The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border
by Stephen Briseño
illustrated by Magdalena Mora
illustrated by Magdalena Mora
Transcript
00:00For Kayla and Zinnia.
00:07Forever my first readers.
00:09S.B.
00:10For Esther.
00:12M.M.
00:14The Notebook Keeper.
00:16A story of kindness from the border.
00:19By Stephen Breisino and Magdalena Mora.
00:22Mama tells me we have a long way to walk.
00:26Before, sunshine drenched the yard.
00:29Our neighbors' laughter danced in the streets.
00:33Now Papa is gone.
00:35The streets are unsafe.
00:38We are leaving too.
00:40Our home is no longer a home.
00:43Have faith me Vida Mama says.
00:46I pack only what I can carry.
00:48My blanket.
00:50My notebook.
00:52And my munica.
00:54At first our walk is lonely.
00:57But our group gets bigger.
00:59And more colorful.
01:02When we arrive, we are not greeted with kindness.
01:06You cannot go through today.
01:08Go find the Notebook Keeper.
01:11Get your names into the notebook.
01:14She will tell you when you can cross.
01:17I ask Mama what the man means.
01:20But Mama is silent.
01:22A crowd waits.
01:24Mamas.
01:26Papas.
01:27Abuelas and Abuelas.
01:30Children like me.
01:32It's hard to see any kindness here.
01:35Until I meet the Notebook Keeper.
01:38Buenas dias Amigas.
01:40My name is Belinda.
01:42Please tell me your name and your country.
01:46Belinda opens her notebook.
01:48Numbers and numeros fill the pages.
01:52And who are you Chica?
01:54Where are you from?
01:56My name is Noemi.
01:58I am from Mexico.
02:00I am glad you are here Noemi.
02:03Don't worry.
02:04You will cross soon.
02:07Your number is 653.
02:09653 653 I repeat the number over and over.
02:15We settle into a new life.
02:17Our home is different.
02:20Not like it used to be.
02:22Our dinner is different.
02:25Not like we used to have.
02:27Mama is different too.
02:30Her eyes are dark with worry.
02:32Will we be called tomorrow Mama?
02:35No se Noemi.
02:37I don't know.
02:39Once the sun rises, Belinda calls out.
02:43574 Cano.
02:45474 Saldana.
02:49574 Trevino.
02:52Most are allowed through.
02:54Some return.
02:56Even though my heart hurts.
02:59Belinda encourages us.
03:01Please everyone Tengenefe.
03:04Your number will be called soon.
03:06I am just like you.
03:08I too am waiting for my number to be called.
03:12Have patience.
03:14I wonder how Belinda can keep her smile.
03:17I feel mine fading every day.
03:21Why are you so happy doing this job Belinda?
03:24I ask.
03:26This is not my job Noemi.
03:28I am a volunteer.
03:30You are.
03:31A man named Thomas from Guatemala chose me to be the next notebook keeper once his number
03:37was called.
03:39And when I hear my own number, I will choose someone to take my place.
03:44How will you know who to pick?
03:46I will choose someone with generosity in their heart and kindness in their soul Belinda
03:51says.
03:53But how will find this person?
03:56How will you know?
03:58She is silent.
04:00Days turn into weeks.
04:02I worry that our day will never come.
04:05I wish there were more people like Belinda here.
04:08I make a choice.
04:11One day, Belinda's number is called.
04:14I am sad, but happy too.
04:17I believe you two are the ones to take care of this for us.
04:21It's hard saying goodbye to Belinda our notebook keeper.
04:25I wonder what will happen to her.
04:28I wonder when our number will be heard.
04:31But Mama and I will encourage, remind, and comfort.
04:36Like Belinda did.
04:38For those who are here.
04:40For those who wait.
04:42For those who still have a long way to walk.
04:45Authors note.
04:47For thousands of refugees who have gathered at the San Ysidro border checkpoint in Tijuana
04:52Mexico for entry into the United States, Noemi's story is familiar.
04:58At this checkpoint, a refugee was chosen to manage the notebook an unofficial ledger containing
05:04the names of those seeking asylum.
05:07When new arrivals came, the notebook keeper wrote down their name and country and gave
05:12them a number usually assigned to many different families.
05:17And they waited.
05:18Each morning, U.S. customs agents notified the notebook keeper of how many refugees would
05:24be allowed to plead their case for asylum.
05:28The notebook keeper then called those next in line by last name and number.
05:33At the end of the day, the notebook was given to a representative from Grupos Beta the humanitarian
05:39arm of the National Institute of Migration of Mexico for safekeeping.
05:45Families waited in line for weeks or even months for their number to be called fleeing
05:50from persecution poverty and violence.
05:54Even then, many were denied entry to the United States forced to find hope elsewhere.
06:00Once the notebook keeper's number was called a new keeper was chosen from among those in
06:05line.
06:06No one is exactly certain how to Sunnysidro notebook system began and as of the writing
06:12of this story, it is no longer in operation.
06:16It ended with outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when the border closed.
06:23Steven Brizeno is a middle school English teacher in San Antonio, Texas.
06:29Growing up his grandfather a Mexican immigrant, wove stories of life in Mexico and Texas and
06:35talked about the challenges immigrants faced.
06:40Steven lives with his wife, daughter, and dog Charlie.
06:44He can often be found enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee.
06:49The notebook keeper is his debut children's book.
06:53stevenbrizeno.weebly.com Magdalena Mora is the illustrator of Deborah
06:58Deason's Equality's Call and Jackie Azua Cramer's I Wish You Knew.
07:03Every summer as a child she would cross between the United States and Mexico by bus to visit
07:09family shaping her ideas about borders and the communities that live in borderlands.
07:15Magdalena currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
07:19When not drawing, she spends her time reading, people watching, and exploring the Twin Cities.
07:28stevenbrizeno.weebly.com The End