René´s call is what I expect most, this Sunday

Conversation with René Gonzalez´s father, one of the five Cuban political prisoners , jailed in U.S.A. , in which love and homage is mixed ,  as well as feeling, denouncement , remembrances ,family, hope and Cuban citizenship…

by Alina Martínez Castillo

Shining eyes of his pleasant image in the afternoon in which he used to play base ball with his sons: Rene and Roberto at the Martí park, of the Cuban capital.

But as a base ball man of heart , who saw his kids to turn into men , to those two mates of base ball fans , Cándido Rene Gonzalez does not keep himself in his recalls. He is certain the three of them will live again an afternoon alike  and that he will have a good fulfillment , in spite of his years. The reunion is shaped neatness in hope.

It is much more than a dream weeded in the 50 decade, in spite of the difficult economic situation he was going through, he dedicated long hours to be second base-although he was longing for the third- or the position of short field in those base ball teams that made history in Cuba.

René´s father , one of the five political prisoners of Cuba, arbitrarily jailed in U.S.A. does not think it twice to state this Sunday what he is expecting most is his son's call from Loreto jail in Pennsylvania.

"To talk with him will be a joy and I am sure he will call me early"  He confesses, since there is no doubt that this call, if possible, will not fail.

As this day he has the journey of accomplishing as custody - and I will not stop doing it- he knows his relatives will go to see him and together will celebrate this satisfaction of tomorrow.

 His joy is linked to his optimism and future: "We are going to win , I think in the end justice will prevail." Truth must be known. A fair process has to be done." Recently, he visited his son together to his wife, Irma Schewerert, Rene's mother.

 " We left on April 20, it has been more than 11 years I did not see him and 11 times I met him again. That meant a lot to me, you do not imagine, because he told me by phone: "I am O.K. my old man, there is no problem" and I thought : "This damned kid is making tricks to me."  But I saw him well with tremendous mood and very strong.

 He and his inmates are the ones who give courage to oneself. They do not give you time to pout , as Cubans say , "Rene practices a lot of exercises, he asked for everybody, for each member of the family, about friends, neighbors, about the people  and told us the quantity of mail he receives every day . " I have no time to answer them all." He told me because he has received letters from Germany, France, England, Argentine and from U.S.A. itself, solidarity people  that wants to know more about his case. "René runs 10 kms  a day , he reads and writes a lot too. He told me  jokingly since I arrived: Dad we are going to hate each other of so much talking and see ourselves but during the last day he told me: "Something was left in the inkpot."

" That is how he is, a joking person , although from my two sons he is the most serious. The two of them are nicer than me. And let me tell you he is a great father. All the time he is worried about his two daughters. He is a loving and demanding father because he helped Irmita on everything at school.

During the conversation with Cándido Rene Gonzalez , we talked about his endless search for a job in Cuba during the 50 decade, about his arrival as a professional base ball man hired for USA, where he never did his first game, of his relation with Irma Schewerert and the stay in Chicago , the long working experience, the arrival of his first son….

I used to play in Havana, where I was born in a small village called Cangrejera between Punta Brava and Santa Fe.  Although I never have a great interest on being a pro, life was so tough and work also. I used to be a bricklaying worker, working tough. If I were assigned a job in the  Sugar Mill , but I was told to wait but I could not.

I go to USA in 1953, first as to the Texas training , together to other Cubans. By the way, black people were located in Mexico, far from the white, everyday they had to take and bring them. We went to Illinois to play, but I was in trouble at once with the base ball team boss. Then I left to Chicago and there I met Irma. We fell in love. I was in U.S.A. illegally , working wherever I found a job.

I returned to Cuba and , later I came back , we married. Rene was born in the 56. Imagine he was our joy. He was the first son. I wanted a boy and I had him.

" We went through difficult moments , very tough. I was always rebel; in Cuba I saw a terrible situation. Batista gave a Coup, and I had already experienced policy , abuses , gangs but I was not still a revolutionary man . there we followed our country´s situation . In the Latin neighborhood we got " the Bohemia magazine" we saw people who went to Cuba and we were informed , until 57 where the 26 of July Movement was formed in Chicago and we joined : Irma and I.0

At the triumph of the revolution we saw how reality was manipulated of what it was going on in Cuba. We came and checked truth, as the people was moved and although we doubt it a lot, whether to return or not ;  but in 1961 the Bay of Pig´s invasion we did not hesitate anymore. We came the four of us, since my second child, Roberto was already 3 years old.

I was crazy to return and we started intense years: guards, voluntary work, movement to the sugar cane fields to cut cane, joining everyday activity of the people. Our kids went with us . they were raised in this revolutionary environment of Che, Fidel and they were full of this spirit.

Since he was little, Rene was obsessed with plans. He dreamt about being a pilot. That was what he liked most and he managed to get it , already a young man he joined a course , first in the fumigation technique planes and later in the sport aviation. Candido Rene smiles when he recalls every moment. It seems he could see his son meanwhile he talks eagerly. In a sudden , his expression changes and every date flows as if he were yesterday.

The whole world fell . On Sunday , December 9 , 1990 I see the troop coming with Roberto, Irma, Olga, Irmita.. What happened? He asked " Do not be afraid, they try to calm me but What is it? I insist. Did he arrive? Is he O.K.? Yes it was Saturday.

Never I thought that any of my sons had that idea. Everything fell on me. I told myself  , he was already a man and took that decision. Throughout all these years I knew about him for his mother, but we never talked nor write to each other. Sometimes I imagine things , in the deepest of me I had my suspects, because my son  full of beliefs. But although I thought or wished about it , I was always thinking  about him, that remained inside me, in silence….

"He was jailed on Saturday 12, 1998 and on Monday 14 I knew about the whole truth. That thing I had inside , came out. What did I feel ? a Double feeling;  the one having a son in jail and proud for the mission he was accomplishing , so noble, so beautiful, struggling  against terrorism , there inside Miami. Since then proud has been growing day by day.

The whole long process was terrible, we have suffered a lot, and more than that in those 17 months and 48 days in loneliness in a cell of top punishment , without doing anything , just for being Cubans of Cuba. I imagine that the whole relatives of the five are going through the same situation.

 Rene´s behavior has been so great! In his plea he defends his four inmates…I tell you one thing , during the last two years in defense of our children I have learnt more than the 70 years I was then.

I feel myself more and more revolutionary. Shadows have vanished of his face and completely disappear when he states that he is closer to Rene, he is confident in justice to prevail , that the base ball game with his kids is going ahead by al means , that he would have loved to see his small house at Chicago, where he loved so much his family, he worked hard and his first son was born, that one he expects, at the first hour of the Fathers Day, a call to listen his jokes , his mood , his strength..