Black Sheep

About the Book

Summary of Black Sheep This is the story of a Epifinio Nieves living in the foothills of Mexico who encounters tragedy and since there was nothing left for him and his brother tries to cross the border into the United States. He succeeded but at a high price he would have to endure. His father taught him to work hard because it meant survival when one is poor. Crossing the border and finding a job in the fields, people liked him because of his work ethics. He moved to the PanhandIe of Texas where he gained the confidence of a field Contractor (Contratista) who was in charge the people working for him. Epifinio learned to cheat the workers and threaten them with losing their jobs if they said anything. Of Course they wouldn't report him to the farmer because they didn’t speak English and were afraid to be deported. After becoming a Contratista himself and becoming respected in the town of Muleford and becoming wealthy by cheating and mistreating his worker, he got married. He became a family man and hi children except for one went to school and were making a good living. This son, Fernando, was different than the others, his sister and brother made fun of him because of his dark complexion. He adored his father and would do anything for him who would use him like a slave. Fernando dropped out of school and worked for his father who worked from sunup fill sun down. A couple of years he got married but encountered difficulties in the process. Rosita, his wife was quiet and loved her husband and anything he did was alright with her. Her family didn't like Fernando at all considered him the Black Sheep of the family because he was not successful like his brothers and sister. They just new him as a lazy, good for nothing drunk and because of this turned against his children. Working for his father he became a jack of all trades and could do anything. But, he wanted and became a Contratista like his father doing what he wanted he even abused his own children like his workers. He was just like his father cheating and threatening but not successful making money. He liked bragging and showing off about money he made and how he treated his workers. He neglected his children who lost respect and saw him for what he really was, a drunk. The sad thing was his children were suffering because of him who had turned both their mother and his family against them. They had nothing to do with what he did but they were already thought of being just like him as they became older. Fernando lost everything and is living with his consequences while his family struggles, but live happy without him because of their mother.

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