The Weeping woman

Dos

' Home sweet home ' really was the correct phrase to describe this house. As a child, I recalled  the house to be two storey and blanketed in Ivory panels, which were now replaced by elaborate panels of ebony. I was aware of the renovations the house had to go through last year,  and as much as I loved the original interior , I have to admit that the renovations really did improve the mere appearance of my childhood home.

Soon, only me and Uncle Alfonso( who was two years older than I )remained behind to unload the van. Looking over my shoulder, I happened to notice the river, which flowed mercilessly into the forest.  

Ah! The river. This river happened to be my favourite natural wonder of this forest. I recalled staying out late with Uncle Alfonso and Aunt Anita, playing near the banks of the river. After a while, Mama forbade us from playing near that river again.  I often believed it was solely based around the fact that the walk to and from the river was thirty minutes, and me and my siblings would head back home at around six, when night began to fall.

But Mama was irrationally afraid of many things regarding superstition and fictitious stories, so she must have over analysed the current situation in her hands, thus forbidding us to play in that area.

"Well, Brother" Alfonso said as he draped an arm around my currently hunched shoulders, " I see you are beginning to recall old memories. Do you remember the old river?" 

"Yes, of course" 

"Well even now we aren't allowed to even talk about it. Mama has heard stories"

I raised any eyebrow, " What kind of stories?" 

" Ay yai yai, Brother! You really have abandoned all traces of your Mexican life! Don't tell me you've never heard of...nevermind!" 

"Well? Tell me! You were so eager and now you're willing to hide this from me!"

"Let Mama tell you, she's a better story teller than I could ever be. You know that don't you, Diego?" 

"Certainly, Brother!" I laughed as I recalled the time my Brother tried to describe some events at a school carnival. Honestly, it sounded as if he was reciting from a dictionary. Aunt Anita, the youngest of us all made sure he was always the ' joke of the family '. But it is safe to say that my Brother and Sister have been inseparable since.

" We should probably go in, it's getting dark." 

" At One O'clock?! Are you serious?" 

                                                          ************************************

"Chicken Enchiladas!" Mama called as she placed the dish on the table.

After the flight, I have to admit that I was feeling rather ravenous. I reached to pick up the set of cutlery placed in front of me, but Mama stopped us before we could start eating.

"It's tradition! We need to say Grace!" 

As soon as everyone finished saying grace, I began to devour the Chicken Enchiladas as a light conversation went around the dinner table. " What's it like in Idaho? ",  " I'm glad you're staying here " and things like that.

" Mama, Diego wants to know if he's allowed to go and visit the river " 

Great, Alfonso really hasn't changed. Being the middle child, I was the object of mockery for my older brother and younger sister ( who really was only a year younger than I ). Even at the age of thirty seven, I still was and always will be the object of their mockery.

" Diego? "

" Yes, Mama? "

" You know exactly why you can't go there " 

" He doesn't remember , Mama " Alfonso intercepted

" I was only Four by then. Diego was five, he couldn't have had a clear memory at that age " Anita clarified " It's common to forget some events in our early childhood "

Mama sighed. I really couldn't remember the more specific details of my early childhood, but I wanted to remember. I had to know why.

" Why don't I accompany him? He needs to remember " 

" Absolutely not! Alfonso! "

" Mama, we're in our thirties, we can take care of ourselves " Alfonso blurted out, beginning to sound like a teenager once again. 

" What's so significant about the river anyway, Dad? Grandmama? " 

" Oh! Look what you two have done! Never mind that, Rosalina. It's just a ground rule I have set for them when they were around your age, or even younger " She muttered, subtly averting her gaze to me and Alfonso.

" Wow! Dad, you had ground rules! " Rosalina laughed at her own joke

" Yes, doesn't everyone?" I laughed

" Well, I didn't think you had! "

" Oh! Alright, alright! Visit the river after our meal! Just please drop the conversation regarding ground rules!" 

" Aww, Gracias Mama " 

" But you two! Be back by three. Alfonso, take care of your brother, okay? "

" Bien ".