Letter To An Immigrant

Improved Essays
It rained almost every afternoon that summer. A fatigued Frank had just gotten home from his job in a coffee shop. With a weary step from the bus, Frank gathered the last of his strength and sprinted across the busy avenue into the old pathway where children played. The rain drops falling onto the shack’s tin, wooden and cardboard roofs would soon become a pool of water from heaven.
Every afternoon Frank’s muffled knock on their three room shack was answered by Carrie, his wife. She would unlock the door and continue to iron more shirts and dresses of people who could afford fancy clothes. When thunder clapped, Carrie would quickly pull the electric cord, thinking it would attract lightning. Then she would prepare dinner. Their three children
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After a few weeks of nerves and frustration I finally have found a job. It took me that long only because I did not have the necessary social security number. It’s unbelievable how much money one can make, but just as amazing how quick it goes. I had to pay for the social security number, four weeks of rent, food, and a pair of shoes. The good pair you gave me wore out on our journey to the top of that mountain.

I will get ahead because I’m a better worker than the rest of my countrymen. I can see that already and so does the “boss.” Coming here will be hard for you, leaving Carrie and the children. It was hard enough for me and I’m single without a worry in life. But at least you will have me here if you come and I’m sure I can get you a job. All you’ve heard about the crossing is true. Even the lies are true. “greeting” from your “friends” Tom and Dylan. They are doing fine. They’re already bothering me for the bet you made against the Yankees.
Next time we get together I will relate my adventures and those of my “friends” … things to laugh and cry
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And they laughed with open mouths. This caught Frank’s attention. He had wanted to buy a lottery ticket. “Could…? No!” he thought. But he felt a slight flush of blood rush to his face. This could’ve been his lucky day. The one day out of the thousands that he had lived in poverty. The two jumped off the bus, and Frank reached for the newspaper they had left behind. There on the front page was the winning number. At the end of the article was the deadline to claim the prize: 8 pm that night. Frank had kept thinking “maybe this could be the day?” Then he would think “Nah, I shouldn’t, it’ll probably be a waste of money” As he had kept fighting with himself in his mind, he had finally come to a conclusion, he would buy the lottery ticket. Frank had to keep this a secret from Carrie. He had no idea how to though, Carrie knew everything. She would find out about this. Frank had a previous gambling problem and Carrie knew it. She had been the one to help him with it. He couldn’t go behind her back and lie to his wife. Frank knew she would say no, but he had to just tell

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