In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

 THE RECoLLECTIoN oF THAT FIRST DAy AND NIgHT RELEASED manyfragmentarymemories:thesoundsofhandsslappingtortillasand the smell of the tortillas roasting over an open fire; the feel of a horse between my legs, running full out; a face of death staring up at me. I sat in a daze and let the images continue rather than think about the meetings and problems I would have to address at work the next day. I had slept all day and was not ready to go back and sleep more. My head was still a little cloudy, but I remembered what had happened at the clinic the second day. It all came back: the next day, the next week, and beyond. My second day at the clinic began with the appearance of a man with one arm, who entered the clinic and started to sweep the floor. “Buenos días,” he said, laughing as he moved his broom back and forth in front of me. “Buenos días,” I answered tentatively, standing protectively in front of the baby. “It’s just Loli,” said Carl, who had walked up behind me. “Loli lost his arm in an accident. He helps out here at the clinic, like several of our former patients. He’s harmless.” “Loli no speak English,” said Loli. “only sing a song. I be working on the railroad. All de liblog day. you like my song?” He smiled, showing a mouth with three scattered teeth. I smiled back. Carl examined the baby for a few minutes and then nodded to me. “oK, let me find a place for you to sleep. I think Ricardo and Rosa chapter three  • david p. sklar are expecting you. The baby is better, so we all need to rest.” Carl’s eyes were bloodshot, and he was in the same clothes he had worn during the night. We walked over to the house next door. A blue-eyed man with a three-day growth of beard shook my hand. His head looked small, perched upon broad shoulders and a deep chest. “Ricardo Montes, a sus órdenes,” he said solemnly, as if presenting himself for duty to a commanding officer. “Pase.” He motioned me into his house. He walked with his legs bowed out, as if he had been riding for days. His heels clanged with silver spurs. His wife, Rosa, grinned at me as she extended her hand in welcome. My hand was still throbbing from her husband’s handshake when I squeezed her hand. Rosa had a soft, pearshaped body loosely covered by a tan dress. Long black hair pulled back and twisted into a braid topped her round, dimple-cheeked face. Her clear, deep brown eyes examined me as if I were a new piece of furniture shipped from a great distance. She and Carl conferred in rapid Spanish before she led me into a room with a cot against the wall. A window with wooden shutters and metal bars opened out into an alley that adjoined the clinic. “Muchas gracias,” I said and moved toward the cot—made up with a sheet and a light cotton blanket—before I could notice my hunger . I was asleep in minutes in spite of the noises of horses trotting and people talking in the street. It was a jagged sleep. I would wake up, feel hungry, have no idea where I was, and then fall back asleep. Hours later, as the daylight was fading, Rosa knocked at the door and motioned me to follow her. She walked with a gliding, shuffling gait across the dirt floor. I followed her into a dim, lantern-lit room furnished with a table and chairs. This was the kitchen and dining room. Rosa began smacking and patting at dough in a stone bowl and placed it on a flat surface over a smoky wood fire. I gulped down watery beans with steaming tortillas. The tortillas had a grainy, rich taste almost like hot whole wheat pancakes. There were no utensils. I used the tortillas as rudimentary spoons and dripped bean juice on the table. No one else was eating with me, though I knew Rosa and Ricardo had six children. Later I learned that it was their custom to eat in shifts. Usually, I would be invited to eat with Ricardo. But for this first dinner , I was alone, too tired and disoriented to ask questions. I just ate and returned to my room where I resumed my bizarre dreams. When [18.226.187.199...

Share