pieces of string - tita lacambra-ayala

8/12/2019 Pieces of String - Tita Lacambra-Ayala

1/9

ieces of StringTita Lacambra-Ayala

GRANDMOTHER SITS on a stool besie my table! Her "ea is gray# seems grayer e$enin t"e %&ieter "o&rs of t"e nig"t# omestic c"ores one# '"en s"e sits still e(ce)t forfingers mo$ing in an o&t of stitc"es 'it" a croc"et neele! E$ery nig"t it is li*e t"is!S"e croc"ets s%&are &)on s%&are of esign '"ic" later s"e )&ts toget"er into beco$ers!It is "er )rie '"en# on someone+s birt"ay# s"e s)reas one of "er "ani'or* on mybe an listens to )raises t"at go to "er 'or*!

Ho' e(%&isite# "o' )retty# t"e $isitors say!

An s"e "angs "er "ea s"yly li*e a girl an smiles o&t of t"e corner of "er eyes# "erlo'er li) t"r&st o&t in a )o&t! Slo'ly t"is s"yness goes a'ay 'it" t"e "ea)ing of )raise

&ntil s&enly# "er eyes glinting# s"e goes into intricate an sometimes tri$ial etails of"o' t"e bes)rea came into being!

Ten mont"s# s"e 'o&l say# fonling a lacy corner of t"e s)rea not conscio&sly b&t'it" t"at )assing mot"erly tenerness 'it" '"ic" a mot"er )ats t"e *nee of a n&rsingc"il! Ten mont"s it too* me to o t"is!

Do yo& e$ote yo&r time to croc"eting, t"ey as* "er!

On no# s"e says# )o&ting again! In t"e morning I "arly e$er "a$e t"e c"ance to oaro' o stitc"es! I 'or* in t"e "o&se# coo*# go to t"e mar*et! If I "a t"e c"ance tocroc"etat any time I )lease# . 'o&l finis" t"e s)rea in less t"an "alf t"e time!

Is it iffic&lt to ma*e t"is esign,

/ell# no# t"is esign is $ery sim)le! T"e bea&ty of t"e s)rea comes not so m&c" int"eini$i&al esign of t"e )ieces as in )&tting toget"er of so many to form t"e'"ole !!!!

0&st as t"e $isitors are abo&t to go# eit"er beca&se t"ey m&st or beca&se t"ey "a$e "aeno&g" on t"e ma*ing of bes)reas# my granmot"er )&lls a lo' 'ooen c"est from&ner t"e be!

Stay# s"e says# I "a$e more t"at yo& may li*e to see! T"ey are all as e(%&isite!

1efore t"ey can )rotest# s"e "as o)ene t"e c"est an "as "&ng one s)rea against "erboy# "er arms stretc"e o&t from eac" sie! T"e g&ests esist from lea$ing# not merelyfrom )oliteness# b&t beca&se t"e s)rea is $ery e(%&isite# t"o&g" o" $ery m&c" &nli*et"e one &)on t"e be!

Does t"is not loo* ol-fas"ione# li*e 2enetian lace, An loo* at t"e eges! So fine# soe$enly one!

3o& li*e it, s"e as*s t"em! T"en s"e 'o&l name a )rice!


2/9

T"ey say# Na*&4 or S&smariose)4

T"e )rice# s"e tells t"em# is nominal! I co&l c"arge more b&t yo& are friens oft"efamily! If yo& com)&te "o' m&c" I s)ent# an t"e 'or* t"at I "a$e )&t into it!! !

As s"e 'aits for my brot"ers to come in from t"eir Sat&ray esca)aes or for my sister

'"o goes on "os)ital &ty at t"ree an comes "ome at ele$en at nig"t# s"e sits on "erc"air besie my table an 'or*s! T"e '"ite loo)s of string against t"e gleam of t"e steel"oo* inter)ret# it seems# all s"e m&st feel# m&st t"in*# m&st be mae of!

Sometimes s"e nos into an &ng&are moment of tireness an "er fingers are still#t"e s%&are of croc"et is s&s)ene an oes not gro'! A mos%&ito biting "er arm# ort"e tem)tation of sl&mber# 'a*es "er an "er fingers res&me t"eir mo$ement# t"es%&are res&mes its gro't"!

