A Dead Man's Travail

by Susana Pagano

  When Florence was a few month along in her pregnancy, she got sick and had to be in bed for a long time. No one knew what sort of illness it was, but she almost lost the baby; and that’s why Ernestina was born with something wrong with her head. What’s more, no one knows who the father was; maybe that’s where she inherited some evil spirit, or who knows what.

  Ever since she was a child, Ernestina acted very strangely. She liked to talk to herself. I s’pose that’s not so strange with young kids; my kids used to play and talk to themselves on their own, as if someone else were there. At first, nobody thought much of it, but then we began to realise she wasn’t only talking to herself, she was talking differently. You couldn’t understand much and she seemed to be always waiting for someone to answer. When she was a bit older, she used to have terrible attacks of hysteria. She’d get up at midnight with screams that would make your hair stand on end. She’d shout and shout as if someone were trying to kill her; and she’d go blue ‘cause she’d stop breathing. The first few times, Lolo and I thought Florencia was giving her a good hiding; we didn’t do anything, ‘cause one shouldn’t get involved in the way other people bring up their kids.

  One evening we went to their apartment for dinner. The four of us were in the lounge playing cards and the girl started screaming her lungs out. Florencia stayed like a statue and Francisco’s eyes were out on stalks. For a while the four of us just sat there like idiots, not knowing whether to run to the girl’s room or on to the street. When nobody moved, I went to see what was wrong with the poor thing. Ernestina was curled up in a ball in a corner of the room, covering her ears with her hands. She wouldn’t stop screaming.

  ⎯ Tinita, what’s wrong, sweetheart? Ernestina looked at me, but didn’t recognise who I was; she was looking at me but it looked as if she were seeing a dead person. I tried to get closer but she began shouting even louder and hitting at me to make me go away.

  ⎯ Leave her, Natalia. This happens now and then, said Natalia as she came over to me. But I moved a bit closer to the child; I couldn’t bear to see her suffer so terribly. The closer I got, the wider Ernestina’s eyes became; but instead of shouting even louder, she began to calm down little by little until finally I managed to sit beside her. I hugged her tightly. Tinita clung on to me and began to say strange things - something about a dragon that had come in through her window and wanted to take her to somewhere far away, where there were elves, hunchbacks and three-headed women. I was more afraid of what she was saying than her screams. Where could she have got those crazy ideas from? I thought to myself that Florence should forbid her from watching The Munsters, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel and all that awful rubbish they were showing on the tele those days.

  After crying and saying strange things for quite a long time, she calmed down and fell asleep in my arms. That’s when I realised that Lolo, Francisco and Florencia were watching us with their mouths open.

  ⎯ Hey, Cuzzie, I think Tinita is a little unwell, don’t you think? ⎯ said Lolo just for the sake of saying something.

  ⎯ And so said Mickey Mouse, everyone back to their own house ⎯ said Florencia. ⎯ This isn’t a circus, so let’s move on⎯ . She put Ernestina to bed again and made us all go out of the room.

  ⎯ How about one last game, no? ⎯ Sometimes it surprises me how stupid Lolo is. How could he even think about poker after what had just happened?

  ⎯ Another game? You must be joking. We’ll do it another day, Lolo. It’s not a good time right now.

  ⎯ Why not, cuzzie? Tinita’s gone to sleep now and everything’s hunky dory.

  ⎯ Come on, cuz. We’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow, I promise; but Florencia’s right this time. I really don’t even feel like drinking..

  ⎯ It’s not that bad. You guys are blowing things out of proportion. You probably wanna go ‘cos Florencia’s winning.

  ⎯ Stop insisting, for crying out loud. You’re being a real arsehole.

  ⎯ Let’s go, viejo, don’t be mulish.

  ⎯ Who do you think you are calling me a mule?

  ⎯ You’re gonna wake up Tinita. Let’s go, Lolo.

  ⎯ Why are you always against me, eh, Natalia?

  ⎯ No one’s against you, cuz. It’s just better not to get in the way.

