I spent the morning with Grandma Joaquinita preparing rice with amaranth, a plant that at first seemed to me like any other weed.
Friday
Well, she was doing several other things at the same time, because something is always happening in that kitchen. She chopped, ground, cut, washed, while I could barely help with the rice and with the only house chore I seem to be good at: shelling corn. Grain by grain, I stripped the cobs while the rice finished cooking.
while I could barely help with the rice and with the only house chore I seem to be good at: shelling corn. Grain by grain, I stripped the cobs while the rice finished cooking.
Aunt Tulia came in and out of the kitchen, but she was actually busy running errands for the bull festival. That was when I realized I was not going to be there that weekend, because I had to go back
I envied the animal, who got bored all of a sudden and went to lie down under the shade of a big tree whose name I didn’t know. I wish I knew the names of all the plants.
to school in Malambo. That made me sad. I didn't tell anyone, I just lost interest in anything to do with the preparations for that blessed festival. And then I also felt anger at people's need to be making a mess and noise and playing music until late, or rather, until early in the morning, while I was up all night without sleeping a wink.