T"e l&re $isitor t"en ma*es a bargain! 5an+t s"e "a$e it for forty,

I+ll gi$e it a'ay for fifty# s"e tells t"e $isitor!

Ho' abo&t forty-fi$e,

No! 6ifty!

T"e $isitor igs into "er bag for t"e c&stomary t'enty )esos gi$en as o'n )ayment!Granmot"er loo*s at t"e "ani'or* still s)rea on "er arms an ra'n against "erboy# as if co&nting t"e )ieces# as if t"in*ing '"et"er or not to go on 'it" t"e sale! In a'"ile# s"e gat"ers it in "er arms# fols it an 'ra)s it &) in t'o or t"ree r&stling s"eetsof ol ne's)a)er!

S"e "as been 'it" &s e$er since . can remember! 2ery clearly in my c"il"oo o .recall t"at s"e "a al'ays been t"ere to call me a'ay from m&)ies or)i*oin t"e

morning t"at . mig"t "a$e my aily bat" or t"at . mig"t s"oo t"e flies a'ay from a trayof fis" fillets rying in t"e s&n! An in t"e afternoon s"e 'o&l force me to g&l) o'na glass of mil* after t"e rit&alistic na)!

At nig"t s"e sle)t 'it" me on a mat s)rea on t"e floor of t"e sala! . 'as afrai of t"enig"t silences too for t"ey 'ere too $acant# mae me feel t"at in t"e '"ole ar* 'orl .'as all alone! /"en so&ns or silence came into t"e nig"ts of c"il"oo# . merely "ato reac" my arms into t"e ar* an "er "ans# 'arm an )rotecting# 'o&l )at myc"ee*# smoot" t"e "air a'ay from my fore"ea# or )&ll my blan*et &) to my s"o&lers!. 'o&l not be afrai!

S"e "a ta*en care of 1enita before me! As t"e t"ree yo&nger boys gre' &) after &s#t"ey in t&rn *ne' "er as s"e an . i!

/it" t"e t"ree boys s"e 'as fierce# for t"ey 'ere &ncontrollable! S"e s"o&te at t"em tocome o'n from trees '"en it 'as time to 'as" &)! S"e )inc"e t"em on t"e b&ttoc*sfor t"e nails an ra7or blaes t"at s"e fo&n s"reing t"e )oc*ets of t"eir )ants! S"eref&se to ser$e meals &ntil t"ey sto))e %&arrelling at table! S"e t'ea*e t"eir ears forref&sing to c"ange into t"eir )aamas# an t"en later for ref&sing to say t"eir nig"t


3/9

)rayers! T"e boys s"o&te at "er# c&rse "er# mae )lay 'it" "er! 1&t '"en t"ey sa't"at s"e "a gro'n silent# too tire to s"o&t at t"em# or to re)riman t"em# t"eir facesgre' still an )enitent!

6rancis# t"e olest boy# 'as t"e closest of t"e t"ree to Granmot"er! He 'o&l# in "is%&iet# almost mat&re 'ay# steal to t"e *itc"en '"en "e 'as "&ngry in t"e afternoon#'"en s"e 'as starting to be b&sy 'it" s&))er! He 'o&l 'atc" Granmot"er 'it" "isirty "ans fole be"in "im# follo' "er in t"e omestic tri)s to sin*# sto$e# an table!

/"at is t"at, "e 'o&l as* Granmot"er!

5a&liflo'er# s"e 'o&l say# "iing a smile be"in a 'et "an!

It loo*s li*e a clo "e 'o&l say! I li*e ca&liflo'er!

It ma*es yo&ng )eo)le gro' big an strong# s"e 'o&l say! Granmot"er 'atc"e "imfrom t"e corner of "er eyes! He 'o&l loo* f&rti$ely at "er face# 'aiting for t"e rig"tmoment to re%&est a fa$or! He 'o&l ma*e a mo$e to go# "alf t&rning# b&t "is yo&ng

boy 'o&l t'ist bac* to Granmot"er in a))eal for t"e &nsatisfie "&nger!I 'ill go o&t to )lay $ery soon# "e sai! I "a$e no more marbles left! T"e olerboysal'ays beat me!

