index of Terms). Although Papá did not go to school, he learned about the Revolution from corridos and Francisco’s grandmother, Estefanía. She, like most poor people, supported the Revolution in which poor farmers, campesinos, revolted against their mistreatment by wealthy estate owners, hacendados. Papá heard that the hacendados buried their riches.

Francisco’s second precious penny is an 1865 Indian Head, given to him by Carl, his best friend in fifth grade. Francisco’s first time inside a house was visiting Carl’s home to see his penny collection. Francisco, self-conscious about his home, did not want Carl to visit, and said he would bring his collection to school for Carl to see. Francisco’s family moved that weekend.

Francisco also cherishes his blue-covered notepad, his librito or “little book,” which he found in the Santa Maria dump. In his librito, Francisco writes spelling words, definitions, and other information for school.