78,920 Smiles

Smiles

The writing process in Soy Autor evoques an authentic experience of self discovery. The following piece is the result of the collaborative work between students and teachers to find the heart of the story, through the publication of their first illustrated Memoir.

With the support of:

78,920 Smiles sonrisas Claudia Calderรณn

As

irl

g ny

a

ov Il

e

e ds

g ein

og

t ily

am

f my

s

y all

i

c pe

er

eth at

h

t bir

s.

y da

I still remember the day I turned six years old.

How could I forget?

There were balloons, piĂąatas, and cake But also news.

I was so happy of having my family and friends together in such a special day.

At my grandmother’s house there was a rose garden.

Suddenly I overheard a conversation:

My grandmother was saying that my mother left me without an explanation.

At that moment, my happiness crumbled down

I started to scream

as the roar of an upcoming hurricane.

It´s difficult to grow up without a mother figure.

It´s like ending a storm without a rainbow.

My biggest fear was of being left alone

It creeped me out.

I used to asked myself: where is my mother? Why did she leave me?

I turned fifteen years old, when people asked me where my mother was, my answer was:

“That mother does not exist in my life�

My hatred toward her abandonment grew bigger.

I fought her absence so bad.

My soul broke every time I saw my father sleepless and crying next to my bed when I was sick.

When we were left alone, he made a promise:

no woman would occupy the place of my mother

For his own good and mine.

When my father was at work, time seemed eternal.

But when weekends arrived he cooked for me! That was my favorite part.

We shared the same plate and ate in front of grandma’s rose garden.

My father taught me forgiveness as well.

If my mother comes back, I´m willing to forgive her.

At my eighteen years my father has said that he loves me 59,110 times

He has kissed me 60,112 times

Hugged me 7,112 times

And has made me smile 78,920 times.

I want you to know, dad, that you are an important part of my life

And now I make an oath to you

It’s my turn to take care of you,

make you laugh,

and encourage you to find love again.

Me llamo J. A. Mi familia es de apellido Lara Soy hermano de Jonathan Crecí entre árboles, ríos y callejones de polvo Soy bromista y paciente Me siento contento, ya que he terminado mi libro Me da miedo perder a mi familia porque me sentiría solo Me gustaría ver contento a todo el mundo