/"y o yo& allo' t"em to beat yo&,

It is &st ba l&c*# 6rancis sai!

Are yo& going to )lay marbles again $ery soon,

In a little '"ile# "e sai# affecting interest in a )ot boiling o$er!

Granmot"er 'o&l go to t"e c&)boar# reac" for a coo*ie ar# an )lace some coo*ies

on a sa&cer! T"en# as if on s&en t"o&g"t# s"e 'o&l )&t t"e sa&cer on t"e table infront of 6rancis# saying somet"ing abo&t t"e fis" s"e "a left on a tray to ry in t"e s&n#or abo&t "a$ing to 'ater bleac"ing clot"es! S"e 'o&l lea$e t"e *itc"en in a "&rry#*no'ing t"at '"en s"e came bac*# t"e sa&cer 'o&l be em)ty# t"ere 'o&l be a fe'cr&mbs on t"e ege of t"e table# an a &se rin*ing glass on t"e sin*!

In snatc"es of con$ersation bet'een Ma# Pa# an relati$es# 'e )ic*e &) a $ag&e*no'lege abo&t 8ncle George! 8ncle George 'as Granmot"er+s son! He 'as Ma+sco&sin# beca&se Granmot"er is t"e sister of Ma+s fat"er! 8ncle George 'as in a )ict&rein t"e family alb&m! In it "e 'ore '"ite )ants# a '"ite coat an a stri)e bo'tie! A stiffstra' "at 'it" a blac* ban 'as a&nty on "is "ea! He 'as staning at attention besie

a c"air 'it" a tall straig"t bac*! His eyes an li)s 'ere com)ose in a gra$ity I &s&allysee on Granmot"er+s face! 1&t t"ere 'as a c&r$e to "is c"ee*s t"at s"o'e t"at "e 'aseig"teen years yo&ng# $ery )rone to la&g"ter an to song!

8ncle George is in t"e States! He "a gone t"ere to st&y '"en "e 'as nineteen# one ort'o years before I 'as born! In t"e States "e st&ie &ring t"e aytime an 'or*e&ring "is free "o&rs# incl&ing sometimes at nig"t! 6or many years after "e left# "e'rote to Granmot"er reg&larly an sent "er money once in a '"ile! Granmot"er


4/9

mae fine t"ings for "im! Once s"e sent "im a )air of )illo' cases 'it" "is initialsembroiere in bol re satin stitc"es! At anot"er time s"e sent a set of "an-"emme)oc*et "an*erc"iefs! Once a )air of stri)e cotton )aamas 'it" "is initials cross-stitc"e on t"e )oc*et!

Granmot"er 'as annoye at t"e /ar '"en it came# first beca&se t"e blac*o&t)ractices left "er 'it" no lig"t by '"ic" to croc"et or embroier! Later# t"ere 'ere noclasses an t"e c"ilren messe aro&n t"e "o&se most of t"e time! 1&t t"e real im)actof t"e /ar came to Granmot"er not 'it" t"e )lanes an bombs t"at )&rs&e &s fromone e$ac&ation center to anot"er b&t from t"e reali7ation t"at no mail from abroaco&l enter t"e co&ntry! T"is brea* of comm&nication mae t"e 'orl too &tterly big#an 8ncle George m&c" too far# im)ossibly far a'ay!

Granmot"er too* to )rayer '"ile 'e co&l only res)on to fear co'ering in &go&ts#o&r "eas against eac" ot"er!

After mont"s of losing 'eig"t an "o)e of safety# 'e recei$e 'or t"at t"e ca)ital

city# fo&rteen *ilometers or so a'ay# 'as American territory# 'as )eace an )lenty! /egat"ere lig"t )ac*s on o&r "eas an follo'e ot"er families &) t"e mo&ntain trailleaing to t"e city

It 'as mimorning '"en 'e gaine a mo&ntain to) from '"ic" 'e co&l o$erloo* t"e$illage of o&r birt"# Antamo*! T"e $illage 'as t"ere &nmista*ably# 'it" t"e ri$er t"at"a i$ie it into t'o 7ones an into t'o social factions# t"ose '"ose c"ilren too*)iano lessons an t"ose '"ose c"ilren i not! 1&t as 'e co&l see# all istinctions'ere gone! T"e $illage 'as blac* eart"# blac* fallen tree tr&n*s# blac* concrete )osts!Ma an Pa m&st "a$e t"o&g"t of t"e cottage 'it" its green )orc" an "anging orc"is9t"ey i not say anyt"ing! My sister gri))e my s"o&ler9 I remembere "er garen

an "er 'ell-lo$e begonias! T"e boys 'ante to *no' '"ere t"e birs co&l "a$egone no' t"at t"e trees 'ere fallen# if t"eir eggs "a "atc"e in t"e fire# or 'erecoo*e!

