November 20, 2006
Chapter 16
(Filed under: The Novel)"Hola, Guadalupe," Anwyn said, sitting down next to her Grandpa Frank and across from Oliver and his grandma, Guadalupe.
"Hola chica muy bonita," Guadalupe said, gesturing with her hands.
"Isn't anyone going to talk American?" Grandpa Frank asked with a laugh. "Or do I have to put my brain in gear?"
"Usted es tan obstinado," said Guadalupe. "Pero sabemos que es justo un acto."
"She said I look like a handsome actor, didn't she?" Grandpa Frank asked Oliver, but he didn't wait for an answer. "Yes, yes I know. Ruggedly handsome." He laughed again and Guadalupe just shook her head.
"Aceptable, aceptable, hablaré español," Grandpa Frank said, "Actuando obstinado." And then he turned to Anwyn, winked and said, "I'm so good at acting stubborn, too."
"Eso es major," Guadalupe said with a pleased look. She sat back in her chair and breathed in slowly, then began telling stories about her home country of El Salvador. Grandpa Frank, Anwyn and Oliver all listened intently, even though Oliver had heard the stories many times over and Grandpa Frank had coaxed them out of Guadalupe months ago. But they were fresh for Anwyn and she listened close.
Every few phrases Guadalupe would stop to make sure they still understood and Anwyn would nod for her to continue or ask a question to make sure she was still following. It was better than a Spanish textbook vocabulary lesson.
Oliver just sat back and took it all in, enjoying the familiar tones and rhythms of his grandmother's Spanish, watching the gleam in Grandpa Frank's eye as his brain worked to keep up with the new language, and feeling the warmth of family in the room.
"Adios," Anwyn said again as Oliver helped Guadalupe back to her room and Anwyn and Frank went back to his.
"She's a good woman," Grandpa Frank said as the shuffled down the hallway. "Ella es las buenas mujeres."
"Si," Anwyn said. "I think it's cool you're learning Spanish from her."
"I've got to do something to keep the brain sharp," Grandpa Frank said. "No going soft in my old age."
"Grandpa, you're not going to go soft," Anwyn said. They reached his room and she helped him sit down on the bed.
"Everything else is going soft," Grandpa Frank said, his breathing labored from the walk down the hall. "My mind is about the only thing I've still got going for me."
"Well, you are still ruggedly handsome," Anwyn said as she leaned forward and kissed her grandfather's rough cheek.
"You are too kind, chica," Grandpa Frank said. "Now you go off and enjoy your Saturday like a normal kid. No more hanging out with the old folks."
"I'll see you next Saturday, Grandpa," Anwyn said, pausing at the door.
"Damn kids," Grandpa Frank said. "Can't they see it's time for my nap." He winked at Anwyn again and smiled. She waved and then closed the door behind her. Grandpa Frank eased himself down into bed, and sat there tired and weary, but happy.
Oliver was waiting for Anwyn at the front desk. They walked out the front door together, cheerful but quiet.
Oliver's truck motored into Richmond, slowing for the turn and then crawling along as they came into town. Anwyn always wondered what would happen if someone came cruising through town at top speed. Would anyone notice? Would the gas station attendant fall back in chair and swear, maybe take off his hat like in the movies? Or would the offender be gone before anyone could look up?
"Do you want to stop off at my place and see if Catalina and Mateo are around?" Oliver asked.
"Sure," Anwyn said. "I suppose visiting the old folks on a Saturday doesn't quiet cover my Kansas visitin' allotment." Oliver shook his head.
"Are you ever going to stop ragging on this place?" Oliver asked.
"No," Anwyn replied without hesitation. "I don't think so. That would ruin the fun."
They parked in the dirt driveway and walked in the front door. Mateo was plopped in the middle of the living room floor, lying on his back and lazily kicking his feet in the air. Purple crocheted booties covered his feet, a gift from his great-grandma Guadalupe.
Catalina sat on the couch, keeping one eye on Mateo and another on her homework.
"Anwyn," she said, "It's so good to see you again."
