Ale was a constant worker and my Grandfather preferred him, Mexicano, La Mascara (the mask) and a few others.  They were good workers.  When he would be gone from the worksite, he would leave Ale in charge.  As soon as my grandfather said, “I’m going to go to Cotulla, I’ll leave you in charge Ale, you know what to do.  Take the fence up to the ridge there and then tighten it up.”  “Okay.”  As soon as my grandfather would be gone, one of the other guys would say, “Let’s take it easy now that don Juan is gone.”  Ale would look at him and say, “I don’t think so.”  “Yeah let’s take it easy.”  “No,” Ale said again. 

Until that time that my grandfather circled back thru the woods and went and stood behind the worker who wanted to take it easy.  He didn’t even see him come up behind him.   All of the other workers were looking at him.  My Grandfather said all of a sudden, “How’s it going Manny?   “Oh, oh, oh, it’s going real good here, don Juan.”  “Working hard, huh?”  “Oh yeah, working hard.” 

Ale would tell him the worker later, “See, te dije.”  (I told you)   “You come to work, you work.  I’m going to work.  I don’t care if don Juan leaves me by myself out here, I’ll do the work.  I’m not going to say, hey, no body is watching me, I’ll take a nap.  No.”  So whenever he could get Ale to work for him, he would hire him. 

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