Marxism...

My evening was cut short by the sound that glass and metal make when brought against each other. Three cars. In this order. One white cab. One blue two-door that has seen better days. One brand new, black German car.

The sound caused an immediate whip of my neck to see the source of the sound. I immediately grabbed my cell phone to call the police when the import took off at a high speed with the blue junker following quickly after her. Was she trying to get away or were they getting out the intersection to talk? Probably the former.

“They don’t speak any English and the girl is lying in the grass.”

The latter.

I walked over because I figure the language they do speak is mine. I was right.

The blue car was now angled in front of the German import in a blocking manner. I looked at the damage and am surprised by the driver being able to conduct such a maneuver while driving on his rims. The back of his car was destroyed. Impressive driving. Then I realize that the driver of the imported car looked like she had spent the last few hours getting beaten by a bottle of tequila. The bottle had won.

I was the interpreter for the night.

The two back seat passengers didn’t want to go to the hospital because they didn’t have any insurance. One of them, a 17-year old woman, kept fainting. I convinced them to go the hospital explaining that they were hit from behind and would be covered if the woman had insurance. She did. They went to the hospital.

This was their only mode of transportation. It was how they got to and from work everyday. It was how they dropped off and picked up their 7-month infant to be watched by a family friend. The German import was fine.

Their car had to be towed to a lot in DC. They lived in Maryland. They would have to pay extra in order for their car to be taken to Maryland. They didn’t have any money.

The driver didn’t have his wallet with him containing his ID and insurance. I think you can get arrested for that. Great. No money for towing, no money for whatever fine he’s going to get. Here, give me your registration. What number is this? Oh, it’s your license number! Gracias a Dios! In Maryland, they put your license on the back of your registration. Que suerte hombre!

The driver of the import is arrested. At least she’ll have to spend the weekend in jail. No? $500 gets her out? That’s it? You can pretty much ruin someone’s livelihood, attempt to escape the scene of an accident, injure people and still be able to spend the night in your own bed? Interesante.

It makes me wonder. The poor will continue to be poor because the laws are made to help the rich. It’s times like these that I wish I had paid for attention to the Karl Marx quotes written under the juice caps. Then I’m sure I could quote some very intense line about the poor always being at the mercy of the rich. But I can’t. I am but a simple Guatemalan who just writes what he sees and what he feels without being able to very much to change the system. Joder.

Mucho Amor,

El Guapo