The Witch's Market by Mingmei Yip

Author:Mingmei Yip [Yip, Mingmei]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-09-24T16:00:00+00:00

19

The Dancing Widow

As I sat on the rickety bus on my way back to Santa Cruz, my stay in the village already seemed like a fairy tale—the feeling of peace, the two young men, so different like yin and yang in intellect, yet alike in their naïveté and purity.

But as the sage Laozi taught, when things reach their peak, they’ll inevitably begin their decline. So from this seemingly idyllic place I had to return to the messiness of life in the bigger world. I just hoped, despite Father Fernando’s telling me that everyone was leaving, that the village would remain the same, welcoming me with open arms anytime I returned.

At last the bus entered the city, which seemed bustling and noisy. I checked into the same hotel as before, reclaimed my luggage from the bellman, and took a shower. I was anxious to see Sabrina since she was ill, but was too tired for more travel. I ate arroz con pollo, or chicken with rice, with a glass of local white wine in the hotel restaurant, then went upstairs to sleep.

The next morning I went to visit Sabrina and was ushered in by the maid, who whispered to me that I should try to cheer up her mistress, who had been very sad lately.

Sabrina seemed glad to see me as I sat down in the comfortable living room.

“Eileen, I didn’t expect you to come back to see a lonely old woman.”

I looked at her with silent sympathy.

She sighed heavily. “These days I have only my memories, and unfortunately they are all sad.”

“Sabrina, you are not hopeless. And not so old. When things seem bad, life can surprise us.”

“You really believe that?”

I nodded.

“All right, then, let me tell you. The surprise in my life now is that my lover, Diego, has decided to leave me.”

It was pretty obvious that this would happen sooner rather than later, but I still felt sorry for her.

“What happened?”

“He knows that I’m almost out of money, plus I’m getting older and uglier by the day.”

I felt compelled to say something comforting. “Sabrina, you look great.”

“You think so? Then do you want to see me dance?”

I didn’t know what to make of this unexpected offer, but I could not very well say no. “Of course!” I replied.

Looking more animated than I was used to seeing her, Sabrina swiftly disappeared into her bedroom. When she reappeared, she’d changed from her plain black dress into a revealing, red lace one. One of her black lace gloved hands held a castanet, its polished surface sparkling. In her other hand was clasped a black lace fan painted with fiery red roses. In an instant, she’d transformed from a half-alive woman with dead-fish eyes into a vivacious one exuding romance and passion.

“You look beautiful! Am I about to hear Carmen?” I asked.

“Just wait.”

The castanet began to emit crisp, animated sounds like the clacking of ducks. Her legs, shod in black high-heeled boots, gleefully chased and teased each other like a pair of mischievous twins.

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