The first time I saw Natalie (not her real name but everyone said she looked like a young Natalie Woods) was at a crawfish boil at Bimbos. Natalie was thumbing meat out of the tails for etouffee with her right hand while sucking heads out of her left hand.
She looked up at me with the sweetest, most innocent smile ever seen at Bimbos and said “Hi!” It seems she had just moved out of her parents’ home on the Trinity River and come to Houston to live with her older sister and brother-in-law.
All Natalie had ever known was the river community. The river folk live on land owned by the Trinity River Authority and make a living supplying yellow cats to the restaurants and fish markets in East Texas. Some people say they build their houses out of wood they find floating down the river, but Natalie said her father traded fish to Oggletree’s saw mill for surplus building materials.
Natalie was in hog heaven living in Houston. For a girl reared on black beans, rice and backstrap, even a Big Mac was a special experience.
It didn’t take long for Natalie to hook up with Lance (not his real name), a journeyman electrician who had recently moved to Houston from Michigan. Like most Michigan-Americans he was superb at explaining to us how we did everything wrong in Texas. Especially irksome to him were our laws that permitted nonunion electricians to work on public buildings such as hotels and shopping malls.
Lance was a man of principles, foremost of which was that he would not unlock his tool box for less than prevailing union wage. After the federally related project for which he had moved down here ended, Lance didn’t unlock his toolbox very often. Natalie’s jobs at Children’s World and Wal-Mart made the payments on his mobile home and pickup truck, but not much more.
Under pressure from Natalie’s sister and some regulars at Bimbos, Lance finally agreed to consider jobs for a little less than union wage. But after awhile, instead of taking jobs he simply started complaining that there weren’t any decent jobs because the Mexicans took them all. He quickly learned all the code phrases such as crowded emergency rooms, lowering educational levels, disease, crime, welfare, cultural dilution, invasion, and most righteously, “illegal.”
He could have accepted a steady job with an electrical service company at which a friend of works, but he told owner that he wasn’t going to work for $18 an hour “changing light bulbs at used car lots.” He told Natalie he didn’t get the job because he didn’t speak Spanish.
Instead he talked Natalie into getting a higher paying job at one of the topless clubs outside the city limits that will hire 17 year olds to dance. Lance always appeared remorseful about Natalie having to do what she did, but he was adamant that it wasn’t his fault, it was the fault of the government for letting in all those Mexicans who took all the jobs.
Natalie doesn’t smile anymore. Her sister says Natalie still defends Lance to friends even though she knows that Mexicans aren’t the real reason Lance won’t get a job.
There are many Natalies in America today. Some are young children whose dead-beat fathers are a year behind in child support “because the Mexicans got all the jobs.” Some are parents whose grown sons have moved back home because “ the Mexicans got all the good jobs.”
Some are young men and women who are discouraged from attending technical schools or applying for entry level jobs because they have heard that only Mexicans are being hired.
But ironically, probably the biggest victims are those who are wasting their lives away complaining about Mexicans instead of getting jobs and building normal lives.
Yes, the entire border issue is about labor unions, and lazy Americans.
I'd continue, but I prefer to keep my posting abilities.
Pretty hilarious, coming from someone who has admitted to hiring illegal aliens to save money in the past.
You are not much of a fiction writer. You better keep your day job, which seems to be as a hack for the liberal GOP establishemnt.
RPTFLOL! Pathetic attempt at non-fiction.
The economics of this issue for workers are as simple as simple as supply and demand. Other things being equal, if the supply of workers is increased, the market price (wages) for workers will fall. Millions of illegal aliens cannot just be dumped into a labor market without depressing wages.
There are people who benefit from illegal immigration. Obviously, the employers who illegally hire them benefit because their costs are reduced. And, all of us as consumers benefit to some extent from those lower costs.
But American workers and taxpayers (particularly local taxpayers) are taking a bath. We just can't expect them to be happy about that. ;-)
Bravo!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............
"But ironically, probably the biggest victims are those who are wasting their lives away complaining about Mexicans instead of getting jobs and building normal lives."
You sound like someone with illegal immigrant low wage criminals under your hire.
Reads like a Harlequin Romance.
So, which side of the issue are you on, the illegal alien workers' side or the American workers' side? If you're going to be criticizing American workers, then I'll have to assume that you're on the illegal alien workers' side.
Is this the outline that you're sending to the publishing companies? Well done, and may I suggest that you shop Hill and Bill's publisher.
I have an alternative scenario, in case you'd like to be more honest. The first four paragraphs, although syrupy, are just fine.
Paragraph Five: Lance can no longer get a job in Michigan, because word of his bad attitude got around. If the union would only hire him, then he could be on easy street.
