Marchuca

Gonzalo and Pedro met when Father McEnroe integrates a few poor boys into the elite private school that Gonzalo attends.Gonzalo a long standing victim of bullying refuses to bully Pedro and a bond is formed.Even though their social classes differ greatly these boys are able to form and maintain a friendship.Gonzalo was blessed with an abundance of material things but also had his share of heartache. His mother was having an affair with a wealthy man and gonzalo was forced to accompany her to his house. Pedro lived in a shantytown in a one room house with no running water or indoor toilet but he never seemed jealous of what Gonzalo had. His mother worked in the gardens with a baby at her side. The wealthy were able to obtain things via the black market while the poor were forced to struggle.
As Chile moved towards Civil War Gonzalos and Pedros participated in protest marches,sold cigarettes and flags to make money for Sylvanas uncle. Gonzalo seemed very happy helping his friend.After the military moved in, took over the school and removed Father McEnroe the kids were scared. I thought it was very moving when Father McEnroe walked into the church ate the holy wafers and blew out the candles. He said the church was not sacred anymore and told the people that the lord was not there. Pedro stood up as a sign of respect even though the military was present.
During the military coup in 1973 against the Salvador Allendes Government , Gonzalos witnessed Sylvana being killed and the rounding up of Pedro and the residents of shantytown. Gonzalos is terrified ,when they tried to take him he pushed aside his friendship and told them he was from the other side, the military believed him because of his expensive shoes. Pedro witnessed this , his disappointment in Gonzales was evident but he was just a scared little boy.
People here are judged according to what their families have or don't have. If your poor its assumed that your not as intelligent or motivated to work . Hopefully these attitudes will change. Thankfully we don't have to face the level of poverty that exists in other countries and we have many more opportunities . It seems like poverty is a perpetuating cycle that perpetrates societies feeling of them being less important. A cycle like this is almost impossible to break out of for many reasons, not the least of which is societies attitude towards that class of people.