Epilogue – Eighth Grade

Aldonza Lorenzo in the afterlife

By Camila Alejandra Rodríguez de la Cruz – First Place – Eight Grade

In Castilla de la Mancha everyone suffered Alonso’s loss, especially Sancho and Aldonza, but no one imagined that the one that was going to be affected the most was Rocinante because, of course, it was a horse, but it knew that its traveling companion was not going to be there anymore, and that it was its last trip with him, Rocinante escaped, and they didn't see it again.

The months passed and Aldonza felt that something was missing from her life... or someone. Aldonza realizes that Alonso's death affected her a lot, she didn't know what she felt, and she hadn't defined it yet, but she was sure that she would always remember him as the love she never knew she had.

The idea that she should have done something from the beginning with Alonso regardless of what others thought and living that adventure with him tormented her, she entered into a great regret and depression for not having done anything, she was devastated and angry with herself for having let him go without telling him that she always loved him, even she knew she wasn’t as pretty and kind as the ideal Dulcinea he thought she was, and will have to learn to overcome it and learn to love again, she doesn’t know if that can be possible.

Louis Ross appears in her life with Rocinante, he makes her reflect and forgive herself for all her decisions and makes her understand that love doesn’t come only once in a lifetime, he makes her change and gives her another way of seeing things, she changes her appearance and her physique, now she's a beautiful woman, since she began to worry about her health and appearance to be good with herself. A few months pass and Ross and Aldonza realize that they love each other, however, everything happened very quickly, and Ross will have to live without her for a long time because apparently Aldonza couldn't bear the idea that it’s possible to love again so Aldonza left a love, to be with the one who was the real love of her life.

Years later Aldonza died of sadness, and she met Alonso, or Don Quixote, as he called himself, they were getting married in the afterlife to have their “happily ever after” ending. Louis was able to believe in love again, he met Isabela. She was so pretty, and she stayed with him in all the difficult moments, giving him all her support. Isabela spent some years waiting for Louis to be prepared for another love. Finally, they got married and took care of Rocinante.

Tribute to Quixote de la Mancha

By Néstor Andrés Estévez González – Second Place – Eight Grade

After approximately 5 years, after the death of Don Quixote, Sancho Panza felt sad and alone even though he argued, and sometimes fought and did not like Quixote's decisions, he missed him, and his life became boring again. He puts on Quixote's armor that he had conveniently stored and went on adventures. He would be better than Quixote told himself, “Old friend I will finish what you once started”. He got into the role of being a fictional character although he was slow to find adventures because he did not want problems or over imagine things that had nothing to do with it.

His first adventure was with the knight who had defeated Quixote last time, White Moon. When Sancho Panza arrived, he was reminded of a very important point, his horse did not have a name, nor did he have a name. His horse was named Baguette and he was named Sancho de la Mancha, honoring Quixote.

When White Moon saw him, he laughed at him making fun of his obesity and his ugliness. He challenged him to a friendly sword duel and mentioned that he would defeat him in less than a minute. When started the fight Sancho was losing, but when he was about to lose… PINNN!! White moon’s armor sounded when Sancho managed to hit a blow on White moon’s belly, incidentally he took out the air that gave him enough advantage to finish the fight and winning it. White moon knight would seek his revenge.

After his first successful adventure he decided to seek more adventures with Baguette. He named him that way because of his color, which reminded him of a delicious Baguette, and the name he gave himself was chosen after his old companion. Nothing was known about Aldonza, since White Moon managed to snatch her from Don Quixote, so he would go looking for her. White Moon knight conveniently appeared out of nowhere and proposed a deal. You will go and die the same way your FOOLISH friend Quixote or Aldonza did, and you will pay. Aldonza was alive, she had just lived the worst 5 years of her life as a servant and slave of White Moon knight.

Sancho could not give up; he knew that he had to save himself as well as Aldonza and Baguette. He saw something that intrigued him, apparently White Moon had one more layer of armor so that the same inconvenience would not happen, and he also had a heavy sword and a very, very protruding helmet, so taking advantage of that, Sancho de la Mancha did the move.

In an instant Sancho threw his sword, which by the way he stole from White Moon and stroke his head who lost her balance due to the overweight of the armor and when he fell and could not get up, Sancho said the following, “Now who is the fat SILLY”. He grabbed Aldonza, and they left with Baguette at the speed of light and the henchmen and of White Moon knight had no choice, but to help him and then follow them. After a long chase Sancho and Aldonza managed to escape, both would be the local heroes who would help the people. They did not love each other but they were great friends. Together they would remember and share the honor that Quixote once gave them.

Don Quixote de la mancha” Chapter LXXV: “It's never too late to fulfill your dreams”

By Fátima Pamela Zamora Hernández – Third Place – Eight Grade

March 2- 1,607

It was a beautiful day somewhere in La Mancha, in an old house, Alonso Quijano was reading the day's newspaper. At that moment the doorbell rang repeatedly, the maid ran out to see who was knocking. In the distance, Alonso heard someone with a high-pitched voice shout his name in a hurry, Alonso...Alonso...Alonso got up from his chair and looked to inspect who it was, it was Sancho Panza himself... who came running and ran out of breath, but he didn't come alone, he came with a young man, tall, skinny, with blond hair and a lost look, you could tell that the young man was running out of breath and couldn't Don't keep running like he did Sancho did.

− Sancho? (Alonso asked) What do you need?

− You'll see, my lord... (Said Sancho) My eldest son is in college, they asked him to do an interview with an important person in his community and he told me he would like to talk about you. What are you saying? Can he interview you?

− Sancho! You know I don't like to do those things.

− Please, I beg you, said Sancho, do it for me.

− Okay, Alonso said, but make it quick.

− Sancho’s son: Since when do you live here?

− Alonso: lifelong.

− Sancho’s son: What do you expect from the people of this place?

− Alonso: That they remember me for the exploits lived in my best years.

− Sancho’s son: Do you currently do something productive?

− Alonso: Yes, I dedicate myself to living in peace my last days and reliving my past.

− Sancho’s son: Tell me a little about that past: those years when I rode with my faithful squire Sancho Panza aboard our faithful corseles, when everyone called me Don Quixote of the Mancha and his faithful squire.

− Alonso: We lived great adventures together but one day reality ended with Don Quixote, this being the end of fantasy. Sancho’s son: And what did you expect from those days?

− Alonso: That people would not make fun of my fantasy and believe in my purpose of saving the world from the wicked. Sancho’s son: And you, Mr. Panza, what have you done with your life?

− Sancho: I dedicated myself to working in the fields and harvesting many fruits to support my large family and help people who really need it.

− Sancho’s son: Thank you, both of you.

After a while, Sancho and his son left, very happy to have been able to live comfortably with the interpreter of the great and admirable Don Quixote de la Mancha.

A week later, the newspaper came out, and what was the surprise? Appeared the article where Don Quixote is interviewed and the whole town had the opportunity to know about his life, and all of his adventures. He had become a well-known character since this article crossed borders, and made Don Quixote and Sancho Panza recognized throughout the world. With the money they earned for the article they led a better life, it even helped Alonso to help his niece Antonia Quijana who had many economic problems. She took care of Alonso, who was very sick and he needed the support of his family.

Now that he had finally achieved his dream of becoming famous, he died in peace and his legacy will live on in the memory of the inhabitants of La Mancha, the house where Don Quixote lived for many years has become a museum in his memory founded by Sancho Panza and Antonia Quijana.

FABLE Nineth Grade