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Chapter One, page 5
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did what
we did that night: went out to their terraces or balconies, sat in their
rocking chairs, and rocked the boredom and frustration away.
I was so grateful for that precious black box that when the lights went off,
I
ran to my parents’ bedroom, threw myself on the pink bedspread, facedown,
eyes
squeezed shut, and promised myself that once I started sixth grade in September,
I would watch TV only after I had completed my homework and memorized
my lessons of the day.
When I told my mother later about my promise, she shook her head silently.
If she thought I was exaggerating, she didn’t say. She knew that the
previous
school year had been a torment for both of us. I needed to prove, if only
to myself, that—at least academically—I was beyond reproach.
I had had two teachers in fifth grade, one for science and math, the other
for literature and history. The arrangement was a novelty, because up to
then I’d
had only one teacher for each grade and revered all of them. So it was perhaps
out of habit and goodwill that I felt an instant connection to my two new
teachers
the moment they walked into class the first day. They were young and pretty.
Tania had long black hair, down to her waist, and she always wore very short
dresses. Eradia was thin and dark, with the delicate features of a bird.
She had
short, curly black hair and a wide smile that revealed shiny white teeth.
Sometime during the first week of classes, Tania posed a question I had never
been asked before.
Who here believes in God? she asked, looking over the entire class.
Without thinking I raised my hand. So did Ivón, the chubby girl who
sat
next to me and was in my Saturday catechism class. We were the only ones
with
our hands up. Ivón blushed deeply. Under the weight of so many eyes
looking in
our direction, she slowly lowered her hand, letting it rest delicately on
top of
her desk.
And who goes to church? Tania pressed on.
I left my arm up, mainly because I knew that my teacher already knew. The
fact that I went to church, I was sure, was in my student record, the one
kept by
school officials for each child from kindergarten on. Also, because denying
God
