🍂 Thanksgiving in La Grulla: Home Sweet Home
If you've followed the journey of "El Camino del Destino," you’ll already know the story of the three young boys: Tristan and his cousins, Pete, and Eliu. Though their possessions were few and their lives were defined by hard work and travel, their bond as primos (cousins) and the strength of their family was their greatest wealth. This exlusive story finds the three boys and their families finally home for the Thanksgiving holiday after a long season of hard migrant farm work.
It was late November in La Grulla, Texas, and the air was finally cool and still. The familias (families)—the Treviños and the Rodriguez’s—were home. They had completed their annual circuit, a long journey that defined their year: starting in the spring with the demanding asparagus harvest in Hoopeston, Illinois, moving west for the back-breaking labor of blocking the beets in Wyoming, and concluding with the summer work of cherry picking in Michigan. Now, they were home for the winter break, resting and preparing for the start of the next cycle. There was no greater gift than being settled in their own small, beloved town for Thanksgiving. For Tristan, the familiar feel of the family home felt cozy and comfortable. It was something he truly missed all the months that they were on the road. It smelled of clean pine-sol, the result of his Mamá Filomena giving everything a good cleaning when they returned from their journey and the lingering scents of cooking.
Earlier that morning, the three boys had been out in the nearby brush land. Though the major migrant work was over, their skill was always needed. Their small, heavy-duty resorteras (slingshots) were clutched in their hands, and their successful outing brought back a pair of conejos (jackrabbits), a proud contribution to the special family dinner that would be prepared for Thanksgiving.
🦃The Thanksgiving Feast: Contribution and Gratitude
The small kitchen hummed with activity. The main centerpiece was a modest turkey breast, which had been a special purchase after their return home, symbolizing a successful season.
The Turkey & Game: The turkey breast was roasted with savory spices. Tía Hercilia (Pete and Eliu’s mom) and Mamá Filomena worked quickly, stewing the smaller game meat the boys provided in a rich mole sauce, ensuring their large family would have plenty of savory food.
The Sides: The table was layered with the family’s favorites: a huge bowl of fluffy arroz Mexicano (rice cooked in a tomato base), rich frijoles (beans) simmered for hours with a smoky ham hock, a comforting stack of fresh, warm flour tortillas, which were an essential part of their Thanksgiving, and for dessert, sweet warm calabaza (pumpkin) empanadas.
When the family finally gathered, pulling up every chair, stool, and overturned bucket around the rustic kitchen table table, Tristan’s Papá, Tristan Sr. led the thanks.
“Hoy damos gracias,” he began, his voice rough but warm. “We give thanks for safe travel and for bringing us back to La Grulla.” He then addressed the boys. “We thank our young hunters for adding to our feast.”
Young Tristan looked around the small room, feeling a powerful pride. “I’m thankful we are home,” he said. “And that even when we are tired, we still have our family. Mi casa (my home) is always wherever we are all together.”
🧼 The Assembly Line: Washing Up
After the meal, the three boys were tasked with washing the mountain of dishes in the small, lukewarm sink.
“We’re like a factory assembly line,” Eliu joked, scrubbing a plate.
“Yeah, except we’re washing dishes right here in La Grulla, instead of scraping mud off our hands up in Wyoming,” Pete retorted, carefully drying a ceramic bowl with a worn towel, the memory of the summer sun still fresh.
Tristan was stacking the clean dishes on a shelf. By cleaning up and putting everything in its place, they had gifted their Mamá Filomena and Tia Hercilia something truly rare: a moment of peace. The women had moved to the front room with cafecitos in hand, their faces showing genuine rest and happiness.
“Hey,” Tristan said, leaning in. “This is the best part.”
“Washing dishes?” Eliu scoffed.
“No,” Tristan explained. “This. Being home, being together. It doesn’t matter how far we traveled. We’re still Treviño’s and Rodriguez’s. We’re still family.”
Pete smiled. “El camino del destino,” he said, quoting their grandmother. “The path of destiny. Wherever we go, we go together.”
🎲 Holiday Games: Making Their Own Fun
Once the dishes were done, the games began, filling the small space with laughter and competitive spirit.
Mamá Filomena brought out the worn deck of Loteria cards, and the air filled with excited shouts of “¡Loteria!”
Next, the floor was cleared for canicas (marbles). Pete used chalk to draw the circle for "Ringer." The boys produced their prized collections—small bags filled with countless, colorful glass or stone orbs. These weren't just toys; they were portable treasure troves, with names like the swirling yellow and orange "Tiger Eyes" and the highly sought-after, opaque "Agate" shooters. Each marble was a small piece of wealth, earned, traded, or found along their thousands of miles of travel. They concentrated fiercely on their shots.
For the final game, matatena (jacks) came out. The boys didn't own a set, so the boys gasped when Mamá Filomena produced a brand-new rubber ball and a handful of gleaming metal jacks from a small paper bag—a special Thanksgiving gift. Tristan sat, mesmerized, as the older cousins and aunts, then the boys, eagerly practiced tossing the bouncy ball and scooping up handfuls of the metal jacks with speed. This new game, a treasured possession, was the perfect way to end the evening with the whole family.
🪗 A Final Harmony
But the evening's entertainment wasn't quite over. Tristan’s father, Tristan Sr. went to the corner of the room and carefully picked up his most cherished instrument: a beautiful red button accordion. This accordion, which had traveled thousands of miles on the floorboard of their truck, was the source of their family's best moments at the migrant camps with family and new found friends.
The moment he pressed the bellows, a Tejano tune filled the room and the family erupted with applause. Tristan Sr.’s fingers danced over the buttons, and Tía Hercilia and Mamá Filomena instantly got up and started dancing and singing. Tristan, Pete, and Eliu tapped their feet and clapped their hands. The music was loud and joyful, a vibrant sound of their heritage that made their simple house truly home.
🥧 A Special Dessert and a Proud Heart
As the games and music wound down, Tía Hercilia brought out a huge platter of her special holiday treat: sweet Empanadas de Calabaza (pumpkin empanadas).
“These,” Tía Hercilia announced, setting the platter down, “are for giving thanks for getting us all home safe and having a successful season’s harvest.”
After a full day of food and games, the three boys retired to the small back bedroom where they slept. The room held 3 small beds with patched quilts and a small dresser. The boys all got changed and ready for sleep.
Tristan lay down, pulling the quilt up to his chin. He heard the soft, steady murmur of the adults’ voices drifting from the other room—the sound of his mothers and aunts finally resting—a sound more comforting than any song.
Tristan didn't know their life was "difficult." He didn't know they lacked "material goods." To Tristan, they had everything they could ever want. Every day was an adventure, every family event was special, and the sense of pride he felt, knowing he, a young schoolboy, had contributed to the feast and helped secure a moment of rest for the women, was a treasure no money could buy. These moments were the bonds that made their family strong and gave Tristan confidence in his worth.
He drifted toward sleep, embracing the deep, earned peace that came from a full belly and a proud heart. He was home. He had everything.
⬇️ For more ways to continue the boys’ Thanksgiving story, download the Family Fun Guide here. It’s filled with discussion questions for the family and fun coloring pages to keep everyone busy through the Thanksgiving holiday! Buen provecho!