Granmot"er# t&rning a'ay from t"e scene# com)laine for t"e first time of a )ain on"er t"ig" an "i)! S"e )&t o'n t"e loa from "er "ea :s"e "a ta*en on t"e "ea$iest#incl&ing )ots an )ans; an sai s"e 'o&l go no fart"er!

. rec*one "er losses to t'o large 'ooen c"ests f&ll of embroiery an croc"et 'or*!Most of t"em s"e "a mae to gi$e to 8ncle George '"en "e 'o&l come "ome anget marrie! It too* some time of rest an caoling for Granmot"er+s )ain to lea$e an

enable "er to lift "er loa bac* &)on "er "ea!In t"e city# 'e occ&)ie t"e last $acant room on t"e secon floor of a t'o-storeyb&n*"o&se t"at stoo besie a blac* ri$er! T"e room "a no oor to )rotect &s from)rying eyes of neig"bors in t"e ot"er rooms# so Ma "&ng &) an ol blan*et in t"eoor'ay It 'as $ery "ot insie t"is room &ring t"e aytime!

/ater renc"e &s an o&r belongings '"en it raine!


5/9

All able members of t"e family# e(ce)ting Granmot"er an t"e yo&ngest boy# left t"e"o&se early in t"e morning to 'or* for t"e Americans! /e cleare t"e street of r&ins#s'e)t t"e barrac*s# mo))e floors# ate meals consisting mostly of strange-tastingsoa*e )r&nes an a)ricots# too )olis"e long-grain 5alifornia rice# t"ic* slices ofS)am# omelets mae 'it" e"yrate eggs ole to &s in army trays by tall a)rone

'in*ing American soliers! /e 'or*e till fo&r in t"e afternoon '"en 'e 'o&l bebro&g"t "ome in large army tr&c*s! An 'e 'o&l get "ome to fin Granmot"eri$iing "er attention bet'een t"e blac* ri$er t"at 'as &st o&tsie t"e 'ino' an t"eyo&ngest boy '"o sat on t"e floor &ggling em)ty cartriges an )ieces of s"ra)nel!

Al'ays no' t"ere 'as not"ing# no flic*er of e()ression on Granmot"er+s face o&tsieof orinary interest in t"e cigarettes an bars of la&nry soa) t"at 'e bro&g"t "ome# tos"o' '"at s"e felt of t"e )ast or '"at s"e 'ante of t"e f&t&re!

S"e got &) '"en t"e lone coc* in t"e neig"bor"oo tol "er it 'as time to )&t on t"ecoffee! S"e 'ent to slee) on "er )art of t"e floor &st as soon as s"e "a )&t a'ay t"e

lam) '"ere t"e *erosene 'o&l not s)ill!One afternoon after abo&t a mont" of s'ee)ing barrac*s floors# I got "ome to fin t"eroom loo*ing smaller t"an &s&al! It 'as t"e )resence of a *"a*i-cla man t"at mae t"eroof seem nearer to t"e floor# s"rin*ing e$eryt"ing! He 'as sitting besie Granmot"eron t"e benc"# an arm aro&n "er s"o&ler! T"eir similar eyes 'ere smiling# brig"t 'it"tears t"at m&st "a$e been s"e o$er eig"teen years of not seeing eac" ot"er! His *iss onmy c"ee* 'as as gentle as Granmot"er+s "an!

Ho' m&c" sc"ooling "a$e yo& finis"e,

I 'as t"ree mont"s in grae si(# I sai 'it" a GI accent!

3o& s)ea* goo Englis"# "e sai! /"at 'o&l yo& 'ant to o '"en yo& finis"sc"ool,

I 'anna be a )ainter9 I g&ess! I 'anna )aint )ict&res# yo& *no'!

