Raul Calderon had been living on the family farm his entire life. Every since he was a child, he would help his father plant the corn in April and harvest them in September. It was a yearly ritual he participated with his father and brothers, and was determined to continue the ritual onto his own children.

Raul was blessed with one son, but that was all the good Lord had destined for him. Jose Calderon was born healthy, but Raul's wife Maria was rushed into surgery after complications that arose during childbirth. By the grace of God, Maria pulled through. The doctor gave the Calderons a strong warning against having any more children lest they hoped for an early grave for Maria.

Although he had hoped for more children as he himself had five brothers and two sisters, Raul took his only son and decided that it would be up to him to do the work that his brothers and sisters did every year by himself. It was a challenge worth pursing, and Maria was behind him one hundred percent.

Over the years, Jose learned that the fate of the farm rested wholly on his shoulders. His father was advancing in age right before his eyes, and his body was quickly catching up with him. He was no longer the spry young Raul Calderon that plowed the field in preparation for planting the corn. He was now a balding man in his mid fifties as Jose grew to reach his twenties. Jose was brought up on good moral values and chose to stay behind on the farm to help with the plowing in an effort to keep the farm in business instead of leaving when he turned eighteen.

Through conceited effort, Jose managed to have the field plowed just in time to plant the seeds. It wasn't until Jose turned twenty-four that he learned that in order to keep the farm safe, he would have to attempt a drastic measure.

It was a warm day in March when it happened. The elder Raul was sitting comfortably in his rocking chair out back while his wife was finishing the dishes in the kitchen. Jose was already up preparing to go out and feed the animals as he did every morning. The routine was the same everyday, so the appearance of something new caught Jose by surprise as he stepped out the farm door to see a black car park at the front gate. A dark-haired man in an expensive business suit was standing next to it. He appeared to have been waiting for someone to finally come out of the house as he waved impatiently for Jose to come over.

Jose was not one to deviate from his routine, but the man continued to wave him over and his actions seemed to become more desperate by the second. Sighing, Jose put the buckets he had down and approached the well-dressed man. "What can I help you with?"

"Unfortunately, I should be asking you that," he replied. "My name is Bob Tippet. I am a lawyer. I am your father's lawyer. We haven't spoken in almost thirty years, so it's no surprise that you don't know of me. You must be his son."

"Yes," Jose replied as he cordially extended his hand for Bob to shake. It took Bob a few second to respond accordingly.

"Anyways, it would appear that the government has increase the property tax on this area, your farm included. I've done the math and the corn you produce will not be enough to pay for the new increase. I'm sure you can purchase and produce more corn next year, but I think it's too late to grow more corn for this year. I'm a city guy if you haven't noticed, but I'm pretty sure I'm right. Am I?"

"Yeah," Jose mumbled under his breath. "You're right. I'm going to have to find some other way to make the payment this year I suppose. Do you have any suggestions?"

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I can honestly not think of anything can could help you. You could take out a loan but I doubt any bank would give you one. Even if you could, I doubt you'd be able to pay it back soon, and the interest rate will kill you in the long run."

"I will find a way," Jose said confidently. Bob was left speechless and found he could do or say nothing else of important. Wisely, the man slinked back into his car and rove off. Jose finished his early morning rounds faster than usual and ran back into the house.

"I'm going into town for a bit. I have some new business to conduct. Okay?"

"What business?" Raul asked.

"Just some side work a friend of mine offered me before. I turned him down because I didn't think we needed the money, but your lawyer just came by. He said the property tax was raised. I just need to do some quick jobs for him and we'll have enough to last us until the rest of the year."

"Jose-"

"Don't worry," Jose cut him off mid sentence. "It's all good. I'll be back before dinner."

Jose didn't want the conversation to go any further. He new that Raul would eventually ask deep probing questions and Jose did not have the heart to lie to his father, but he didn't want to tell him that what he was going to do was most likely illegal. Jose took the truck into the town and met up with an old friend from school, Manny.

