I Am a TaxiFor twelve-year-old Diego and his family, home is the San Sebastian WomenÕs Prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents farmed coca, a traditional Bolivian medicinal plant, until they got caught in the middle of the governmentÕs war on drugs. DiegoÕs adjusted to his new life. His parents are locked up, but he can come and go: to school, to the market to sell his motherÕs hand-knitted goods, and to work as a Òtaxi," running errands for other prisoners. But then his little sister runs away, earning his mother a heavy fine. The debt and dawning realization of his hopeless situation make him vulnerable to his friend MandoÕs plan to make big money, fast. Soon, Diego is deep in the jungle, working as a virtual slave in an illegal cocaine operation. As his situation becomes more and more dangerous, he knows he must take a terrible risk if he ever wants to see his family again. |
Contents
CHAPTER ONE | 9 |
CHAPTER TWO | 24 |
CHAPTER THREE | 41 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 53 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 72 |
CHAPTER SIX | 84 |
CHAPTER SEVEN | 98 |
CHAPTER EIGHT | 109 |
CHAPTER TEN | 137 |
CHAPTER ELEVEN | 145 |
CHAPTER TWELVE | 154 |
CHAPTER THIRTEEN | 163 |
CHAPTER FOURTEEN | 170 |
CHAPTER FIFTEEN | 180 |
CHAPTER SIXTEEN | 189 |
CHAPTER NINE | 125 |
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Common terms and phrases
Angel Gabriel Anticuchos awhile Aymara back to Cochabamba Bolivia Bolivianos bundle camp capybara cell chicha chupe clean clothes coca leaves coca paste Coca tea cocaine cocalero Corina courtyard DEBORAH ELLIS Diego asked Diego felt Diego heard Diego looked Diego saw Diego thought Diego told Diego tried Diego wondered dirt doors drug father feet glue boys grabbed gringo Guard López hand head helicopter homework Julio jungle keep kids knew knitting laughed legs Mamá Mando Milanesa mother moved night nodded Pachamama Papá picked pocket Quechua Quimsa quinoa rifle Rock sacks of coca San Sebastián shut sister sleep smart boy Smith someone started stomping stopped street talking taxi things took trail trees truck tycoon walked watch woman women women's prison Yatiri yelled