Matilde

February 5, 1983: The sun was hot and the day was humid, but in the afternoon we went to see Matilde. My Tia had to cover her head with a big black umbrella all the way to that woman´s house.
We didn´t have to stay on the sidewalk long and thank God (or something like it) that her gossip was lightweight. But the answer was still the same as it always was: more money, which translates into more dollars from my mother. I don´t want her to be taken advantage of. My mother, just like my Tia, has had to work hard for her money and this Matilde is just a greedy and mean person.
I´ll ask my Tia to speak with Padre Luis. I can´t speak with him myself because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I´ll be as shy as ever. I get very sensitive and nervous around him.