He la&g"e ee)ly# "is $ery e$en teet" '"ite against "is s'art"y face! He reac"e for"is o)en tra$el )ac* near "is feet an too* o&t an oli$e-colore *nit s'eater 'it"sergeant stri)es on it!

T"is 'ill *ee) yo& 'arm# "e sai# to&sling my bangs!

He came reg&larly e$ery afternoon! /e )ile into "is /illy+s# my sister besie "im# t"et"ree boys at t"e bac*! /e roe t"ro&g" t"e city an sa' ifferent )laces o$er an o$eragain in-bet'een bites of c"ocolate cany an canne c"eese! /e bro&g"t "im "ome tos&))er to eat t"e aobo# )inacbet# sinigang# an ot"er is"es t"at Granmot"er coo*es)ecially for "im! He staye 'it" &s &ntil it 'as eig"t# t"en "e 'o&l go bac* to cam)!

He left t"e city 'it"o&t telling &s! /e only *ne' "e "a gone '"en "e i not come fort"ree ays in a ro' an 'e recei$e a letter to say t"at "e 'as in Leyte '"ere "is &nit'as statione! He 'as sorry "e co&l not tell &s# army reg&lations# 'e m&st&nerstan! After t"ree 'ee*s "e 'rote again to say t"at "e 'as bac* in San 6rancisco


6/9

'it" "is isc"arge )a)ers! He 'as &e to ret&rn to O"io# '"ere "is ob in anengineering )lant a'aite "im! /e m&st not 'orry!

Granmot"er lost )atience 'it" li$ing among &s! S"e sle)t late! S"e sat by t"e 'ino'an loo*e into t"e blac* ri$er! /"en it 'as time to eat# s"e i not call &s! H&ngry# I'o&l go to t"e *itc"en an fin "er staning in front of t"e 'oo sto$e letting t"ecooling embers b&rn &st a moment longer in t"e steay ga7e of "er eyes!

8ncle George "a been 'it" &s in s&mmer! T"e rainy season set in after "e left! T"elanlor came to t"e b&n*"o&se 'it" a co&)le of men an 'ent &) to t"e roof to co$ert"e 'o&ns t"ro&g" '"ic" rain fell to t"e floor in ar* )ools!

One morning after a "ea$y rain# Granmot"er )ic*e &) from t"e gro&n a )iece ofcan$as t"at "a fallen from t"e roof! S"e br&s"e t"e can$as in t"e ri$er an set it on alarge flat stone to ry! S"e )&lle t"e rie fabric a)art into lengt"s of string '"ic" s"e*notte toget"er an 'o&n into ro&n balls!

Digging into little b&nles of clot" an )a)er '"ic" s"e *e)t in a 'o$en bamboo bas*ett"at 'as )art of "er gro'ing ol# s"e fo&n a metal croc"et "oo*!

T"e r&st on it s"e 'i)e a'ay 'it" a )iece of clot" i))e in t"e *erosene of t"e lam)!S"e 'o&n a breat" of string aro&n "er left forefinger an began to croc"et!

S"e mae )ieces of triangles# s%&ares# circles t"at s"e se'e &) toget"er li*e )atc"'or*into c&s"ion co$ers an bes)reas! T"e t"ings t"at s"e create fille &) t"e room ano$erflo'e into t"e li$es of ot"ers '"o came to see an to b&y

T"ey came into t"e room# t"e 'omen 'it" *notte "air an re "ans# e(aminingfinis"e an &nfinis"e )ieces# s)reaing t"em o$er t"eir )alms# o$er t"eir arms an infront of t"eir eyes to better amire t"e lace'or*! T"ey bro&g"t in 'it" t"eir interest'"at gossi) t"ey co&l lay as trib&te to t"e )o'er t"at Granmot"er "el ca)ti$e in t"eslener mo$ements of "er gleaming croc"et "oo* among t"e *notte )ieces of string!

5ame t"en one morning t"e letter from 8ncle George from America! Granmot"erf&mble 'it" t"e stri)e-ege en$elo)e# "er fingers sm&ging it 'it" soot! S"erelin%&is"e it to me to be rea!