P. Six: Lance feels that he is special, and won't lower himself to work at a living wage, for a non union business. Lance used to make 25.00 an hour, on his first job. Every job thereafter went down a few bucks, until no one would bother interviewing him after his last firing. Because he is so special, he lives off Natalie and her family. He's just too damn good to work for peanuts.
P. Seven: Finally Natalie's family has had enough. Lance chose Natalie specifically because she may be sweet, but she doesn't have backbone, and is easily manipulated. He grudgingly takes jobs, in which he alienates his boss and fellow workers.
P. Eight: Lance has no friends. A neighbor found a job for him, but it was beneath his talents. Hey, he worked on a casino in Palm Springs. Too bad they cut him loose the minute the job was done. He would work jobs that the neighbor found for him under the table, but he screwed his neighbor's buddy. Probably because the guy was Hispanic. No more jobs for Lance.
P. Nine: Perfect the way it is. Remember, if this was 150 years ago, people like Lance were lynching black folks. They hate everyone, and it's all "their fault" because they can't act like normal human beings.
P. Ten: Natalie screwed up big time, but it isn't exactly her fault. She grew up in an abusive environment, and ended up with an abuser. She pretends everything is fine, because Lance has threatened her and her family if she leaves.
P. Eleven: We have a nation of sociopaths, who expect everyone to bow down and worship them. Everything is an excuse with these people. This goes for the employers who would rather hire an illegal for half the normal wage, rather than hire a legal worker with good references. Good references usually means they want at least a decent, comparible wage. Your scenario is very familiar to me, but for obviously different reasons. You're using an example of someone who would rather live off his woman, than work his butt off.
Next chapter: Natalie gets her butt kicked by a fellow stripper. While she's recovering from her injuries, Lance decides that it would be a good idea to start a family. He impregnates her, and promptly puts her on welfare.
Illegal aliens have nothing to do with white trash....
Some of us live in Arizona.
'Nuff said!
Cheers!
how can we miss you if you don't go away?
...funniest post I've seen in a while.
Where've you been?
I missed beating up on your pointless points.
Those damned "messicans".....almost as bad as the jooooooooosssss!
Do you have a topless bar?
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Bayourod.......after reading this fluff and nonsense my advice is don't quit your day job......which I assume to be either a day labor recruiter or fake ID salesman.
Why Natalie doesn’t smile anymore.
I first saw Natalie seated on a bench at the park. It was a beautiful sunny day, and she was a beautiful young woman. What attracted my attention though, were her actions. I could see her staring hard at the pages of a book in her lap. Then she would look up and begin speaking. As I walked closer, I began to hear what she was saying…
“Gracias y tiene un día bueno.”
“Eso será trece dólares y veinte cinco centavos por favor.”
“¿Querría usted las papas fritas con que señor?”
Suddenly she looked up and realized I was watching her. She blushed then stammered “um I’m not crazy. I’m just practicing…” she trailed off looking at me.
I smiled. I said, “It’s always good to learn something new and what better than a new language?” She smiled faintly but the smile quickly faded and I could see the sadness in her eyes. I asked her “is anything wrong?” She looked at me hesitating, then said “no.. its just that, well, I miss my family.” Her eyes began to well with tears which she wiped away with an impatient swipe of her hand.
I said “sometimes it helps to talk about your problems with someone.” She looked at me again and I could see she was trying to decide whether to trust me. The need to talk, to confide in someone about her plight pushed her to speak. This is her story…
A few years before when Natalie was a junior in high school she was a happy girl. She lived with her mother and younger brother in a small but clean house. She also worked part time as a maid at the same hotel as her mother. Her mother was a hard working woman and after putting in 16 hour days for the last 30 years had worked her way up to head housekeeper. Though the family was by no means wealthy, through stringent budgeting and taking second jobs when necessary, Natalies mother had tucked away enough of a nest egg to help pay for Natalie’s college tuition. She had also managed to pay off the house both with her hard work and the small insurance settlement she received when Natalie’s father was killed in an accident. Natalie had great aspirations for her future and studied hard to maintain her 4.0 gpa. Her younger brother Billy was also a good student who excelled in athletics.
Then suddenly Natalie’s life changed. One day when Billy was walking home from school he was accosted by a gang. Witnesses to the attack later estimated there were anywhere from 15 to 25 people who began beating Billy. They said Billy first tried to run, but when surrounded he tried to defend himself. It was no use. By the time the gang was done, Billy lay unconcious in a pool of his own blood. The next few weeks were a nightmare for Natalie and her mother. First the doctors said her brother would not survive the night. Then when he did not die, they said he was in a coma, and unlikely to ever come out of it.
But Natalie and her mother would not give up. Insisting they be allowed to have someone with Billy at all times the family rotated through his hospital room in shifts. Holding his hand talking to him, reading to him from his favorite books. They did all of these things and more, since they had been told that constant attention had worked to bring other people out of a comatose state in the past. Natalie and her mom were so focused on Billy they did not give much thought to his attackers. They wanted them caught and punished of course, but they were more concerned about Billy than justice at that point.
