From Another World by Ana Maria Machado

Author:Ana Maria Machado
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Groundwood Books Ltd
Published: 2013-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

8

Black on White

WE GOT UP VERY late the next morning since we hadn’t gone to bed until sunrise. And we were busy all day helping at the inn, because so many guests came that Saturday. Vera and my mom kept giving us chores.

At the end of the afternoon I was sitting on the porch tying a hook to a pole with a nylon string. I was making a fishing rod for one of the guests’ little kids who wanted to go fishing the next day. Elisa came and sat next to me.

“Everyone is so busy, it looks like my grandmother won’t be able to tell her story today,” she said.

I looked at her, surprised. With all that was happening she wanted Granny to tell her bedtime stories?

“Iaia’s story, the one she promised. Remember?” she explained.

“Of course.” How could I have forgotten? Probably because I had a lot on my mind that day. I was thinking over all the things Rosario had told us.

But Elisa was right. It was impossible that day. Later when she looked for Dona Carlota to remind her of her promise, the old lady said, “Tomorrow, my darling, tomorrow. We can’t today. Tomorrow is Sunday, most of the guests won’t stay overnight. After supper, before you go to bed, we can sit on the porch and talk. Don’t worry, I won’t forget. I’ve been wanting to tell you this story. It’s something you and Leo need to know.”

We didn’t mind. We had a lot to look forward to – a new meeting with Rosario. That is, if she came. But now we knew how to call her. Darkness, total silence in the house, Iaia’s candlestick.

She came.

It was easier this time. Rosario wanted to join us so badly, she began to wander around when night fell. But she didn’t need to cry or moan anymore, because now we knew the power of Iaia’s candlestick, which Rosario herself had used so many times, so long ago, in that exact same place.

After everyone went to bed and the inn was completely silent, we had gathered in the Banana Leaf Saleswoman room, turned off the lights and lit the candle. We sat still, concentrating with all our strength, thinking hard about how we wanted Rosario to appear. We’d admitted to each other that it wasn’t just curiosity anymore. We were sympathetic. We wanted to help, though we didn’t know how. But we were sure there must be a way, and we were going to find it. Rosario herself had suggested an answer when she said she had to tell us everything. But one key piece of the puzzle was still missing – the end of Rosario’s story.

“What happened next is much worse than anything I’ve told you so far. It was truly like hell,” she had announced the night before.

And when a ghost says something like that, you have to believe it. We found out that night. And it was impossible not to agree with Rosario’s description. It was hell.

“What I’m going to tell you today is the story of the end,” she said.

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