Manny was a paunchy fellow with a history of violence and trouble with the law. Not surprisingly, Jose found him in a bar with other crooks and felons chugging down a glass of beer. Also not surprising, Manny was ordering another one. "Manny," Jose called to him. Manny turned to him and began to walk over in a drunken stupor. Manny began to fall over himself until Jose caught him and sat him back down on a stool. "Do you remember when you offered me a job a few days ago?"

Suddenly, Manny seemed to sober up when Jose mentioned the job offer. "You into it now? You have to tell me for sure because once you're in, you're in. You don't just jump out."

"I know. I know. My family. They need the money. I do a few quick jobs, but that's it."

Manny thought to himself quietly for a few second. "Yeah, why not? Mateo needs a new runner anyways. Last one got caught. I'll talk to him and give you a call tonight. You can go home and do all those stupid farm things you do." It didn't matter how many times his tried to persuade other and even himself, Manny was a farm boy as a child and he had to do all those stupid farm things himself once. Needless to say, Manny discarded all of them when he came to the city.

Jose returned home and avoided any long conversations with his father. Anytime his visit to town was brought up, Jose would quickly change the subject. Raul, although elderly, had yet to become senile. He could tell what Jose was doing. Raul let it go and the family departed for the night.

Jose was the first to wake in the morning. Not long after, the phone rang with Manny's hungover voice on the other end. "I'll make this quick because I feel the need to upchuck. Mateo does have a job for you. Come to town and meet up with a guy on the corner of 4th and 49th. He'll tell you where to take it. When you're done, you get paid in cash. Nothing to it. Oh, Got to go."

Manny hung up before Jose could get a word in edgewise, not that he had anything to said in response. Jose left his early morning chores on partially completing, not wanting Mateo's contact to have to wait on that street corner too long. After the quick drive into town, Jose met up with one of Mateo's guys learning inconspicuously against the building wall with a package in his hands. He seemed to recognize Jose even thought Jose did not recognize the man. He approached Jose and handed him the package and whispered. "10th and Fowler. Ask for Miguel." The man looked around before turning the corner.

Jose looked at the sealed package before pocketing it and driving off towards his second destination. Jose was careful not to speed. He knew that police were notorious for hiding in small narrow streets, and strike when someone least expects it. On the same token however he was careful to maintain speed as he once read abut a man who was pulled over for going too slow as he was doing so in an attempt to avoid being pulled over.

Despite his weariness, Jose arrived at the old dilapidated building without any problem. He entered the building and found two muscular men guarding the door. "You have business here?"

"I'm looking for Miguel," Jose said nervously. "I have a package for him."

"Good another man said as he joined the others in the room. "It's finally here! Mateo assures me it's the best. Why wouldn't it be? I paid top dollar for it." The man was much weaker in comparison to his bodyguards, a good foot shorter as well. "Oh, your payment. Can't let the delivery boy go without his tip." One of the muscular men stepped forward and handed Jose a small package containing numerous bills of different denominations. Jose thanked the men in the room before retuning to his car, hoping he could just go home.

Luck was not with Jose as a police car began to follow only a minute or two after leaving Miguel's place. "Step out of the car, please," the officer ordered. "We just got a tip that this vehicle was used in the transportation of an illegal substance. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

Jose hadn't done anything to tip off the police, so he figured the swarrmy man he met first was either an undercover cop or an informant. "No sir," Jose replied.

The officer ignored him and began to search the truck. Another officer soon pulled up and began to assist in the search. The package of cash was soon discovered. The officers fiddled around with the money until find a small Ziploc bag containing a minute amount of cocaine hidden between two bills. Miguel probably figured he was doing him a favor by secretly giving him a bit of the package.

"That'll do it," the officer said. "Sir, you are under arrest for the possession of an illegal substance." The officer continued to give Jose the Miranda Rights, but he quickly tuned out. H was just waiting for what his father would say.