  ⎯ Are you saying I’m in the way?

  ⎯ Enough fucking shouting! Get outta here, will you? If you wanna keep on drinking, go to the cantina. We’re all done here, you hear? We’re all done.

  ⎯ You’re not gonna get away with this, Florencia; no one’s gonna make me go anywhere.

  ⎯ Well, I am too. So, come on, get a move on,

  ⎯ Go to hell, you old bag. Let’s go to the cantina, Francisco; and see if we find someone who’ll treat us they way we deserve to be treated.

  ⎯ Francisco ain’t going anywhere; he’s staying here to look after his daughter.

  ⎯ His daughter? Since when is she his daughter? And you’re the first to admit that you don’t know who the father is.

  ⎯ Ernestina is my daughter, whether you like it or not. If I wasn’t fortunate enough to be her father, that’s nothing to do with you, or with anyone else. I was the one who has brought her up and cared for her since before she was born, so you’d better take back what you said and get outta here.

  Lolo was dumbstruck. Francisco had never stood up to him before. It was then that I realised how much Francisco loves Ernestina. Lolo would put anyone down, even Florencia, and Francisco would hold his tongue and put up with Lolo’s jokes and his abuse about Florencia’s past. He could even insult him about his mother and Francisco wouldn’t react. On the other hand, if anyone dared say anything bad about Ernestina, he’d go crazy. He’d get so angry you wouldn’t recognise him - it was scary. I don’t know why he cares so much about that young kid, but he really loves her, that’s for sure. It’s no surprise that after that little episode, Ernestina never said another word.

  61

  Valerio sprays Señora Gertrudis’ recently cut and styled hair. He removes the plastic cape and brushes her neck to get rid of the hairs that might have been left behind. With the hand mirror Valerio shows Señora Gertrudis how her hair looks at the back and from every other angle. Señora Gertrudis nods.

  ⎯ Good, very good. I like it.

  ⎯ Will we see you next week, Doña Gertrudis?

  ⎯ Ay, Valerio! Let’s make it in a fortnight’s time. My husband’s business isn’t doing so well and we’re a bit short. Everyone seems to be affected by the crisis.

  ⎯ You’re quite right, don’t worry. I’ll see you in a fortnight.

  ⎯ Señora Gertrudis opens her handbag very carefully, so as not to ruin her recently painted nails, and takes out the money to pay for the hair cut, the skin cleansing, the waxing, the manicure and the pedicure.

  ⎯ See you later, Valerio, and thank you.

  ⎯ See you, Señora Gertrudis - Señora Gertrudis walks out of the salon without even glancing at anyone else.

  ⎯ The old goat ⎯ says Florencia, her hair full of rollers from the permanent-, she thinks she’s the mother of all dinosaurs. Next time she comes in, Valerio, let me know so’s I can come another day.

  ⎯ Don’t be mean, Florencia ⎯ says Natalia as she leafs through a hair style magazine, ⎯ Señora Gertrudis is a bit of a sour puss, but deep down she’s a good person.

  ⎯ Well, it must be really deep down, ‘cause on the outside she’s a real cow.

  ⎯ She’s not one of my favourite customers, but she’s one of the best ⎯ Valeria checks Florencia’s perm and says, Another ten minutes. She usually comes every Thursday, and twice a week, when she can. Doña Natalia, would you please go with Linda, and she’ll rinse your hair?

  ⎯ How are you going to cut it this time? –Natalia gets up and goes over to the basin.

  ⎯ However you prefer. We can do a new style if you like.

  ⎯ No, let’s stick with the usual ⎯ Natalia sits down and leans back over the wash basin.

  ⎯ A ch
ange would do you good, Natalia ⎯ Florencia dips her hands into the basin of hot water for the manicure ⎯ Enough of the same, boring, old hairstyle, no?

  ⎯ I’d better not, I’m not quite ready for a change.

  ⎯ You’ve been saying that for years. When are you gonna decide to cover up those awful grey hairs and get a more modern hairstyle?

