Have you ever thought that you no longer feel like going on, that you have no purpose, or that everything has become repetitive? And that just a single person manages to change all of that. Then, this story is for you. How are you? I hope you're well. I'll tell you a story and I hope you enjoy it. But first, it's best that we go back to the very beginning so you can understand it better.
THE MEMORIES (3 YEARS OLD)
Back then, it was vacation time. My 12-year-old brother and I, who was 3, had gone to Lima (Ancón), since my father had bought a house there. We used to live in Lima when I was one year old, plus my grandparents live there. When I turned 3, we moved to Chiclayo due to financial reasons. For that reason, we used to go back on vacations; out of nostalgia for our old home, we would go about six times a year, well, until I turned 5. Only my brother and I would go to visit our grandparents; my parents and my other two siblings didn't like that place because of the dust and sand (though 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, even though I'm not very good at that sport. What I liked doing the most was playing in the sand. For me, it was the most fun thing: burying myself in it (even though sometimes it smelled like dog urine, or maybe it was something else), sliding down mountains of sand... what good times! Besides, the area where I lived was a desert and to this day there is still sand, since it's not very urbanized yet; it's a rural area. I live in the center of Chiclayo and there is no sand there; the beach is about 20 or 30 minutes from my house.
THE KITTENS AND THE DUCK
Back in Ancón, my grandmother used to look after a neighbor's house, Mrs. Wiza, who lived somewhere else in Lima, I think around Los Olivos. This neighbor had many laying hens and two gorgeous cats. I remember once she arrived unexpectedly:
WIZA: —Knock, knock.
GRANDMA: —Who is it?
WIZA: —It's me, neighbor Angelita.
GRANDMA: —Good afternoon, what brings you here, neighbor?
WIZA: —I came to check on my house and also look at what I found.
GRANDMA: —What's in that box?
WIZA: —On my way here, I found these two kittens on the street; one is missing a paw and the other is normal. Well, I came to drop them off and bring some things, I'll be back tonight.
GRANDMA: —Alright, neighbor.
After the neighbor left, my brother and I came back from our grandma's house. We had gone to get her some magnesium chloride. We arrived just as the lady was leaving.
PETER AND I: —Knock, knock. Ángela, we're back.
GRANDMA: —Oh, you're back. Did you bring what I asked for?
US: —Yes.
US: —And whose box is that?
GRANDMA: —Neighbor Wiza came by and left us the box. She said there are two kittens, I already let them loose and they're around the living room.
(That living room had a dirt floor; the house was a large structure with construction tools. To the right was the kitchen, to one side the bedrooms, and in the back, in the center, a door leading to the corral).
ME: —Look...
PETER: —Oh...
ME: —What a pretty cat, it's 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 paw.
PETER: —Yeah, you're right. What if we name them? I'll start: this one will be called... uh... Sonaja (Rattle).
ME: —Okay, and this one will be called Cascabel (Jingle Bell).
After naming them, we played with them and gave them food. Aside from the cats, there was a duck in the corral.
ME: —Look, Peter, a duck!
PETER: —Oh, let's catch it. You take the left and I'll take the right.
ME: —OK!
After catching it, we petted it. We've always liked animals, especially birds, and we had never seen a duck up close. A few days passed and we noticed it coming out of a specific spot. Upon checking, we found a large nest with many eggs hidden in the sand. We took them to our grandmother:
ME: —Ángela, look at these eggs, they're duck eggs!
GRANDMA: —Take that away from us, that's an unclean animal.
ME: —Oh well, I'll put them back.
(Up until that moment I wasn't that into my religion; I was a kid 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 hatch.
ME: —Really?
PETER: —Yeah, just sit on it and incubate it.
ME: —Alright... and why don't you incubate it?
PETER: —Well... —he pushes me and the egg breaks—.
ME: —No! You killed it! You monster!
PETER: —It wasn't going to hatch anyway, it needs the mother duck.
After that, I changed my shorts. Later, I took chicken poop and threw it at my brother. So he wouldn't hit me, I did it while he was crouching down opening a cage. He only noticed when it started to smell bad; he touched his head and smeared the mess. It was a riot of laughter between my grandmother and me!
US: —You're full of poop, go wash up! —we said laughing.
PETER: —Gross!
After that, the weeks went by. The saddest part of leaving was going back to Chiclayo. Especially for me; my brother didn't care as much, but I hated leaving because I was far away from my grandparents, the people I truly appreciate the most.
ON THE BUSES
GRANDMA: Come visit us soon, little one.
ME: Yes, Ángela, don't cry or else I'll cry. I promise I'll come back next vacation.
GRANDMA: Yes, little one.
GRANDPA: Angey...
ME: Grandpa, we're leaving now.
GRANDPA: Yes, let's say a prayer so you have a safe trip.
After praying, we said goodbye to our grandparents and got on the bus.
CHICLAYO: KINDERGARTEN / PRESCHOOL
Upon returning, they enrolled me in kindergarten. I remember the first day: I was very scared. It was a new place and neither my parents nor my brothers were there. I felt alone, sad, and angry; I thought they hated me for leaving me there. Then I saw other children crying too. The teacher took a while to arrive, which increased the fear. Shortly after, I calmed down and met two girls who would become my best friends.
ME: —Hello, how are you? What's your name? —I asked shyly.
DINA: —Sniff, sniff... My name is Dina. And yours?
ME: —My name is... (name).
DINA: —Let's be friends from now on.
ME: —Yeah, I hope so.
Then 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 grandma is the teacher.
DINA AND ME: —Wow! Really? That's so cool!
WEEKS LATER
In the classroom, there was a bigger kid who liked one of my friends. Since they hung out with me, he started getting angry. One day he started bullying me. The kid walked up with a mocking smile:
BULLY: —HA, HA, HA, you're a little girl. You only play with those two.
DINA: —Just leave him alone, he's not doing anything to you.
SAYURI: —Yeah, leave him ALONE!
I didn't defend myself out of fear. Later, during a game of dodgeball ("mata gente"), taking advantage of the fact that the teacher wasn't looking, he hit me hard in the face with the ball. I cried in pain.
BULLY: —Oops, sorry. I didn't mean to.
TEACHER: —Apologize to him... give each other a hug to make up.
BULLY: —I'm sorry. —he hugged me angrily and forcefully.
ME: —Sniff, sniff... Yeah, I forgive you. —I answered scared.
On the way out, Dina came over:
DINA: —Did you notice he did it on purpose, right?
ME: —Yes.
DINA: —Then why don't you tell the teacher anything?
ME: —If I said something, he'd pick on me even worse. Besides, I think he has a crush on you or Sayuri.
DINA: —I don't like him. He's too aggressive and I don't think Sayuri likes him either, I see they always clash, probably because he keeps trying to pick a fight with you.
ME: —Yeah, I think so too.
DINA: —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 hated. Following an argument and a punishment, another day the kid picked a fight with me. I ended up beaten up, but he didn't come back to preschool. I thought I wouldn't see him again... boy, was I wrong.
NEXT CHAPTER 2 (COMING SOON)