No# "e 'o&l not come bac* to t"e P"ili))ines# "e sai! In America t"ere 'ere greato))ort&nities! He alreay "a a ob "e co&l not lea$e! Of co&rse "e 'o&l not forget"is mot"er# "o' co&l "e, T"e tr&t" 'as t"at "e 'as sa$ing money an "e 'o&l cometo ta*e "er a'ay to America!

I 'ill "el) earn t"e money9 Granmot"er sai!

6rom t"en on t"ere 'ere more flo'ers# )yramis# ste)s an cart'"eels fas"ione by"er "an o&t of strings! S"e 'or*e ay an nig"t! S"e co&nte "er money in a cornerof t"e room! One ay s"e ecie t"at s"e "a eno&g"# telling me o$er "er s"o&lert"at $ery soon I m&st 'rite 8ncle George an say s"e 'as reay!


7/9

I i not tell yo came t"e ans'er# t"at I "a$e a family! My 'ife is Iris"! :/"atisIris", Granmot"er as*e# s%&inting at t"e letter in my "ans; an "er nameisGeraline! :/"at *in of a nameis t"at,; /e "a$e not finis"e )aying installmentsont"e car:3o& mean t"ey "a$e an a&tomobile4; an t"e *itc"en nees a ne' linole&m!

:Granmot"er+s c"in tremble an "er eyes fille!; Geraline 'ants t"en&rsery)ainte! S"e is going to "a$e a baby soon! :S"e loo*e at t"e letter# smile &)#loo*e o'n again!; 1eca&se of t"ese circ&mstances I o not t"in* t"at I s"all be able togot"ere an see yo&!

T"at nig"t s"e s)rea t"e beco$er t"at s"e "a been 'or*ing on &)on t"e table9 it 'asnet-li*e against t"e bro'n 'oo!

It is com)lete e(ce)t for t"is# s"e sai# "oling aloft a s%&are!

S"e too* &) a sie of t"e s)rea from t"e s"ao' of t"e table! S"e "el t"e s%&are to acorner ga)# fitting eac" to t"e ot"er! S"e t"en too* from "er "air a large t"reae neelebrilliant 'it" many nig"ts of &se! Her "an rose an fell as s"e stitc"e on t"e last)iece!

S"e "a iffic&lty ma*ing t"e *not! T"e string tangle 'it" "er fingers '"en s"et&gge at it! /"en s"e finally mae t"e *not# s"e caref&lly an slo'ly )lace it at t"ebase of t"e string! S"e lifte t"e corner of t"e s)rea to "er teet" an bit off t"e stringfrom t"e finis"e )ro&ct! T"ere# t"e *not 'as no' )art of t"e esign# conceale ansafe from "an or nail of carelessness! T"at 'as all!

S"e let fall t"e corner into t"e s"ao' of t"e table# coile t"e remaining string anro))e "er croc"et "oo* into t"e bamboo bas*et be"in t"e oor!

S"e s"o'e no signs of care '"en "er friens# )alms &)# came emaning t"e 'or* s"e"a )romise t"em!

My r"e&matism is getting 'orse# s"e tol t"em# an my eyes are getting to failmorean more!

T"ey eserte "er %&ic*ly# ta*ing a'ay t"eir gossi) an money else'"ere# lea$ing "erto loo* o&t of t"e 'ino' to 'atc" t"e ri$er! Once in a '"ile s"e too* o&t "er t"reaan croc"et "oo* to try a ne' )attern t"at stirre "er min as*ing for birt"! 1&t s"estifle gro't"# *ee)ing t"e croc"et "oo* ee)er m t"e bas*et t"an it 'as before!

/e "a by t"is time mo$e to a fo&r-room frame "o&se neig"bor to t"e b&n*"o&se 'efirst staye in! 6rom one sie of t"e "o&se 'e co&l also see t"e ri$er! T"ere 'as a yarbe"in t"e "o&se '"ere c"ic*en )ec*e at grass or at 6rancis+ s"oes as "e fe t"em int"e afternoon!

6rancis 'as a senior in t"e city "ig" sc"ool! He "a gro'n tall an t"in!

To )re$ent "is arms from angling# "e )lace t"em insie "is )ants+ )oc*ets as "e'al*e! He 'ore glasses beca&se "e rea too m&c"! He 'as sensiti$e to t"e o&rnalisticf&ss on lan reform!


