Return to Eden
Mother and daughter were inseparable.
Once they’d finished the housework, they would go out to pick up the neighbors’ washing.
Antonia had left school very young; she was more useful helping her mother. So she didn’t know how to write and could barely read.
Up on the rooftop terrace, between loads of laundry, Carmen instructed her daughter. A WOMAN SHOULD WORK TO HELP HER FAMILY.
BUT ONLY UNTIL SHE MARRIES.
AFTER THAT, HER JOB IS TO TAKE CARE OF HER HUSBAND.
Antonia adored her mother.WE’LL FIND SOMETHING FOR YOU. MENDING, LIKE YOUR SISTER VICENTITA. A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SEW.
IN A FEW YEARS I’LL TAKE YOU TO SEWING LESSONS. WE’LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIND THE MONEY.
AND WHEN YOU GET MARRIED...
IF YOU’RE FINISHED WITH THAT, BRING IT HERE.
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, MARRY A HARD WORKER.
AND DON’T MARRY A BRUTE.
LATER, WHEN GOD SEES FIT, YOU WILL GIVE HIM CHILDREN.
COMING.
ABOVE ALL—AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING—ENTER MARRIAGE THE SAME AS GOD BROUGHT YOU INTO THE WORLD.
OTHERWISE, NOBODY WILL WANT YOU. I DON’T WANT TO END UP AN OLD MAID.
WELL, BE CAREFUL WITH MEN, THEN.
REMEMBER?
OH, GOD! THEY’RE IN THERE! ssssTHEY’RE IN THERE!
THE SIREN! COME ON, COME ON!
BUT, MOTHER…
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE SHELTER.
VICENTITA, THIS WAY.
Carmen suffered from claustrophobia. She couldn’t bear shelters crowded with people.
NO, NOT THE SHELTER. COME.
Her biggest fear was to die buried inside one.
HELP!
OH, GOD! THEY’RE IN THERE, ssgTHEY’RE IN THERE!
OH, MY GOD!
That bomb is all Antonia remembered of the war. She managed to erase everything else, but she could never forget that woman’s screams.
