Summary
Highlights
Negrito recounts his first terrifying encounter at 12-13 years old when he saw more than seven chained dogs, which he believed to be the devil and his demons. He fled in fear, jumping into a swamp, and upon returning home, was still shaken and unable to sleep, feeling a presence throughout the night.
At 14, after sneaking out for food, Negrito encountered a woman who grew impossibly tall with glowing eyes. Terrified, he ran to a nearby house, screaming and running in circles until a man named Pillo embraced him, at which point Negrito realized he was safe from what he believed was another demonic encounter.
In 1973, while working in the capital, Negrito was accused by a military figure of an affair with his wife. Despite his innocence, he was assaulted and attacked the husband in self-defense, leading to him and a companion being detained. They were released after a secret police lieutenant intervened.
Later, Negrito was falsely accused of being a communist and was abducted by secret police. He was on his way to an abandoned horse racing track to be killed when the captain of the secret police, to whom Negrito had previously sold chickens, recognized him and intervened, saving his life.
Negrito recounts a chaotic incident involving hitting a military man with a bottle, leading to a police chase. He escaped through rooftops and hid in a Chinese hotel by force. Later, at a restaurant, a police officer confronted him. Negrito bribed the officer to escape, fleeing to avoid further trouble.
After escaping, Negrito returned to a cabaret known as San Pedro, which housed 69 women. He describes the vibrant and extensive nature of the place, noting how women from all over came to work there and how cheaply services were offered. He even mentions facilitating encounters between older men and the women, earning money in the process.
Negrito contrasts the past with the present, highlighting the drastic increase in delinquency. He explains that in his youth, it was safe to sleep in the streets with money, but now, thieves steal everything. He attributes the rise in crime to high unemployment, forcing people to resort to easier, albeit dangerous, means of survival.
Negrito believes that the devil used to appear to deter wrongdoers, but now, it no longer manifests, waiting for people to make their final choice between good and evil. He connects his own paranormal experiences to his journey toward faith, emphasizing that his survival indicates a divine purpose for his life, and he is now a practicing churchgoer.
He shares a vivid story about a disobedient young man in Payita who, after defying his mother by destroying plantains and killing chickens, was possessed by a demon and climbed a ceiba tree. It took ten priests and much effort to bring him down, after which he became severely emaciated and eventually died.
Negrito advises young people to avoid drugs and regretful actions, encouraging them to pursue sports like baseball or boxing, or focus on their studies. He laments his own limited education due to having to work from a young age to support his family, contrasting his difficult past with the numerous opportunities available to today's youth.