8/9

Pa 'ante 6rancis to get a ob after gra&ation from "ig" sc"ool so t"at "e co&lcontin&e in college nig"ts! 6rancis "a ifferent ieas!

It is agric&lt&ral sc"ool or not"ing# "e tol Pa!

3es# b&t it is t"e money 'e o not "a$e# ans'ere Pa!

T"en I 'ill 'or*# sai 6rancis! /"en I "a$e eno&g" sa$e &)# I s"all go toagric&lt&ralsc"ool an st&y f&ll-time!

His "abit of *ee)ing abo&t Granmot"er "a increase from t"e coo*ie stage! He"el)e Granmot"er clean t"e $egetables! He fille t"e sto$e 'it" f&el!

He )o&re s&gar from t"e )a)er bag into t"e ar canister! /"en t"ere 'as not"ing too# "e sat on a stool an 'atc"e Granmot"er mo$e abo&t# tol "er of "is tro&bles!

T"ere are too many )rofessionals# "e sai! T"ey on+t o anyt"ing b&t tal* orre)air'"at is ol! /"at 'e nee are )eo)le to gro' t"ings# to ma*e ne' t"ings!

/"ere is t"is agric&lt&ral sc"ool, Granmot"er as*e "im!In Los 1anos!

Is t"at far,

It is not too far# "e sai! 1&t t"at is not t"e %&estion! It is t"e money!

I "a$e t"ree "&nre )esos# Granmot"er sai slo'ly as if tasting t"e 'ors in "ermo&t"!

T"at 'ill co$er only a year# 6rancis sai!

Granmot"er seeme to t"in* a '"ile# "oling a bean )o in miair!

T"at is "o' many years,

6o&r years!

An for eac" year yo& nee t"at m&c",

Pl&s a bit more# for "o&se# for foo# boo*s# ot"er t"ings!

I t"in* I "a$e more t"an t"ree "&nre )esos# Granmot"er sai finally! 3o& gotoagric&lt&ral sc"ool! Tr&st me# it 'ill be goo for yo&!

/"en Pa "ear of Granmot"er+s )lan for 6rancis# "e )roteste# saying it 'as ignoblefor an ol 'oman to ta*e a'ay from "im t"e moral )ri$ilege or res)onsibility#

'"ic"e$er it 'as# of sening "is son to sc"ool! Ma giggle be"in t"e )aring *nife'"ic" s"e "a ta*en o$er from Granmot"er# saying t"at Pa "a one a&g"ter an t'omore sons as )ri$ilege or res)onsibility of sening to sc"ool! Granmot"er i notmin t"em!

/"o "as been 'i)ing "is "ans on t"e c&rtain of t"e *itc"en oor, s"e emane of&s! Hang t"e 'as" in t"e yar# s"e tol Ma! 3o& boys# sto) )asting o'n yo&r


9/9

"air'it" so m&c" )omae# yo& irty &) t"e )illo'cases! 3o& Rico# s"e acc&se Pa#yo&come"ome al'ays so late for l&nc"# t"e so&) gets $ery col!

T"e "o&se became ali$e 'it" "er c&rt $oice# orers# an t"e sc&rry of o&r feet as 'e'ent to o "er biing!

T"is is 6rancis+ last year in agric&lt&ral sc"ool! He 'rites to &s reg&larly to tell abo&tsoil an tractors# abo&t seasonal an year-ro&n cro)s# abo&t fertili7ers an lettingfiels lie fallo'!

Ho' is Granmot"er, "e as*s in "is letters! Ta*e goo care of "er:a moment beforeattenti$e# s"e no' bo's "er "ea closer to "er croc"et 'or*;# an o notallo' "er to'or* too m&c":s"e oes not seem to listen# "er fingers mo$e faster# t"e metal "oo*flas"es lig"ts all o$er t"e room;! Tell "er t"at I am gratef&l to "er:s"e sto)s# t&gs at a*in* in t"e string;# t"at I al'ays t"in* of "er! :T"e *in* gone# "er fingers mo$e againfas"ioning t"e little flo'ers# )yramis# ste)s an cart'"eels

pieces of string - tita lacambra-ayala

Documents