One day Billy suddenly awoke and said “I’m hungry”. Natalie who was in the room at the time couldn’t believe it. It was a miracle! She hugged her brother and talked to him. He looked at her then smiled. “I’ll be okay, really, quit crying”. Natalie called her mother at work and told her the good news. That night a policeman visited Natalie’s home. He had come to announce they had made some arrests in the attack on her brother. What a wonderful day. First Billy came out of his coma and now they had caught his attackers. The policeman explained the gang members captured belong to a notorious gang known as MS-13. All the members of the gang the police had captured were illegal aliens. Unfortunately, some had managed to slip across the border into Mexico. “But we’ll prosecute the ones we’ve caught to the fullest extent of the law” the police officer said.
Several months later the gang members were put on trial. Most of the witnesses to the attack on Billy were unwilling to testify, due to their fear of retaliation by the gang. But Billy felt it was his duty to testify and get these criminals locked up. His testimony was so convincing that all were found guilty.
Three weeks later, Billy was back at home recuperating from his injuries. That fateful day started like any other. Natalie went to school then came home. As she was unlocking the door she suddenly sensed someone behind her. She tried to turn but was too late. Rough hands grabbed her and slammed her head against the door. She slumped semiconcious and the attacker opened the door and shoved her inside. When Natalie regained her senses she found herself looking into the leering faces of a group of men. They went upstairs and found her brother. She heard him say “who are you? get out!”. Then Natalie heard screams and a dull sound like someone hitting a rubber mat with their fist. The men with her downstairs laughed and joked in spanish a language she did not understand. Suddenly one grabbed her by the hair and dragged her upstairs. They took her in her brothers room where she saw his dead dismembered body surrounded by huge amounts of blood, on the bed, floor, walls, even the ceiling. The man with the machete looked at her and laughed. He said something in spanish then suddenly the others began tearing off her clothes. Natalie was brutally gang raped, beaten, and left for dead.
When Natalie again became aware of her surroundings she realized she was in the hospital. Her mother and a policeman were standing next to her bed. “what happened?” Natalie murmured. The policeman said “more gang members snuck across the border with Mexico into the US. They came for a retaliation attack against your brother. I’m sorry.”
With time Natalie recovered from her injuries. But there was more bad news. Her mother said, “Natalie I’m sorry but with the hospital costs and funeral costs for your brother I’ve had to spend all your college money and take out a new mortage on the house.” Natalie didn’t care. At that time college was the last thing on her mind. Then one day her mother came home crying. “What’s wrong mother?” Natalie asked. “Oh dear I’m so sorry, but I was laid off from my job today”. Why? Natalie asked. “Well the owner of the hotel Rod B. laid off all of us not just me. He replaced us with illegal aliens who will work for him under the table.” “But why?” Natalie asked. “Why lay you off? You were only making $1/hour more than minimum wage.” “Well” Natalie’s mom said, “As Mr. B explained it the damn government already hits him with so many taxes. Property tax business tax, taxes for services. Everybody has got a hand in his wallet. He says that since he knows the government doesn’t mind employers hiring illegals he’s not gonna be the only sucker not to take advantage of it. He said payroll taxes are expensive even at minimum wage. By paying cash he can save enough to be competitive with the other motels in the area.”
Natalie’s mother straightened up and said “but no worry dear. This is America. I can find another job.” Natalie’s mother put as much effort into finding a job as she did in working her old job. One day coming home from another unsuccessful attempt her car was hit at high speed by a pickup truck. She was killed instantly. When the policeman came to break the bad news Natalie was in shock. “But why… how? she said in a daze. “Well the policeman responded “the driver of the truck was an illegal alien. He was drunk at the time of the accident. He has a long history in this area. We catch him driving drunk throw him in jail and when he gets out he’s always deported. But sooner or later he sneaks back in.”
At this point Natalie stopped her story and looked at me. She said “I came here to the city after mom died. I wanted to stay in the house, but with no job or money I couldn’t make payments. So I came here to stay with my aunt. I had hoped to sell the house and get some equity out of it. Maybe enough to go to college. Unfortunately the real estate values in my old neighborhood had fallen greatly. According to the realtor who listed my house with all the illegals moving in sometimes five or six families to a home…well it’s harder and harder to sell houses in that neighborhood.”
Then Natalie straightened up and looked me in the eye. She said “but I’m no quitter. I applied for a job a McDonald’s last week. The manager really liked me. He said that unless I spoke Spanish he couldn’t hire me, since I wouldn’t be able to understand the other employees. I’m not going to let that stop me. I’ve bought this spanish primer and I WILL learn the language. I WILL get that job. Because this is America, and with hard work and the ability to speak spanish, anyone can get a job here!”