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They established their headquarters in Changuinola, Panama.Changuinola is the main District in Bocas del Toro, that is, on firm landsince the head city is located on an island that is called the Island of Colón.Colón is in Spanish and it comes from the name of Christopher Columbus,who was the discoverer of the Americas and who on his fourth voyagesailed off the coast of Bocas del Toro. Wonderful, isn’t it?Okay. Let me tell you a little bit about my family. My father’s name wasLucas and my mother’s name was Irma. Lucas, was second husband to mymother who had been married before to Bernardo Altamirano, aHonduran businessman. From that first marriage my sisters Margaritaand Esther along with by brother Nando were born. Unfortunately Mr.Altamirano died in an accident. So, after some years my mom marriedLucas, my father. Three more children were added to the family: Minerva,Humberto and me, Roger.The family owned a farm, on the outskirts of Changuinola, in a placecalled El Rastro. They had chickens, pigs and plantain trees. They were ahappy family like any other family that was trying to make a good living.Some years later, my parents went their own ways, that is, theyseparated. Lucas took my sister Minerva and my brother Humberto toCosta Rica. They settled down in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. I was onlymonths old when this happened, so I never had the chance to meet myfather, until I was in my 30’s, but that is another story.Mom decided to come to Farm 41. She started working for the ChiriquiLand Company (Chiriqui is another province in Panama). Mom used totell us that she worked so hard cracking open cacao outer shells. Later,she set up a dinner especially for the Corrugado Factory workers that waslocated in a short distance from our house. Mom was good at cooking. Sheused to cook for many workers and her dishes were favored by them.That is, in a nutshell, what I can tell you about my family. And this is foryou to bear in mind that these collection of short stories have to do withreal people just like you and your family, too. Let us begin our first story.Read on please.
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