Alberto’s papá drove it up the drive.
Papá looks at me and sees the tears starting to well in my eyes. He pushes his chair back and nods to me. I climb onto his lap and push my face into his chest, feeling the bristly hair
through his white shirt.
‘Don’t worry, Mimi,’ he says softly. ‘I’m sure it’s just that that old car has broken down. I don’t know how Raúl has kept it going so long, but
it can’t go on forever.’
I look at Mamá and she nods reassuringly at me.
Only Chita does not seem to agree, as she bangs and clatters far more than is necessary to cook eggs.
Mamá asks very softly, ‘Mimi, sweetheart, can you tell us what happened yesterday? Why were Alberto and Néstor fighting?’
I don’t know what to say, so I burrow my face into Papá’s chest.
Mamá perseveres. ‘Your brother won’t get out of bed today. He says he’s not well, but apart from a black eye, I can’t see anything wrong with him. Won’t you
tell us what happened, Mimi?’
I think about the question, but I don’t know what to say. I’m too confused. And right now, I’m too worried about where my friend is.
Papá says to Mamá, ‘I’m sure it was nothing.’ Then he kisses the top of my head and says, ‘How about some of Chita’s delicious eggs?’
I drag the long stick along the dusty earth, leaving a lined furrow. Leaning over, I take a close look at the vine I’m standing beside. Gnarled and cracked and charcoal
grey, it looks ancient. Papá says Noah planted the first vine when he got off the ark. Looking at this vine, I can believe it.
The workers are all having a siesta. It’s a hot, dry day and usually I would be in the cool of the house. But I want to be out in the vineyard, waiting for Alberto to come back.
In the distance, I hear a buzzing, like a loud mosquito. Lifting my hand to my eyes, I turn towards the noise. There, at the end of the drive, is a motorcycle.
I drop the stick and start running towards the house. As I run, I keep glancing over to the motorcycle, which is now near the house entrance. There is no question in my mind that it brings news
of Alberto.
As I get closer to the house, I see a soldier climb off the bike and walk towards the courtyard. I can just hear him calling for Papá.
Suddenly, I don’t want to run anymore. I slow to a walk, putting my hands on my hips and puffing loudly. By the time I reach the entrance to the courtyard, I am dragging my heels. I
realize I don’t want to know the news.
I stop by the arch, leaning in to see. Mamá and Papá are standing together at the door to the house. The soldier has his back to me, speaking to them. I can’t hear what he is
saying, but as I watch, Mamá puts her hand over her mouth, and Papá puts his arm around her.
They both look shocked, but Papá seems to be asking the soldier questions. The soldier shakes his head. Papá speaks again, this time more insistent. The soldier reaches into his
uniform and pulls out some papers. He hands them to Papá, who looks at them carefully. He shows them to Mamá, and I see her start to cry.
Papá puts the papers into the top pocket of his shirt. He seems to be thanking the soldier, who nods to him and turns on his heel. He walks out of the courtyard, passing me without a
glance. I hear him kick-start his motorbike. It takes a few attempts before he gets it going, but then I hear it driving away, its engine sounding like a mosquito again, buzzing into the
distance.
Mamá and Papá have seen me. Papá beckons me to come to him. Reluctantly I walk towards them, kicking the jacaranda petals with my shoe. As I reach them, Papá hunches
down to look me in the eyes.
‘Darling Mimi. It’s very bad news.’
I nod to let him know I want him to continue, despite the fact that my stomach is lurching.
‘Alberto and his papá were in a motor accident.’
‘Is Alberto all right?’ I ask, my voice sounding very far away.
‘No, Mimi. He isn’t.’ Papá takes a deep
Papá looks at me and sees the tears starting to well in my eyes. He pushes his chair back and nods to me. I climb onto his lap and push my face into his chest, feeling the bristly hair
through his white shirt.
‘Don’t worry, Mimi,’ he says softly. ‘I’m sure it’s just that that old car has broken down. I don’t know how Raúl has kept it going so long, but
it can’t go on forever.’
I look at Mamá and she nods reassuringly at me.
Only Chita does not seem to agree, as she bangs and clatters far more than is necessary to cook eggs.
Mamá asks very softly, ‘Mimi, sweetheart, can you tell us what happened yesterday? Why were Alberto and Néstor fighting?’
I don’t know what to say, so I burrow my face into Papá’s chest.
Mamá perseveres. ‘Your brother won’t get out of bed today. He says he’s not well, but apart from a black eye, I can’t see anything wrong with him. Won’t you
tell us what happened, Mimi?’
I think about the question, but I don’t know what to say. I’m too confused. And right now, I’m too worried about where my friend is.
Papá says to Mamá, ‘I’m sure it was nothing.’ Then he kisses the top of my head and says, ‘How about some of Chita’s delicious eggs?’
I drag the long stick along the dusty earth, leaving a lined furrow. Leaning over, I take a close look at the vine I’m standing beside. Gnarled and cracked and charcoal
grey, it looks ancient. Papá says Noah planted the first vine when he got off the ark. Looking at this vine, I can believe it.
The workers are all having a siesta. It’s a hot, dry day and usually I would be in the cool of the house. But I want to be out in the vineyard, waiting for Alberto to come back.
In the distance, I hear a buzzing, like a loud mosquito. Lifting my hand to my eyes, I turn towards the noise. There, at the end of the drive, is a motorcycle.
I drop the stick and start running towards the house. As I run, I keep glancing over to the motorcycle, which is now near the house entrance. There is no question in my mind that it brings news
of Alberto.
As I get closer to the house, I see a soldier climb off the bike and walk towards the courtyard. I can just hear him calling for Papá.
Suddenly, I don’t want to run anymore. I slow to a walk, putting my hands on my hips and puffing loudly. By the time I reach the entrance to the courtyard, I am dragging my heels. I
realize I don’t want to know the news.
I stop by the arch, leaning in to see. Mamá and Papá are standing together at the door to the house. The soldier has his back to me, speaking to them. I can’t hear what he is
saying, but as I watch, Mamá puts her hand over her mouth, and Papá puts his arm around her.
They both look shocked, but Papá seems to be asking the soldier questions. The soldier shakes his head. Papá speaks again, this time more insistent. The soldier reaches into his
uniform and pulls out some papers. He hands them to Papá, who looks at them carefully. He shows them to Mamá, and I see her start to cry.
Papá puts the papers into the top pocket of his shirt. He seems to be thanking the soldier, who nods to him and turns on his heel. He walks out of the courtyard, passing me without a
glance. I hear him kick-start his motorbike. It takes a few attempts before he gets it going, but then I hear it driving away, its engine sounding like a mosquito again, buzzing into the
distance.
Mamá and Papá have seen me. Papá beckons me to come to him. Reluctantly I walk towards them, kicking the jacaranda petals with my shoe. As I reach them, Papá hunches
down to look me in the eyes.
‘Darling Mimi. It’s very bad news.’
I nod to let him know I want him to continue, despite the fact that my stomach is lurching.
‘Alberto and his papá were in a motor accident.’
‘Is Alberto all right?’ I ask, my voice sounding very far away.
‘No, Mimi. He isn’t.’ Papá takes a deep
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