The family was rejoined the following morning. Bob Tippet, the lawyer, brought Raul and Maria into town. All of them were in the interrogation room together discussing Jose's options. "I understand why you did what you did," Raul said, but it doesn't excuse you."

"This is a family thing," Bob interrupted. "I get that. I'll handle the legal aspect of things. The have you with possession of cocaine as well as connections to a known gang leader Mateo Cruz. If you take the plea deal and testify against this Miguel fellow, the prosecutor is willing to ignore the connection to Mateo Cruz. You'd serve of only six months in prison. It's either than or three years."

"I can't do that," Jose lamented. "We have the plant the corn next month and if I'm not there, no one will be able to plow the field. My father is too old to do it himself."

"I understand-"

"No you don't!"

"Take the plea deal, my son," Raul said, holding back his tears. "I will find a way to get through this year. Do not worry."

Jose reluctantly followed his father's orders. He took the plea deals and told officers where they could find Miguel. The man was promptly arrested and Jose testified against him, leading to a guilty verdict and a 10 year prison sentence The only loose end was that the drugs that Jose had delivered was not found anywhere in the house. April had just begun as Jose prepared himself for his six months in jail.

Back at the Calderon farm, Raul and Maria were trying to accustom themselves to life without their son. It hadn't been this way for over twenty years. Raul spent the next few days getting into the habit of taking over Jose's morning routines, which took much energy out of the elderly man. The time for plowing the fields was soon approaching and Raul still wasn't able to complete the daily rituals as successfully as his son could.

Raul sent letters to his brothers and sisters for assistance, but all they could do were expresses their condolences. They had all forsaken their farm childhood and had moderately successful lives in major cities around the country. Raul began to write a latter to his son, explaining the hardship he was experiencing due to his absence.

"Do not worry the boy," Maria chided. "He is in prison. He can not do anything to help us."

"Jose Calderon is a resourceful boy. If anyone can help me plow this field no matter what the obstacle, ti would be him." Maria shrugged and left him to his letter writing.

Dear Jose:

I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I will not be able to plant the corn this year. I'm just too old to be plowing the filed all by myself. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would plow the field for me.

Tu padre

Tearfully, Raul mailed the letter, which arrived at the jail two days later. Jose read the emotional letter with tear forming in his own eyes. Jose figured there was only one thing he could do under the circumstances and began to write a letter in return and mailed it the first thing next day.

Two days passed and it was getting close to deadline for the corn planting. Raul looked out the filed that still looked that same as the year before. The more he looked at the field the more he was convinced that he would be unable to the plow it all without severely injuring himself in the process. "Well, it looks like this old farm has seen its last days."

No sooner had he finished the sentence than a swarm of police car began to diverge on the residence. Raul counted at least eight at first with more arriving from a different direction at every minute. "Mr. Calderon," the first officer began. "We have a search warrant for your property."

"You need to search my farm?" he asked in disbelief. What else has his son gotten himself into?

"No, sir," another officer answered. "The warrant is to search the ground. More specifically, what's under it. Your son tried to send this letter to you, but the jail intercepted it." The officer handed Raul the note, and he quickly read it. He looked back up to see an army of police officer with shovels and heavy machinery began to dig up the field. It seemed like hours had passed when it was actually no more than thirty minutes. The police had searched every square inch of the land and came up empty handed.

"The first officer approached Raul again. "I'm sorry sir. It would seem that our suspicions were incorrect. You will receive a monetary reimbursement for any damages we caused in our search. Good day to you, sir."

"You too," Raul replied. The police officers returned to the respective cars and drove off just as quickly as they had arrived. Maria exited the house just as the final squad cars left the property. "What's going on out here."

"You see," Raul said as he handed his wife the note Jose wrote. "Jose Calderon as a resourceful boy."

Maria looked over the note before reading it aloud in awe:

Dear Papa:

For the love of God, don't plow the field! That's where I buried all the drugs!