"Hey cousin," Anwyn replied, giving Catalina a hug. Everything always seemed a little more formal with Catalina, a little more dramatic. Anwyn knelt down next to Mateo and said hello, poking his stomach and watching him smile. Then she sat down on the couch next to Catalina and Oliver kicked back on the floor, first trading faces with Mateo and making the chubby little baby laugh. He so easily became the center of attention. It took a few minutes before they could all break away from the baby's trance.
"So how was Grandma?" Catalina asked.
"Bueno," Oliver replied. "Old as dirt, but she still commands the galaxy." Anwyn giggled, thinking of the way Guadalupe had forced her grandfather into speaking Spanish. Catalina nodded, but didn't say anything.
"She said to say hello," Oliver continued. "She misses you and the bebé."
"Of course," Catalina said with a sigh. "You told her I miss her, too?"
"As per your request," Oliver said, a little more stiffly than usual. Catalina just nodded.
"Do you mind checking Mateo and putting him down for a nap?" she asked. Oliver just shook his head and gathered up Mateo in his arms. He started singing a soft song, probably made up as he went along. Anwyn strained to hear.
"Did you see Guadalupe?" Catalina asked.
"Yeah, we talked," Anwyn said. "Oliver and I managed to get her and Grandpa Frank out into the common room and we talked for a little bit."
"In Espanol, I suppose?" Catalina asked.
"Yeah," Anwyn admitted with a smile.
"That's Guadalupe," Catalina said, setting her homework down on the coffee table. "It's her way or the highway."
"Is there a little tension between you two?" Anwyn asked.
"Oh yes," Catalina said. "And you can probably tell that Oliver agrees with her."
Anwyn didn't say anything. She thought Oliver had seemed a little prickly, but she also didn't see what was so bad about Guadalupe. She was a strong, sure women.
"She just doesn't agree with how I want to live my life," Catalina said.
"And how do you want to live your life?" Anwyn asked.
"Well having Mateo about broke her heart," Catalina said. "I wasn't married and his dad, Cody, didn't stick around. I didn't want him to, but that doesn't seem to matter to Guadalupe."
"She's probably just worried about you," Anwyn said, trying to carefully balance the bruised ego of her cousin and the honor of an old woman.
"Oh, she hides it well," Catalina said, her eyes narrowing. "It's all concern about me and what I'll make of myself, but really she's just judging me. It's not like I'm the first. I should have had an abortion. That would have given her something to judge. Oh, that woman. I swear, family can be the worst."
Anwyn had stopped listening once Catalina got started. She remembered Catalina's 'poor me' rants from their childhood. Her step-father Carlos would ask her to shuck the corn and she'd drag Isabelle and Anwyn along with her, complaining all the while that Oliver didn't have to do it, and the sexist work roles, and if her real father—it went on and on. None of it was ever true. Anwyn couldn't be sure this time around. Old grandmothers could have deep judgmental streaks, but it could also be Catalina being herself. Frankly, Anwyn hoped Catalina had matured a bit by now, had made something more of herself.
Oliver closed the door to Mateo's room, not bothering to be as quiet as he could, and came back to the living room. Catalina finished her rant when she heard the door close.
"Anyway, how are you doing in school?" Catalina asked. Anwyn tried not to roll her eyes. She realized Catalina hadn't asked about Grandpa Frank—who was technically her blood relative. Guadalupe was Carlos' father and technically a step-grandmother.
Anwyn endured Catalina's small talk and then made an excuse to escape. Oliver offered to drive her home and for once Anwyn took him up on it.
"She hasn't changed, has she?" Oliver asked as they pulled away.
"Nope," Anwyn said, shaking her head and watching their house go by.
"I suppose she gave you the rant about my Guadalupe?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah," Anwyn said. "It's not true, is it? Guadalupe isn't like that?"
"No," Oliver said, shaking his head for emphasis. He stared straight ahead as he drove and didn't glance over to Anwyn. "Grandma was definitely concerned when Catalina got pregnant. Heck, everybody was. She might have been disappointed to see Catalina raising Mateo by herself, but that's only because she's seen so many in our family try to do that, and fail."
Anwyn just sat in silence, taking it in, trying to sort fact from opinion from hurt feeling.
"I love my hermana," Oliver said, "But sometimes she's full of herself."
Posted by kevin at November 20, 2006 9:35 PM
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