were bloodied when the bell rang. Chico had a cut above his left eye and the Mexican was bleeding from his nose.
The second round was the same. The Mexican came out and started throwing jabs at Chico. A few landed, and a few he slipped. Chico started to see a pattern. Two jabs, a feint, and a left hook followed by a hard right. Then quick shots to the body followed by uppercuts. The Mexican didn’t follow that pattern every time, but often enough. Chico waited for the two jabs and knew he could hook on the feint and knock out the Mexican. With seventeen seconds left in the second round, the two jabs came and the Mexican woke up looking at the light over the ring. His managers were in the ring with some smelling salts and the crazy Puerto Rican was dancing around with his gloves in the air.
Chico got five thousand dollars for that fight. When he gave it to his grandmother, she touched the cut over his eye and said, “Be careful, hijo.”
Chico sixth fight was an opener for two big names. His opponent was a White fighter out of Philadelphia called ‘Kid Irish.’ He was known to be an exceptionally dirty fighter and tough enough to eat nails. Chico watched him fight on TV several times and knew he could beat him, but it would be tough. Chico’s purse, if he won, was ten thousand dollars.
The first round was a hard-hitting brawl. Kid Irish was mean and tough and nasty and his punches were fast and hard. Chico traded him punch for punch and tried to see a pattern. As far as he could see, there wasn’t any. Chico knew that while they were in the ring, Kid Irish wanted him dead.
In the beginning of the fifth round, Chico saw his chance. The left eye of Kid Irish was swollen almost shut, and Chico knew that if he kept circling to his right he could catch the Kid sooner or later. The opportunity came sooner, and Chico knocked Kid Irish out with a vicious right hook thirty-two seconds into the fifth round.
When he gave his grand mother the money, he told her he wanted to take some, buy some new clothes, and take Carlita Santos, a very nice girl who worked at the grocery store and seemed to like him, to dinner.
His grandmother was very pleased. “Of course, mi hijo, she is a good girl for you. I know her family and they are very good Catholics. We have plenty of money now. You take whatever you want.”
So Chico the Lion started dating Carlita Santos. She was sweet and affectionate and saw his goodness through the hard exterior. She had been watching him for a long time. She brought him to dinner at her house and her brothers and father approved. They felt Chico was a good man who would provide for her and the children that would come after they married.
On their fifth date, he took her to a nice Italian restaurant for dinner and some dancing because she loved to dance. Chico didn’t know if he could dance or not but was willing to try for her. Dinner was very good.
When they danced, Chico liked it. Carlita was a great dancer and a good teacher. He thought she was very attractive and when she danced her movements were alive with the music. She moved with grace and rhythm and Chico loved being with her.
While they were dancing, a big Italian-looking man bumped into them and said, “Watch it, spic, you and your spic whore.”
Chico just reacted. Before he knew it, the big Italian-looking man was on the floor unconscious and bleeding from his nose, a gap showed where the man’s two front teeth used to be. Chico’s heart sank when he saw the detective’s badge on the man’s belt.
Chico was arrested on “assault on a peace officer” charges and called his brother. When his brother paid the bail, Chico didn’t want to go home and face his grandmother.
“Don’t worry,” his brother told him in Spanish. “Carlita told us what happened. She said you took that guy out before he could blink his eyes. The judge will understand.”
Chico went home with his brother. Carlita’s father and brothers were there and thanked him for protecting Carlita’s honor, and to tell him they would be there if he needed them. Chico’s grandmother fawned over him and stroked his hair and told him everything was going to be all right.
When Chico went before a judge, the courtroom was filled with Chico’s friends and family. Also there was Detective Luciano, complete with new front teeth. The judge listened to all the information. Detective Luciano, of course, wanted Chico thrown in jail. The judge, however, was fully aware of Detective Luciano’s reputation for bigotry.
“Mr. De Leon,” began the judge, “please stand.” Chico stood. “Let me begin by saying that, in my opinion, there is no excuse for what you did to Detective Luciano, no matter what the provocation. However, in view of Detective Luciano’s reputation, I’m sure there was provocation. Although that provocation does not excuse your actions, it does mitigate them. But, I must say, the fact that you’re a professional prizefighter does not stand well for you. Nevertheless, I am prepared to offer you an option.”
The judge motioned to the bailiff who opened the door to the judge’s chambers. A tall Black Marine sergeant came in and went to where Chico was standing.
“Mr. De Leon, if you are convicted of assault, as you no doubt will be, you could spend up to five years in prison. No one, with the possible exception of Detective Luciano, wants that. However, I am giving you an option. It has been a fairly common practice throughout this nation to offer young men in situations like this the opportunity to join the service rather than serve jail time.
“This is Sergeant Washington of the United States Marine Corps. If you agree to join the Marine Corps and serve a minimum of two years active duty, I will suspend this charge. Upon your honorable discharge from the Marines, the charge will be dropped. What do you say, Mr. De Leon?”
Luciano was on his feet. “What kind of garbage is this, judge?”
The judge pointed his gavel at Luciano. “One more word from you, Detective Luciano, and I will hold you in contempt.” He turned back to Chico. “Well, Mr. De Leon, what do you say?”
Chico looked at Sergeant Washington and then at his grandmother. He really didn’t see that he had any choice. He looked at the judge and said, “I’ll go in the Marines, judge.”
The judge looked at him and said, “Wise choice. God bless you, son.”
Two days later, Chico found himself in Paris Island, North Carolina. Chico De Leon’s recruit experience was very similar to Ruben Barlow’s - the biggest difference was a dream Chico had his second night in boot camp. Lights-out was at 2200 hours and Chico was dead tired. The recruits had been up since 0430 hours, had run five miles before breakfast, been beaten and trained all day, and were told the next day would be worse. Chico fell asleep wondering if jail would have been better than the Marine Corps. And then he dreamed his first dream about La Senora.
Chico was sitting on a bench overlooking a field of beautiful flowers. Even though he knew he was dreaming, he could actually smell the flowers and feel the pleasant breeze on his face.
As he sat marveling at the beauty of that place, he sensed a presence to his left. He looked and saw a beautiful lady in a white robe. She didn’t look old but neither did she look young. She had a distinct Aztec look with long black hair and big, luminous dark eyes. She was short, about the size of Carlita, who came up to his chin when she was in high heels. She had high cheekbones and bronze skin.
She extended her hand to him and said in Spanish, “Chico De Leon, you are a good man. Come, let us walk in this beautiful field.”
Chico took her hand and stood up. Her touch was light and cool and very real. When he stood, she released his hand and turned to begin walking. Chico walked beside her, not taking his eyes off her.
“Senora,” he said in Spanish, “what is this beautiful place?’
“It is a place where people from your world can meet and talk with messengers from God.”
“Are you a messenger from God, senora?”
“Yes, Chico. I am here to prepare you for what is