  ⎯ Probably never.

  ⎯ Señora Florencia is right, Doña Natalia. You’d look a lot better with a little colour, blond or light brown perhaps, says Valerio as he brushes Ricarda’s hair.

  ⎯ Why would I want to look better? I spend the whole time cooped up at La Covadonga and my husband isn’t interested in how I look ⎯ . Linda wraps a towel round her head and tells her she can get up.

  ⎯ Someone else might be interested in you... ⎯ Florencia smiles teasingly.

  ⎯ Don’t talk rubbish, Florencia. You know I’m not like that.

  ⎯ You mean, you’re not like me.

  ⎯ I didn’t say that ⎯ Natalia sits in front of the mirror where Señora Gertrudis had been sitting.

  ⎯ But you thought it, which is the same. Anyway, it’s true. I do like to enjoy life.

  ⎯ Yes, Mamá, colour your hair, says Ricarda.- and get a perm for your skanky, thin hair.

  ⎯ Don’t be cheeky, Ricarda.

  ⎯ Well, it’s the bald truth.

  ⎯ Don’t go talking to me like your brothers, ‘cause I’ll punch your teeth in.

  ⎯ You’re kidding me!

  ⎯ So, what shall we do, señora? Are we going to do a new style for you?

  ⎯ No, definitely not. Cut it just the same as usual; and no further arguments. And you, Ricarda, as soon as Valerio has finished fixing you up, go and call your sister and see if she has done what I told her to do.

  ⎯ What was that, Mamita? ⎯ asks Florencia.

  ⎯ She’s forbidden to leave the house on her own at any time, day or night.

  ⎯ What’s that about? Has Lolo infected you with his ridiculous over protectiveness? ⎯ Florencia takes one hand out of the bowl of water, dries it and lights a cigarette. She sticks out her little finger on her left hand so that Linda can start with the manicure.

  ⎯ No, it’s not that. I hate having those two locked up all day, they become impossible.

  ⎯ Aside from the fact that it’s not healthy ⎯ interrupts Valerio, who has finished doing Ricarda’s hair. Ricarda goes towards the telephone, grudgingly.

  ⎯ So, why?

  ⎯ Haven’t you heard about the Ajusco Strangler?

  ⎯ Who, sister? ⎯ Florencia gives a drag on her cigarette; Valerio makes the sign of the cross.

  ⎯ I can’t believe you haven’t heard of him. The whole city is talking about nothing else.

  Ricarda comes back from talking on the phone; she grabs a magazine on the way and sits down in comfort to browse through it.

  ⎯ So? ⎯ asks Natalia, staring at her pointedly.

  ⎯ She says she hasn’t moved an inch.

  ⎯ Did you tell your brother not to take his eyes off her?

  ⎯ Ay, Mamá, you didn’t tell me to ask that.

  ⎯ Well, I already told him anyway.

  ⎯ Go on with the story, Donã Natalia, you have us on tender hooks.

  ⎯ It turns out there is a gang of criminals that steals really young girls, he strangles them and leaves them up in the Ajusco hills.

  Valeria makes the sign of the cross again.

  ⎯ Why are you crossing yourelf, Valerio? The Strangler’s gang isn’t gonna come for you, you can be sure about that. And take these rollers out. Do you wanna leave me looking like a French poodle?

  ⎯ And does he rape them?

  ⎯ You really are morbid. But no. It seems they’re a bunch of sex maniacs from some religious sect or other, a bit like the narco-satanists. Block your ears Ricarda. And they’ve found the bodies with semen all over them, but they’re still virgins. They think it might be some sort of pagan ritual.

  ⎯ What has virginity got to do with semen?

  ⎯ I told you to block your ears, Ricarda, this conversation is not for kids your age. But don’t think that they leave the clothing torn or anything. They’ve found the poor things nicely dressed with their hands crossed over their chest, and even with a bunch of white flower in the hands, like little angels. They’ve found no signs of violence or anything like that. The perverts just strangle them to dead, spray them with their filth and then leave them there. But that’s not all. When they dress them, the degenerates put a woman’s garter on them; that’s why they think it could be some morbid satanic ritual. What slime balls they must be.

