The Trump administration has struck at least 32 vessels killing about 115 people in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean since September —PBS, January 4, 2026
Burlap bags stuffed with tuna and blue marlin.
Catch of a lifetime! Juan’s already counting the
cash in his head. Visualizing pawn shop guitar
for Gabriel, his 10-year-old son, graduating to guitar
from ukulele. Gabriel’s greeted morning rooster-
like—since age 3—with “Let’s practice, Papa!”
Before pushing off to sea Juan bought the computer
Rosario wished for from a journalism student he met
at the fish market training fishmongers to compute. He
also bought the bicycle Maria longed for and stashed it
at a neighbor’s house. Juan was out to make his young
family’s Christmas the best ever.
BOOM!
Bloody mess below his waist. Juan’s a strong swimmer. But
he can’t feel his legs. He quickly grabs on to fiery flotsam.
Is that Javier hanging on for dear life across from him?
He hears his children’s joyful shrieks. Sees them jumping
Up and down with joy. He kisses Lourdes long and tenderly…
BOOM!
A pomade man has amplified orders of
his demented Don into “Kill them all!”
Laughing, they dub it a “double-tap
strike—”
like some cool dance step
signaling mad moves to come…
Author’s notes:
