The Boy & The Devil

A story from the Borderland.
Illustrated by Anthony Galván III

Once upon a time there was a boy who ran away from home. He wanted to be rich so he left home to find his fortune. On the road he came upon a well-dressed man walking towards him.

After exchanging greetings with the stranger he told the stranger he was looking for work. The stranger replied, "I've been looking for a mozo, a helper. Do you know how to read?"

"Yes, " replied the boy.

"That's too bad," said the stranger. "I want a boy who can't read."

Then the boy said, "Perhaps you will give work to my brother. He's slow and can't read, and he's behind walking way back behind me. Maybe you will meet him." And with that the boy said goodbye.

The boy then continued in the direction he was going. When he was out of sight of the stranger he doubled back on the road. He then put his hat and poncho on backwards and running as fast as he could, he raced to the road. In no time he encountered the stranger once again.

The señor, or Satan as we know him, greeted the young boy once again. In deed the devil had been tricked for he really thought this was the brother of the first boy.

"I am looking for work," said the boy.

"Can you read?" asked the devil.

"Oh no señor!" replied the boy.

The señor replied, "Boy, you are in luck! I have been looking for a mozo to keep my office and library clean. You can work for me."

And so the young boy began his work with the devil.

After a short time the boy began to peek into his master's books and drawings. Then he realized who his master was. Over time the boy began to master the devil's arts.

One day the devil caught the boy reading his book and secrets, and he was furious. In his fury the devil changed himself into the form we know so well and began chasing the boy and just when it looked like the boy was going to get caught he changed himself into a jackrabbit.

And the jackrabbit was too quick for Satan, so Satan changed himself into a fox!

And just when it looked like the fox was just about ready to catch the rabbit, the boy turned himself into a dove and flew away from under the devil's very nose!

But the devil was not to be tricked by a mere boy! He suddenly changed himself into a hawk.
Now the race became fast and desperate as the hawk gained on the dove. The hawk, being faster and more skillful in the air was just upon the dove when the dove changed itself into a pebble and began to fall to the earth

And in a flash the hawk became a grain of rice. And it too fell from the sky right behind the pebble.

When the pebble hit the ground it changed into a rooster and saw the grain of rice land right in front of it, and it ate it!

And that's why, ever since, Satan is on his guard when he's around boys.