Different Flags by Eugenia Renskoff

Different Flags, a book by Eugenia Renskoff, tells the story of 26-year-old Ani. Ani leaves her comfortable but stifling life in San Francisco to travel to Argentina to comfort her widowed Aunt Esther. Once back in her native country, Ani must face her unexpected feelings of love for Padre Luis, her aunt's young and handsome parish priest. Different Flags is a study of Ani's inner conflict.

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Name:
Location: New York, New York, United States

I am a writer, translator and teacher of Spanish and English to foreign students. I have been writing since I was six. I love to express myself through words. I have also traveled widely.

Friday, June 30, 2006

That Look!

August 14, 1985: Who knows where I first startedto notice that look, that soulful look that Luis has. Probably with hin, when I met him over 2years ago.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Al Pacino

August 17, 1985: Sometimes Luis would remind me of Al Pacino, at least a little bit. Lots of sex appeal--just what I always liked without realizing it.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

All

August 10, 1985: I have a lot of time to think. Too much. My little English lessons are nothing to make a living at. That worries me because it means less money for my Tia and me. My mother in California is not an option. I would rather not ask her anymore. Or have her send us a check or two.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Letter

August 7, 1985: Another letter from San Francisco asking that I get back there ASAP. Makes me nervous.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Life

August 6, 1985: It would be even more clever if I could have a real better life with my Tia! That would be a treat! This neighborhood is not warm and cozy like San Vicente. It is impersonal, and that is the last thing she needs, especially now.

Friday, June 23, 2006

Over

August 3, 1985: If I could forget, if I didn´t write his name over and over again anywhere and everywhere.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Romantic

August 1, 1985: The San Francisco experience to help me figure out (from a safe distance) that I must be a romantic because weather affects my mood like nothing else does. Imagine that.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Think

July 29, 1985: Stress. I think a lot about stress now. More than necessary, many what´s needed in this situation that my Tia and I are going through.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

On

July 26, 1985: I am on. I am running a show for the benefit of my Tia´s health. I am pretending everything´s fine, nothing can ever go wrong again in our small, innocent world.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Church

July 24, 1985: I cannot fight the Church all nby myself. Besides, that is not the entire problem. It is not that simple. There is us, Luis and me, alike in many ways but so different in others.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Many Things

July 20, 1985: Dia del Amigo today in Argentina. No, Luis and I are not friends. What are we? After what we talked about I am not sure. His vocation. Yes, I know all about it, and it should matter to me, but it does not. What about my feelings? What about his feelings? Are they not important?

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Happened

July 19, 1985: I am too numb to do anything but stare at the wall in our bedroom. I met with Luis, that´s all >I can say right now.

Friday, June 16, 2006

New Try

July 17, 1985: Well, it was the best I could do. I called and left a message with his secretary for Luis to call me.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Postponment

July 10, 1985: Just when I was about to call Luis, my Tia needed me. She was not feeling well and I went to sit by her feet on the bed. The same matrimonial bed we had back in San Vicente. The dark brown wood, all shiny, the old fashioned bedspread.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Not

July 8, 1985: He wasn´t in. Just when I got up enough courage to call Luis, he was not not available. I will try again when my Tia isn´t home. No use explaining things to her.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Will

July 6, 1985: Might as well call Luis and see what he wants. There is no need to be afraid. After all, he can´t harm me in any way, shape or form.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

New Call

July 4, 1985: When I came back from one of my students, my Tia told me that Luis had called and asked to speak with me. She was about to ask me questions, but I said something about wanting to eat a sandwich with a cup of tea. What does he want? Why am I still afraid to face him? I know it is not because of the collar around his neck. That is the least of my worries.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Child

July 1, 1985: Figuring out what to be is a dirty little thing. orse than I imagined it because it makes me feel like a child, a stupid and dumb little kid.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Maybe Not

June29, 1985: Maybe this translator thing is not such a good idea. My Tia and I need money so we won´t depend on my mother´s dollars so much. That is what I have to keep in mind--to stand on my own two feet and take care of our little family.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Translating

June 28, 1985: Translating would be the way to get both my Tia and I more money. Problem is, they want their workers young here. But, 28 years old is not exactly ancient. Sometimes I do feel that and more, but Thank Something. I don´t look it.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Call

June 28, 1985: Why talk to Luis? He called this afternoon, but I asked my Tia to tell him I was somewhere. Does not matter where. There is nothing to discuss.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Passion

June 21, 1985: Passion. With Luis I discovered what a passionate woman I really am. That is why I do not want to think of him as a priest. It was not religion that made me feel all that I did. Nowhere near religion.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

No!

June 21, 1985: Not my Tia, too! Not stress for her! She drops things, she cannot finish her cafe con leche, she does not care anymore.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Nasty

June 18, 1985: A nasty little thing called stress, a thing that makes my stomach jump around, that causes me to swallow hard every time I am faced with a difficult situation--like my Tia´s health, like my own frustration here in Argentina.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Building

June 6, 1985: Building something better, something for me and my Tia. In spite of the fact that I feel like a foreigner here, in my country of origin. In spite of Luis not being near me anymore. This is what I´ve got here, what I can work with.