Across the Great River

by Irene Beltrán Hernández

  Ramona enters the room. “Señora Morales, it is my pleasure, for I have heard of you and your miraculous cures for many years now.” She takes Anita’s hand and kisses it.

  “I must thank you for taking care of the children. You will not go unrewarded in this life.”

  “There is no need for thanks,” interrupts Ramona. “I have enjoyed them so.”

  “Well,” stammers Nell. “Now that that is over with, we’d best be on our way.” She goes to the door and holds it open for Anita and Pablito. I follow after them, then notice that Pablito carries a small wooden truck in his hand.

  “Nell, he has the toy truck.”

  “Oh, let him keep it. A small gift from us.”

  Anita stops walking and says, “Thank you.” Then she continues to the entrance, where a car is waiting at the door. Anita and Pablito climb into the back seat and turn to wave. The car speeds out of sight and I wave until my arm hurts.

  “Kata, come inside,” orders Nell.

  I enter the building slowly. “Why don’t you like Anita?”

  Nell stops walking. “She is a very strange woman. She’s very set in her old ways. You see, I really don’t dislike her, it’s just that I have a hard time accepting her for what she is and for what other’s say of her.”

  “What do others say?”

  “Oh, look, don’t worry about it. You’ll understand more when you get older.”

  I frown. “Mama says that all the time, but Anita would never say such a thing because she believes everyone has a right to know the answers to all questions.”

  “So, that’s how your Anita thinks!” snaps Nell. “Well, don’t go comparing me with Anita and don’t expect me to believe in her either.”

  This is the first time I’ve seen Nell angry. She’s not such an angel after all. She’s just a pretty lady whose halo has fallen off.

  Once inside the room, Nell turns and says, “Kata, I have to run an errand. I’ll return later. Ramona is in the kitchen.”

  I sit on the bed and glance through a book. I already miss Anita and Pablito. My hand reaches to the pouch on my waist as if it were the only thing left from my previous life.

  I remember that Doctor Mendez seems irritated with Anita at times, but the doctor respects Anita and her wishes. Nell seems to fear her magic and powers. Ramona, on the other hand, seems to worship the ground on which Anita walks.

  I decide that Anita has a power with a deep kind of pull that enables her to make people act like puppets. All I know is that next to Mama and Papa, I love her the best. I must have fallen asleep because several hours later Nell wakes me up.

  “I bought this for you.” She opens a bag and pulls out a dress.

  “Nell,” I gasp, “it’s beautiful.”

  “I thought you might look good in it.”

  “Thanks, Nell. I’ve never owned a dress before.”

  “It’s a gift from me to say that I like you.”

  I finger the dress and bite my lips saying nothing.

  Nell continues, “After all, you must look nice at the doctor’s house.”

  “I like you, too,” I whisper.

  Chapter Eight

  I watch as Ramona packs my clothes into a small plastic bag. She seems deep in thought, so I do not ask her questions. After she finishes packing, she reaches for the brush and sits on the edge of the bed. “Come here, let me fix your hair.”

  I stand between her knees with a bent head, wincing as she pulls the brush through my long hair. After she has brushed my hair for what seems like a hundred strokes, she fixes it into two long braids and ties each end with pink ribbons. Then she turns me around to smooth out my bangs. “You look nice,” she says.

  “Ramona, I do not want to leave here,” I say as I lay my head against her shoulder. “I do not know those people.”

  “Katarina, you did not know us when you arrived and now you do. So, it will be easy enough for you to learn to know them.”

  “But, for how long will I have to stay with them?” I ask, refusing to accept the fact that once again I must leave the people I have come to like.

  “I am sure Doña Anita would not have let you go there if they were not good people.” She pats my shoulder. “You must trust Anita, for she is a very wise woman.”

  “You are right, silent one,” I answer, pulling away from her and wiping my nose.

  Suddenly Ramona starts laughing, “Why do you call me that?”

  “Because you use few words and all that you feel shows in your face and eyes.”

