A Decent Woman by Eleanor Parker Sapia

Author:Eleanor Parker Sapia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Published: 2015-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

El Baile de los Obreros – The Worker’s Ball

ANA SAT ON THE FRONT PORCH, tapping her feet to the percussion-driven bomba and plena rhythms coming from Emilia’s house, which reminded her of many of the traditional Cuban melodies she’d listened to as a young woman. She loved the sounds of the subidor and pandereta drums; the maracas; and the cuá, the sticks played against the drums that echoed through her lively, adopted neighborhood of San Antón. Even the coquíes, the tiny tree frogs, were more quiet than usual that evening, suppressing their raucous songs in honor of the music brought by enslaved Africans to the Caribbean islands. Ana remembered her parents singing the sad, and sometimes angry, messages the lyrics conveyed about the slave’s lives and their living conditions. Tonight, like the Lukumí cabildos in Cuba, San Antón was establishing a sense of community. The dancers and musicians would stay up long into the night, and Ana would enjoy the party at a safe distance. Emilia had invited Ana to attend her party, but she’d gently refused. Despite longing to share in the comradery of the beautiful evening, the last thing Ana wanted was an evening with Jaime and his drunken friends.

Jaime’s daily barrage of verbal abuse toward Emilia had lessened since Ana moved next door, but he still bellowed about the smallest of things. His jealousy was legendary, and Ana soon realized Emilia was an expert at fueling his fire. Ana surmised Jaime hosted parties at home to keep his eye on Emilia, and to lessen the chance of her getting in trouble with other men, since she was busy at home. Emilia was a flirt, and combined with Jaime’s jealousy, it was a deadly combination in Ana’s eyes. Jaime was fine with Emilia sleeping with other men for money, but any socializing without him was out of the question. There was a strong sexual chemistry between Jaime and Emilia, and it was obvious to Ana that Emilia craved the excitement and passion he brought to the relationship—even if passion often ended in violence. It had become clear to Ana that Emilia would never ask Jaime to leave, but at times she’d surprised Ana by turning brave and mouthy when she drank. Then Emilia risked life and limb.

Emilia stepped out of her house onto the large front porch, and waved when she saw Ana. She bounded across the yard, and kissed Ana’s cheek. “Doña Ana, why are you sitting here all alone? Shame, shame, you should be dancing!” Emilia adjusted her skin-tight, canary yellow dress over generous thighs.

“I’m fine here, thank you. I can see what’s going on at your house from where I sit, and I can tell by your soft eyes you’ve had a lot to drink. What are you up to?”

“Oh, that. Shh,” Emilia said, suppressing a giggle with a finger to her lips. “See, Jaime is on his way to getting drunk, and when he passes out; we’re sneaking out to the Plaza.”

Just then, María joined them, her gold tooth glimmering.

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