The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child

The circuit continues to govern the family’s life as they follow the harvests, working hard to make ends meet and struggling against The Challenges of the Immigrant Experience. Their needs are even greater now because of the arrivals of Francisco’s new siblings, Rubén and Rorra. Francisco reveals how working the circuit, with its instability and uncertainty, affects him and his family both physically and emotionally. In these four stories, Francisco experiences a series of difficult losses and disappointments, although they are slightly tempered by bright spots of love and friendship. Francisco shows his sensitivity, compassion for all living creatures, and his longing for friendship.

In “El Angel de Oro” Papá feels the pressure from being unable to work and provide for the family. Papá’s mood and health noticeably begin to decline in this story and will continue to deteriorate across the rest of the memoir, with upsetting effects on the family. Papá’s pacing, smoking, complaining, and headaches make it challenging for Francisco to be stuck in the small cabin with little to do except tell stories and watch the neighbor’s beautiful goldfish. Francisco is glad to go to school to learn, to interact with other kids his age, and to escape the small cabin. Again, the circuit has interrupted Francisco’s education and he starts third grade late.

Francisco quickly makes a good friend in Miguelito—and just as quickly loses him when Miguelito’s family is pulled away by the same circuit that drives Francisco’s family. The loss of Miguelito is isolating. Francisco feels it keenly, saying, “My heart sank into my stomach” when he discovers Miguelito’s cabin empty, and he feels a “lump in [his] throat” (49). The circuit steals Francisco’s childhood: His family’s constant moving, and that of other migrant children—potential friends—does not allow him to enjoy enduring childhood friendships. Francisco’s brief experience of playing in the puddles with Miguelito and planning to fish in the creek are rare and transitory joys. Francisco dedicates “El Angel de Oro” to Miguel Antonio, whom readers can infer is his lost friend, Miguelito. The bittersweet dedication reveals how much Miguelito’s brief friendship meant to him.

In his thoughts about the goldfish, Francisco reveals his personal feelings of isolation and his deep compassion for other living beings. Francisco admires the beautiful, solitary fish, and, projecting his own feelings, wonders if the fish gets lonely. The fish represents Francisco’s loneliness. Francisco shows his sensitivity and empathy when he desperately tries to save the lives of as many gray fish as he can. In leaving the last gray fish with the neighbor who owns the goldfish, Francisco gives each fish what he personally longs for but cannot have: a friend. His action also shows that the differences in the fish are irrelevant. Francisco does not show bias: The humble, common gray fish is equal to the “golden angel,” and they swim together “peacefully.” Francisco is like the little gray fish: figuratively one of many “fish out of water” as an undocumented migrant in the United States. Francisco symbolically lets his fishing pole float away, as both a sign that he does not want to harm any fish, and as a goodbye to his friend.

“Death Forgiven” details one of Francisco’s most difficult experiences on the circuit. He finally has a true friend, a pet who brings him joy and unconditional love, until Papá brutally kills the bird in a fit of rage in front of the whole family. Francisco describes this traumatic childhood loss in some of the most emotional language he uses in any of his stories. He feels “as if someone had ripped [his] heart out” and runs away, “to escape, to die” (59). Papá’s violence shows the strain imposed by following the circuit. He is tired and irritable from long workdays, and he worries constantly about finding more work, but his harsh reaction indicates that Papá’s anger is increasing. Notably, Francisco prays the Hail Mary for both, first El Perico and then Papá, suggesting that Papá also needs divine intercession. Although Francisco’s faith helps comfort him, and the title suggests that Francisco has forgiven Papá, the event is emotionally scarring. Francisco shows how deeply he feels the impact of the bird’s loss in the story’s quiet final line, “I visited his grave every day until we moved to Corcoran two weeks later to find work picking cotton” (60). The circuit, through its effect on Papá, takes another of Francisco’s friends.

Though Francisco lacks a supportive network of friends, The Value of Family makes up for a lot. “A Christmas Gift” reveals both the depth of the family’s poverty, their hope and perseverance, and their strong, loving bond. Times are hard: With limited work, the family resorts to searching trash for food, and buying what others feed their dogs from the butcher. Mamá shows her resourcefulness in turning these cast-offs into meals, while Papá continues to show his strong work ethic. Despite the current hardships, he refuses to leave until he finishes the cotton harvest because the rancher was good to them—“it was the right thing to do” (51). When they do leave in December, interrupting Francisco’s brief stay in fourth grade, they move to even worse conditions. They live with cardboard on the floor, and sleep together on a single mattress. The circuit guarantees that the family has no single stable home, or income, and few worldly goods. They only have each other and their determination.

Francisco and his brothers are forced to grow up and assume big responsibilities at a young age, which gives them an unchildlike awareness of adult cares. They realize that the family’s lack of money means another lean Christmas. Francisco’s Christmas wish is modest—still a child at heart, he only wants a ball—but he is still disappointed. Mamá’s tears as she wraps their candy show her love for her children: She wishes she could give them more. Papá, in turn, shows his tenderness toward Mamá. By purchasing the handkerchief for Mamá, Papá reveals his love for her. It also shows his sense of community in his compassion for the poor young couple selling their possessions. Papá helps them, though he can hardly afford to himself. Francisco sees that the true gift of Christmas is being together and being thankful for what they do have: each other.

Papá’s back pain and his irritation increase in “Cotton Sack” when rain limits the cotton harvest. Francisco has conflicting feelings about picking cotton: He prefers to be in school, but he also wants to earn Papá’s respect and show that he can pick and collect cotton as well as Roberto, Mamá, and Papá. Eager to impress, Francisco joins Papá in the cold fields, but the cold overwhelms him. Although Papá does not criticize him verbally, he dismisses Francisco, telling him to warm himself by the fire. Francisco recognizes that he disappointed Papá and realizes he has not yet earned Papá’s respect or shown the same level of grit and perseverance that Papá models and expects.