  She crushes me against her chest. “Oh, Kata, how I wish I had a little girl like you. Then, I would truly enjoy going home.”

  I sniffle. “Anita will help you, and I know you are going to make a nice mama for some little baby.”

  Her voice cracks as she answers, “I will never forget you, Kata.” Then she buries her head in my shoulder.

  I sit on my bed and study the walls full of toys and books, and I wonder who bought them all. Nell enters the room and smiles down at me. “Kata,” she says, “I would like you to meet someone. This little girl is called Betty.”

  I watch as a little girl with golden curls slides from behind Nell. She seems not to notice me at all, for her eyes are very wide and she looks frightened, but she stares at all the toys that line the room.

  Nell gets down on her knees. “Betty, this is Kata.”

  “How old is she?” I ask.

  Nell leans over to the small table. “I believe she’s about five or six. We don’t know yet.”

  I walk over to Betty and stare down at her. “Why are you here?”

  “She doesn’t speak Spanish, Kata. She’s lost and we cannot find her parents.”

  “She’s very small and she looks very hungry.”

  “Yes, and she hasn’t spoken two words since she’s been here. But, she did say her name was Betty. Why don’t you play with her while I go fix her a tray with something to eat.”

  I watch as Betty keeps her eyes glued to a small doll. She seems frightened like a baby rabbit which is about to bolt away. I take the doll and put it in her arms, then touch her short golden curls which are like soft cotton fresh from the field.

  Betty sobs then buries her face in the doll’s dress and then she starts to cry. I step back, fearing that perhaps I have hurt her, but she continues to cry even harder. I retreat to my bed and sit there watching her. Then without warning, I, too, begin to cry.

  After a long while Betty stops crying and I wonder if she is sleeping, for she does not move. I sit and watch her for fear she will fall out of the chair.

  Ramona enters carrying a tray of food. “You have met the little one?”

  “Yes. I feel sad for her. She cried for a long time.”

  Ramona nods. It is best that she has a good hard cry now, so that later she will feel better.” She takes Betty in her arms and sits her on her lap. Betty seems like a limp doll and only takes the food because Ramona forces her to.

  Nell comes into the room and stands watching Ramona feed Betty. She then turns to me and says, “Kata, we must go. Pilar will be expecting you by four this afternoon.” She picks up my plastic bag, “Ramona, I will be back as soon as I drop off Kata.”

  Ramona nods, then looks up at me and smiles. “We shall meet again, Kata. Go with God.”

  “If it’s God’s will, Ramona.” I take Nell’s hand and leave the room.

  The drive to the doctor’s house is a short one. Nell drives fast around some curves, as if she is in a big hurry. I glance up at her face and see that she is sad. “Are you sad, Nell?”

  “No, not sad, Kata. Just a littly angry and nervous. The house is around this block.” She stops the car. “This is the place, Kata. Shall we get out?”

  I stretch to look out of the car window at a big two-story house that is white as ground flour. “Is this where the doctor lives?”

  Nell takes her purse from the rear seat. “Yes.”

  “Doctor Mendez is very rich, no?”

  “N
ot so rich, but well-to-do. You see, we have only three doctors in this town. So, he gets his share of patients and their money.” Nell sighs. “Come on, let’s get out. She’ll be waiting inside.” Her door slams and she goes around to open mine.

  We stand searching the big house for a few moments. Looking up at Nell, I can see creases set deeply in her forehead and her eyes almost seem to draw into a small line. She bites her lips as is she does not want to go inside the house.

  “Is something wrong, Nell?”

  “Come. Let’s get this over with before I change my mind and not let you go at all.” She gently pushes me forward.

  “What’s the doctor’s wife like?” I ask as we move slowly up the walk toward the front door.

  Nell slows her pace. “I’ve never given myself the chance of knowing her better. You see, the doctor married her because it was agreed upon between their families. I understand it’s the traditional Mexican custom. She’s very wealthy from her family’s side and she’s from Mexico City. So, you two should get along fine.

  “You don’t like her, do you?”

  Her blue eyes snap down at me. “I declare, child, you are certainly a quick picker-upper!”

