Red City on the Ocean

A Moment from the Past - Little Estela

In the center of a Portuguese town, houses on both sides of the streets stood so close to each other that neighbors could shake hands over the pavement without leaving their homes. There was always little light here, but these two girls knew a place where the sun shone brightly all day. It was there, at the intersection of two narrow streets, under the canopy of a spreading sycamore tree, that they were sitting. One of them was saying something and rocking a rag doll in her arms. The other girl also had a doll in her hands, making it walk along the ground. Each toy was made of the same fabric from which its owner's dresses were sewn. One, multicolored, was sewn from small pieces of fine foreign-made fabric. The other, a dingy drab gray, was made from a piece of unbleached wool. The first doll was always clean because dirt simply did not cling to it. The second kept traces of all the tumbles onto the ground and into puddles.

A tall, burly woman came around the corner, a basket hanging from her half-bent arm. Passing by the girls, she broke into a smile. "Good afternoon, Senhorita Marisa," she said. The woman took out a pie from the basket, golden brown, lush, with streaks of jam, already hardened on the underside. She handed it to the girl in the brightly colored dress and, smiling once more, went on.

"Say hello to your mother!" she shouted as a farewell.

The girl brought the pie up to her mouth but changed her mind. She broke it in two and handed the smaller half to her friend. They both began to eat heartily.

A little later, another woman appeared on the otherwise deserted street. She also carried a basket, but her burden was much heavier than a basket of pies. It was obvious from the face and gait of this young woman that she was very tired, and it was still early; the sun had not even reached its zenith. The girl in the gray dress jumped up and rushed to meet her. "Mom! Mom!" she grabbed the handle of the basket and pulled it towards her.

"Don't take it, dear," the mother said. "You can't carry it; It's heavy."

"Mom, why was Marisa given a pie and I wasn't?" the girl asked, sincerely puzzled.

"Because Marisa's father is a lieutenant general," her mother replied with barely noticeable sadness, "and Marisa is also wearing a beautiful dress. Your dad is a simple captain and is far across the sea in Africa. However, if he returns victorious, he will be promoted, and you will no longer be the daughter of a simple captain." The mother smiled and kissed the girl. "In the meantime, come along, Estela, you can help me do the laundry."

The girl sighed and, looking back at her friend, waved her hand. Mother and daughter walked side by side. "Do you really need a beautiful and expensive dress to be fed with sweet pies?" the girl thought with resentment.

"Mom, will you make me a new dress?" she asked.

"Of course!" the mother immediately replied. "If your dad defeats his enemies, the king will reward him handsomely. Then Dad will buy us as many beautiful fabrics as he wants, and I'll make new dresses for both of us." She shifted the laundry basket to her other arm and, unnoticed by her daughter, wiped her tears.