  ⎯ The poor things ⎯ says Valerio as he brushes Florencia’s recently permed hair.

  ⎯ Do they know who it is?

  ⎯ Of course not. But they’ve found three bodies in the last three months.

  ⎯ Five ⎯ Ricarda corrects them while still thumbing through her Eres magazine.

  ⎯ How terrible! Damned, miserable bastards!

  ⎯ There’s no doubt, we live in a jungle full of animals. Be a bit more careful with that nail, Linda, it always hurts – says Florencia-. And you, stop pulling my hair, Valerio, I’m not a mannequin.

  ⎯ That’s why I never let my girls go outside, even to the corner.

  ⎯ You’re right, Doña Natalia. You have to really look after them, now more than ever. You don’t want it to be the devil.⎯ Valerio finishes brushing Florencia’s hair and begins to cut Natalia’s -. It’s shocking what’s going on in this country ⎯ Valerio untangles Natalia’s wet hair; he takes out the scissors, concentrates, divided the hair into tufts, cuts, measures, cuts again, measures again.

  ⎯ I’m sick of not being able to go out, even to the dry cleaners, unless one of my brothers goes with me.

  ⎯ Listen to your mamá, Ricardita ⎯ Valerio measures again, frowns, cuts another tuft-, she’s very worried about what might happen to you or to Natalita. These days, no one is safe, not even in their own home.

  ⎯ You exaggerate, Valerio But it’s true, they’re even assaulting people in motels. This whole country is going to the dogs.

  ⎯ They’re going overboard, I reckon.

  ⎯ Stop complaining, child. It’s for your own good. How would you like to be in the hands of those miserable, filthy perverts?

  ⎯ Well no, but this city is very big and there are lots of girls.

  ⎯ Don’t trust your luck, I agree with your mamá ⎯ Florencia chooses blood red nail varnish and hands the bottle to Linda.

  ⎯ How do the police know that it’s that gang?

  ⎯ Because they’re probably in cahoots ⎯ says Florencia as she blows on the recently applied varnish. ⎯ Don’t you know that “police” and “criminal” are synonymous?

  ⎯ According to the newspaper ⎯ continues Natalia, ⎯ they found them because of the samples of semen that they took.

  ⎯ I don’t understand about those scientific developments. How are they gonna know who the murderer is just by the semen?

  ⎯ Through the DNA- Valerio plugs in the hair drier and starts to dry Natalia’s hair. Then he decides to turn it off because no one can hear anything. ⎯ Doxyrubonuculic accid contains all of the genetic information of a person and no one’s is ever the same as someone else’s. It’s like finger prints – one person’s are never the same as anyone else’s.

  ⎯ Don’t tell me they have a directory with everybody in the world’s DNA? ⎯ asks Florencia.

  ⎯ I suppose not, but if there’s a suspect, they’ll take samples and compare them.

  ⎯ Well I hope they hurry up and round them all up pronto, ‘cause I’m sick of being cooped up here.

  ⎯ Poor you ⎯ Valerio turns on the hairdryer again, then turns it off, ⎯ I understand exactly how you must feel ⎯ you’re at an age when you should be having boyfriends, lots of healthy fun ...

  ⎯ Ricarda and Natalia are not at the right age to have boyfriends ⎯ says Natalia, Ricarda smiles. ⎯ What? Don’t tell me you‘ve already
got a boyfriend, girl?

  ⎯ No, of course not ⎯ Ricarda blushes, then turns away and smiles again.

  ⎯ Young kids are a lot worldlier these days, sister, you’d be wise to watch their backsides, unless you want someone else to do it for you.

  ⎯ Sometimes I think that Lolo might be right to be so protective of them.

  ⎯ Ay, Mamá!