  “What’s that, Nell?”

  Before she can answer, the door opens and a plump woman in a stiff white apron says, “Yes?” She does not open the door wide, but holds it half-closed, as if guarding the entrance.

  Nell answers, “We are here to see Señora Pilar.”

  The woman’s face softens when her eyes meet mine and her cheeks turn pink. “Is she expecting you, Miss Nell?” she asks while studying me.

  “Yes, she is, Olga, and don’t worry, I shall be civil.”

  “Come this way.” She leads us into a small receiving room, where I sit down on a chair with big arms and a large high back. It is covered with the softest material I have ever felt. I know Anita would love this chair because she would have plenty of room to wiggle around.

  The room smells like fresh lemons and in the center sits a curved desk on which there is a photograph of the doctor. Nell approaches the desk and stares at the photograph for a long time, then she moves to the window and plays with a strand of her long hair.

  “What is this material called?”

  “Velvet, Kata. It’s very expensive.”

  I go to the desk and look at the photograph. “The doctor looks very young in this picture.”

  Nell stares out the window as if dreaming. “Yes, he was still in medical school back then.”

  “How do you know?”

  She turns quickly. “Oh, Kata, it’s a very long story. You don’t need to know it, anyway.” She peers back out the window. “It would serve no purpose.”

  I move back to the velvet chair and we settle in silence until the door opens and a woman enters. She glances down at me as she passes and turns her attention to Nell, who seems like a statue frozen in place.

  The doctor’s wife is tall and very skinny. Taller than Nell, but not as pretty. She is skinny and frail looking, like a willow growing in the middle of a pond. Her hips sway as she walks over to the desk, moves behind it and reaches into the top drawer. She pulls out a cigarette and lights it. I gasp in horror, for Mexican women do not smoke in the presence of others. But it does not disturb this woman dressed in black.

  Nell speaks first. “Look Pilar, I’ve brought the child over as Augustine requested.”

  Pilar nods, not saying a word as she stares at Nell with dark dagger eyes and then blows a large amount of smoke toward Nell.

  Nell clasps her hands and continues, “I trust you will care for her.” Then she rushes over to me and bends down to say, “Call me if you need me. I have put my phone number on the card in the bag.” She pulls me to her and kisses my cheek. I must go. Be good, Kata. I shall miss you.”

  Before I can remind her that she did not teach me how to use the black horn, she bolts out the door. I rush to the window and watch her drive out of sight. Then I turn my attention back to the vampire that stands behind me.

  “Niña, child, understand that my husband wants you here. I don’t care what you do, just so you leave me alone and stay out of my way. If you need anything, speak with Olga, my maid.”

  I decide that silence is the best answer, so I just nod. I watch her rise like a sleek black cat that is proud of its power. “Olga! Come here!” She stands with her hands on her hips, looking down at me as if she were a poisonous rattler. A very nervous Olga rushes into the room. “Take her to the room we’ve prepared,” Pilar commands.

  Olga takes my hand in one of hers and picks up the bag with the other. She rushes out of the room and up the stairs, as if there is a monster after us. She drags me along until we are well out of sight and sound of Pilar.

  “Thanks to all the saints!” Olga mutters breathlessly.

  “Yes,” I rapidly agree.

  She chuckles as she pushes open one of the doors that stand in a row along a big hallway. “I think I am going to like you, child.” She leads me into a large bedroom. “I will call you in time for supper, because I would not want you to be late. Not even the doctor dares be late. Bless his poor soul.” She puts the bag on the bed.

  “I don’t like her much!” I snap.

  Olga laughs. “Not many people do, my child. Stay out of her way and out of the hallway,” she warns. “And never wander to that part of the house. Her rooms are to the south end, but you can come to the kitchen any time. Ah, but look, don’t you like your room?”

  I glance around. “Yes, but why is the bed covered like a big umbrella? Does it rain inside the room?”

  Olga roars and her stomach flops up and down. “Oh, dear me! It’s not an umbrella, it’s called a canopy, like a hood for the bed. It’s a bed for the rich people and, I might add, very much trouble to keep clean.”

