Have you ever thought that you no longer have the desire to continue, that you have no purpose, or that everything has become repetitive? And that just one single person manages to change all of that.
Then, this story is for you.
How are you? I hope you are well. I will tell you a story, and I hope you enjoy it. But first, it is better that we go to the very beginning so you can understand it better.
MEMORIES (3 YEARS OLD)
At that time, it was vacation time. My 12-year-old brother and I, at 3, had gone to Lima (Ancón), since my father had bought a house there. We lived in Lima exactly when I was one year old; plus, my grandparents live there.
When I turned 3, we moved to Chiclayo for economic reasons. For that reason, we went on vacation for the sake of nostalgia for our old home; we would go about six times a year, well, until I turned 5. Only my brother and I went to visit our grandparents; my parents and my other two siblings didn't like the place because of the dust and the sand (although my parents also had to work).
I remember that when I went to Ancón, I used to play soccer with some kids from the street, although I am not very good at that sport. What I loved most was playing in the sand. For me, it was the most fun: burying myself in it (although sometimes it smelled like dog urine, or maybe it was something else), sliding down mountains of sand... what good times! Furthermore, the area where I lived was a desert, and even today there is still sand, since it is not very urbanized; it is a rural area. I live in the center of Chiclayo, and there is no sand there; the beach is 20 to 30 minutes from my house.
THE KITTENS AND THE DUCK
Back in Ancón, my grandmother took care of a neighbor's house, Mrs. Wiza, who lived on the other side of Lima, I think in Olivos. This neighbor had many laying hens and two beautiful cats. I remember that one day she arrived unexpectedly:
WIZA: —Knock, knock.
GRANDMOTHER: —Who is it?
WIZA: —It's me, neighbor Angelita.
GRANDMOTHER: —Good afternoon, what brings you here, neighbor?
WIZA: —I came to check on my house, and also look at what I found.
GRANDMOTHER: —What is that box?
WIZA: —When I was coming here, I found these two kittens in the street; one is missing a leg and the other is normal. Well, I came to drop them off and leave some things, I'll be back tonight.
GRANDMOTHER: —That's fine, neighbor.
After the neighbor left, my brother and I returned from my grandmother's house. We had gone to get her some magnesium chloride. We arrived just as the lady was leaving.
PETER & ME: —Knock, knock, Angela, we're back.
GRANDMOTHER: —Oh, you're back. Did you bring what I asked for?
US: —Yes.
US: —And that box?
GRANDMOTHER: —Neighbor Wiza came and left the box. She said there were two kittens; I already let them out and they are in the living room.
(That living room had a dirt floor; the house was a large room with construction tools. To the right was the kitchen, to one side the bedrooms, and in the back, in the center, a door that led to the corral).
ME: —Look...
PETER: —Oh...
ME: —What a pretty cat, it is gray with blue eyes and brown paws.
PETER: —I think it's called a Siamese cat.
ME: —Look at that other one, poor thing, it has no leg.
PETER: —Yes, you're right. How about we name them? I'll start: this one will be named... uh... Sonaja (Rattle).
ME: —Ok, and this one will be named Cascabel (Jingle Bell).
After naming them, we played with them and gave them food. Besides the cats, there was a duck in the corral.
ME: —Look, Peter, a duck!
PETER: —Oh, let's catch it. You take the left, I take the right.
ME: —OK!
After catching it, we petted it. We have always liked animals, especially birds, and we had never seen a duck up close. A few days passed and we saw it coming out of a specific place. Upon checking, we found a large nest with many eggs hidden in the sand. We took them to my grandmother:
ME: —Angela, look at these eggs, they are duck eggs!
GRANDMOTHER: —Take that away from us, that is an impure animal.
ME: —Oh, well, I'll put them back.
(Up until that moment, I wasn't really into my religion; I was a child and didn't understand things that seemed boring to me, although that would change later).
That same day, my brother told me:
PETER: —You know? If you incubate the egg, ducklings will come out.
ME: —Really?
PETER: —Yes, just sit on it and incubate it.
ME: —Okay... why don't you incubate it?
PETER: —It's just that... —he pushes me and the egg breaks.
ME: —No! You killed it! You're a monster!
PETER: —It wasn't going to hatch anyway, it needs a duck.
After that, I changed my shorts. Later that afternoon, I grabbed some chicken poop and threw it at my brother. To keep him from hitting me, I did it when he was bent over opening a cage. He only noticed when it started to smell bad; he touched his head and smashed the mess. My grandmother and I couldn't stop laughing!
US: —You're full of poop, go wash up! —we said, laughing.
PETER: —Gross!
After that, the weeks passed. The saddest part about leaving was returning to Chiclayo. Especially for me; my brother didn't care as much, but I hated leaving because I was far from my grandparents, the people I appreciate most in truth.
ON THE BUS
GRANDMA: Come visit us soon, sweetheart.
ME: Okay, Angela—don't cry, or I'll cry too. I promise I'll come back next vacation.
GRANDMA: Okay, sweetheart.
GRANDPA: Angey...
ME: Grandpa, we're leaving now.
GRANDPA: Right, let me say a quick prayer for a safe trip. After the prayer, we said goodbye to our grandparents and boarded the bus.
CHICLAYO: KINDERGARTEN
Upon returning, I was enrolled in kindergarten. I remember the first day: I was very scared. It was a new place and my parents and siblings were not there. I felt lonely, sad, and angry; I thought they hated me for leaving me there. Later I saw that other children were also crying. The teacher was late, which increased the fear. Soon after, I calmed down and met two girls who would become my best friends.
ME: —Hi, how are you? What is your name? —I asked shyly.
DINA: —Snif, snif... My name is Dina. And yours?
ME: —My name is... (name).
DINA: —Let's be friends from now on.
ME: —Yes, I hope so.
Later I met Sayuri.
SAYURI: —Hi, what's your name?
ME: —My name is... (name), and you?
SAYURI: —MY NAME IS SAYURI!
ME: —Why aren't you scared? Aren't you afraid of being surrounded by strangers?
SAYURI: —Ah, it's because my grandmother is the teacher.
DINA & ME: —Wow! Seriously? That's so cool!
WEEKS LATER
In class, there was a bigger boy who liked one of my friends. Since they hung out with me, he started to feel angry. One day he started bullying me. The boy approached with a mocking smile:
BULLY: —HA, HA, HA, you're a little girl. You only play with those two.
DINA: —Leave him alone, he's not doing anything to you.
SAYURI: —Yes, leave him ALONE!
I didn't defend myself out of fear. Later, in a game of "dodgeball," taking advantage of the fact that the teacher had turned her back, he threw the ball hard at my face. I cried in pain.
BULLY: —Oops, sorry. It wasn't intentional.
TEACHER: —Apologize... give each other a hug to make up.
BULLY: —I'm sorry. —he hugged me angrily and tightly.
ME: —Snif, snif... Yes, I forgive you. —I answered, scared.
After school, Dina approached me:
DINA: —You realized he threw the ball at you on purpose, right?
ME: —Yes.
DINA: —Then why don't you tell the teacher anything?
ME: —If I said something, he would bully me even worse. Besides, I think he's in love with you.
DINA: —I don't like him. He's very rough. I prefer someone like you, who is kind and gentle.
After that, my brother took me home. My mother enrolled me in violin classes, something I detested. After an argument and a punishment, another day the boy fought with me. I ended up bruised, but he didn't return to the daycare. I thought I wouldn't see him again... boy, was I wrong.
NEXT CHAPTER 2: THE ACCIDENT (COMING SOON)