Return to Eden
Mother and daughter were inseparable.
Antonia adored her mother.
Antonia had left school very young; she was more useful helping her mother. So she didn’t know how to write and could barely read.
Once they’d finished the housework, they would go out to pick up the neighbors’ washing.
Up on the rooftop terrace, between loads of laundry, Carmen instructed her daughter. A WOMAN SHOULD WORK TO HELP HER FAMILY.
BUT ONLY UNTIL SHE MARRIES.
AFTER THAT, HER JOB IS TO TAKE CARE OF HER HUSBAND.
WE’LL FIND SOMETHING FOR YOU. MENDING, LIKE YOUR SISTER VICENTITA. A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SEW.
IN A FEW YEARS I’LL TAKE YOU TO SEWING LESSONS. WE’LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIND THE MONEY. AND WHEN YOU GET MARRIED... IF YOU’RE FINISHED WITH THAT, BRING IT HERE.
LATER, WHEN GOD SEES FIT, YOU WILL GIVE HIM CHILDREN. WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, MARRY A HARD WORKER. AND DON’T MARRY A BRUTE. COMING.
ABOVE ALL—AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING—ENTER MARRIAGE THE SAME AS GOD BROUGHT YOU INTO THE WORLD.
OTHERWISE, NOBODY WILL WANT YOU.
REMEMBER?
I DON’T WANT TO END UP AN OLD MAID.
WELL, BE CAREFUL WITH MEN, THEN.
THAT’S WHERE THE BOMB FELL.
OH, GOD! THEY’RE IN THERE! ssssTHEY’RE IN THERE!
BUT, MOTHER…
THE SIREN! COME ON, COME ON!
Carmen suffered from claustrophobia. She couldn’t bear shelters crowded with people.
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE SHELTER.
NO, NOT THE SHELTER. COME.
Her biggest fear was to die buried inside one.
VICENTITA, THIS WAY.
GOD! THEY’RE IN THERE, ssgTHEY’RE IN THERE!
That bomb is all Antonia remembered of the war. She managed to erase everything else, but she could never forget that woman’s screams.