  “But, why is a hood needed if there is no sun?”

  “It is like a very expensive toy for adults. No sun or rain, just a lot of ruffles and pleats to wash and iron.”

  “This room is bigger than our hut back home. If we had this room back there, all of the family could live together—even Grandma and Grandpa.”

  Olga turns, “I believe they could, but rich people do not like to be close to one another. The doctor has his room and his library for his books and she has her rooms and her dressing room, not to mention all the closets.”

  “Are you rich, Olga?”

  “Heavens no! I only work for the doctor,” she chuckles. “But, I have my own room in this house. Now, I must go set the table for dinner. When I have finished I will return for you.”

  Olga rushes out of the room closing the door behind her. I know she is afraid of Pilar because she seems to walk on the tip of her toes whenever Pilar is near. I will not be afraid, I decide. I’ll be like Anita who is brave and bold. I flop down on the big bed and stare up at the white umbrella, wondering what Nell and Ramona were doing and if Betty still cries.

  I soon tire of the umbrella bed and of colord tea cups with ugly people painted on them. I long for the books and toys at the center. I lay on the bed and pull out the pouch. The stone seems darker now. I sigh and return it to the pouch.

  My stomach begins to rumble, so I sit up and go to the door. I open it just enough to stick out my head and peek down the hall. Olga turns the corner near the stairs. She sees me, waves her arms and says, “Now I will have to dress you for dinner. Have you something clean to wear?”

  I open the bag and pull out the dress Nell gave me. The card with her phone number falls out and I pick it up and then stuff it back into the bag. “I have this dress.”

  “That will do fine. Let me help you change,” she offers.

  I pull away from her. “I can do it myself!” I order trying to imitate Pilar.

  “So, you can. Hurry then, because they will be waiting.” She stands there watching me. “Well, get on with it.”

  “Please leave the room,” I ask.

  “Oh, no. I dare not. If she sees me in the hall, I’ll
really get chewed out.”

  “Okay, then. But, you must turn your back until I’m ready,” I demand.

  “I’ll do anything, just get dressed quickly.”

  I pull on the dress, then go to her for help in tying the sash at the back of the dress. She does it quickly. We rush out of the room and downstairs to the dining room. “For the saint’s sake child, don’t speak unless you’re asked questions.” She’s so jittery that she is making me nervous, as well.

  The doctor stands at the entrance way. “Hello, Kata. You look lovely. Are you being tended to?”

  I glance at Olga, who looks as though she is about to faint. “Yes, I am,” I answer. I swear that I heard a sigh escape from plump Olga’s lips.

  “We have another dinner guest. So, please try to mind your manners. For my wife’s sake, you see.” He says this in a soft voice and takes my hand to lead me into the dining room, which smells of lemon oil and chicken.

  Pilar is already seated next to the guest. She has a smile from ear to ear and is laughing like a silly school girl. She stops when we enter the room.

  The doctor introduces me. “Don Francisco, this is my temporary charge, Katarina Campos.”

  The man with the thick black hair and very straight nose rises and bows. “What a lovely child,” he says more to the doctor than to me. Then he reseats himself, glad to forget me, it seems. He immediately turns his attention back to the cat-woman, Pilar.

  The doctor leads me to a chair and sits next to me. Pilar starts laughing again like a crazy witch, stirring her boiling potion. The doctor should tell her to behave, I think, but I notice he seems to ignore his wife and concentrate on his glass of wine. Don Francisco, I notice, is all eyes and ears, like the big bad wolf ready to eat up Pilar.

  Dinner is served very quickly by Olga. Pilar and Don Francisco keep their whispering jokes to their side of the table and the doctor concentrates on his food, occasionally smiling down at me.

  Doctor Mendez looks tired. I can tell by the rings under his eyes and the way he slouches on his chair. He is too young to have those rings, I think, as I watch him take a second glass of wine. This is not how my Mama and Papa act during meals. I’ve seen them kiss countless times before and during meals.