"I had a little job with the Y, the YMCA. They had a bowling alley near the school. I was a pinsetter and I got a few cents there. Yes, [it was when I was in high school.] Yes, [they called it the Morenci Club].

My first job was working at the school. I was like a custodian at the school. There was a teacher, I do not remember which one. They gave it to us in physics class, Mr. Gould was the teacher, a test. He gave us something to read. I did not know why he wanted it or anything. He chose me. They named me for the operetta. I worked in the school sweeping and the teacher that was directing that program went to where I was working and that is where I practiced my part. When the first rehearsal happened, they practiced there in the auditorium, so when I came they made crosses. They said how did I do it when I was not there with them. It was because I was working, I did not stop working to go to the auditorium to work. I liked it very much; it enchanted me. I was in a principal part, Pedro Caranza. I threw the book away. It was about Joaquin Murrieta. I liked it very much; it pleased me. It was an operetta, a very interesting program. It was lovely. The people were happy. One of the Nabores was in it. They used to call it, “Tom’s Play!” (Laughs.)

Yes, [I used to go to the movies]. Sometimes I sneaked in. (Laughs.) We would go up the back stairs. One time my father gave me a good scolding. He gave me money to buy the newspaper, La Epoca, and I went to the show instead. He was very angry. We used to climb like spiders up there. There was an open window at the top. I did that kind of mischievous thing. There were fans for ventilation of the mine. I was over there; I was there because I was going for pine nuts. I went into the place where the blades were, it was large where they were, you will not believe that I straddled them and the blades were going. [I did it] to pick up estyl that was thrown there where they worked. I was a fool! I was very lucky!

When I was little I got scared [at the movies] when the horses came. I thought they were inside. (Laughs.) Yes, [I liked] westerns. Later in La Azteca, [they had Mexican movies]. There was a Teatro Palomino. We had a phonograph. I think that in those days, the radio did not exist. I do not think that I liked music as mcuh as literature. I liked very much to read. I cannot read now. [My eyesight is gone.] I have a radio, Star Sounds. It is a little radio. They read the newspapers. They read 1,705 publications and it is very interesting, very informative. They also have copies of books. They have volunteers that read one the newspaper. [I liked to read] in English [the most]. I have read more [in English]. There are very interesting programs every day.

They had us [the Mexicans and Americanos] separated all the time.
Yes, [I went to the dances] the music would be lacking first before me! (Laughs.) There was a man, Mike Piña; he was very intelligent. He was a machinist from the shop but he did not get the wages, he should have got. He was a foreman also. He always encouraged one when we went to the dances. [He used to be] a very good man. I liked him a lot. Ultimately, he committed suicide. They went to California and he killed his wife and he killed a daughter and he killed himself. They had a son, Rudy Piña, who was always energetic. He was always singing “Shuffle off to Buffalo.” He was very cheerful, this Rudy. I would see him in the store, in the pharmacy. [One time] he was there talking to these girls, they called them las Camotas. They worked there in the store. They called their brother el Camote. Anyway, they were on that side and he was on this side. (Demonstrates with his hands.) I arrived and I stood on this side. He was there and I wanted to surprise him and I wanted to greet him. I felt like he ignored me. One time when I saw his sister, I told her about it. She asked me, “What side were you on?” I said to her, “On his left side.” She said, “He lost an eye in the service.” I was very sad. That was Rudy, Mike’s son. He was younger than me. He was very energetic, just like his father. He [Mike]was always encouraging people. He was the referee of the youth ball. We had softball there at the Plaza. One time I was late to work. I do not know what happened. The other darned men yelled to me, “What time do you go in?” Mike said, “Tell them it is none of their business!” (Laughs.) That Mike! Everything good ends."