Aufgabe NT 1 - Aufgabe 3.2 · Abitur NRW Englisch GK · Nachtermin · Weiterbildungskolleg 2021

Klausurteil A

C. Osvaldo Gomez

The Curb

The protagonist crossed the US-Mexican border without papers and now stays in a rented garage in the USA. His wife, who is expecting their first child, remained in Mexico. The following passage is taken from the opening of the short story.

Today will be better, Jesus said to himself. He stood confidently along the curb with the

others. It was cold, damn cold. The men huddled close to each other, but not too close. It was

around 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday in November on the outskirts of Fallbrook, California.

“Hey Pancho,” one of the Oaxacans said. “How’s your family?”

5 “ Bien,” another Oaxacan said. “And yours?”

Damn Oaxaqueños, Jesus thought. So many of them.

He took a good look at the lot, trying to see each as they’d be seen by the locals. Only a few

were of average American height. Most were short, dark, and stout. They looked strong,

standing with broad shoulders and barrel chests.

10 Jesus was from Sinaloa, a rugged northern state on the west coast of Mexico. At five-foot-ten,

he was taller than most of the men looking for work. He was a well-built man. His fair

complexion was tinged red from days burned by the sun. Jesus was good with a hammer.

He preferred housing and cement work to landscaping. Landscaping was not his strength.

Of course the Oaxacans were good at everything.

15 The cold air stung at the back of his throat. It was easier to inhale through the nostrils. The

morning sun began to rise above the hill that was behind the workers. Most of the men had

their hands in their jacket pockets. This was one way they sized each other up. Those who

considered themselves better than others stayed still. They didn’t move side-to-side, or put

their hands near their mouths and blow like a maricon, a faggot. They were machos.

20 Jesus daydreamed, remembering the last time he saw his family. It was a beautiful May

morning in Culiacan City. Anxious about the trip north, he didn’t sleep well the night before.

Out of concern, his wife, Celia Maria, didn’t either.

“Here are your eggs with beans,” Celia Maria said. “How many tortillas would you like?”

“Just two, Vieja,” Jesus said, noticing the sadness in her voice. They’d only been married

25 fourteen months. Despite being a recently wed couple, he affectionately called her, Vieja, or

Old Love. […]

Once the cold stopped being a challenge the men moved in place passing the time, staying

limber in case they needed to run. They were in a foreign land and shared a common pain.

Some felt a strain in their hearts, a constant fear of getting caught by la migra. Others felt a

30 throb in their heads, a daily migraine of shame that could only be relieved by the analgesic

of finding work. This was Jesus’ first season away from home, and though he was surrounded

every morning by familiar faces, he was lonely. He longed for a warm embrace from his

Vieja. The sound of an engine coming up the hill snapped Jesus from his pleasant reverie.

The Oaxacans quickly lined up at the edge of the curb, placing themselves in the best spot.

35 Damn me to hell! Jesus thought. These guys are professionals. He ran to where they stood.

The vehicle came closer and closer, eventually passing by. In return for their canine-like

interest, the men got a look of disgust from the elderly man driving the car. Puffed up chests

deflated, and heads dropped several inches. There would be no trabajo for now. Jesus

walked back slowly to his favorite spot near two lush shrubs. The gringos water everything,

40 he said to himself. […]

Jesus sat on the edge of the sidewalk. He looked at his watch again: 2:55 p.m. Some of the

men were leaving, giving up for the day. Only a few hours of daylight remained, the winter

workday cut short by the sun’s early set. Pinches maricones, Jesus thought. They give up

too easily. I’m staying another hour.

45 In six months, Jesus had made more money working in the U.S. than he had the entire

previous year in Mexico. With the money he sent home, Celia Maria was able to buy a crib

and baby clothes. He kept just enough money to feed himself and pay his monthly rent for

the garage.

At 3:15 p.m. Jesus heard the sound of another engine coming up the hill. There were few

50 men left to compete for the curb’s best realty. A double cab Tundra stopped in front of the

men.

“I need a good rooster!” the voice said in Spanish from inside.

“ ¡Aquí está su gallo! ” or “Here is your rooster!” Jesus said, leaping forward. ‘ El mejor

gallo de Culiacan, Sinaloa.”

55 Some men let out a howl while others laughed.

“Okay, you,” the man said, appreciating Jesus’ pride. “Get inside.”

Jesus didn’t hesitate. Quickly he grabbed the handle and opened the door. Once inside he

felt an inner peace deep down to his bones, and his muscles relaxed.

Annotations:

4, 6 · Oaxacans / Oaxaqueños ( Spanish) – people from Oaxaca, a state in the south-west of Mexico

29 · la migra ( Spanish, slang) – the US-American immigration offices or the border patrol

38 · trabajo ( Spanish) – work

43 · pinches maricones ( Spanish, derogative) – here used as a swearword undermining the Oaxacans’ masculinity

50 · realty – property in the form of land or building; valuable space

50 · double cab Tundra – type of pickup truck

53 · gallo ( Spanish) – rooster; in Latin America also: strong man

53 – 54 · El mejor gallo de Culiacan... ( Spanish) – The best rooster of Culiacan...

Klausurteil A: Leseverstehen und Schreiben integriert

3.2 While sitting on the curb, Jesus remembers “the last time he saw his family” (l. 20) and the talk with his wife before he left. Write this dialogue, in which the two consider their decision and talk about what they hope for and what they fear. (Evaluation: re-creation of text) [14 Punkte]