In the time of the butterflies Chapter 10

In the time of the butterflies Chapter 10: Patria Outside the Prison

Day 1: Mama’s house (200) I lost my home, my husband, my son, my peace of mind. The first day was hardest. All I wanted to do was lie down and die. And on the third day ______

Day 3: Mama’s House (201) I got another crucifixion. The SIM came for Mate. Over and over again, I saw the SIM approaching, I saw Nelson and Pedrito hurrying out the back way, Noris’s stricken face. I heard the stomping, the running, the yelling. I saw the house _____. Together Dede and I would pray a rosary. And on the third day, He rose again…

Still Mama’s House (202) In the entryway hung the required portrait of El Jefe. I set up a ____ on the table right under his picture. I wanted something from him. It was from raising children that I learned that trick. Dress them in their best clothes and they behave their best. Mama thought I was putting on a show for the SIM. I wasn’t. I wanted to turn him towards his better nature. Oh Jefe, give me back my son. Take me instead, I’ll be your sacrifical _______.

Days later, Captain Pena Arrives (203) Pena showed up. That man gave me a creepy feeling. The children refused the ____ he offered. When he reached for Minou, all of them ran away. C. P. “The SIM made your husband an offer, but he wouldn’t take it. Don’t you want to know what the offer was? Your husband was offered his freedom and his farm back—if _____” I found Minou digging a hole in the ground and burying all the _____ Pena had brought.

Week 3: First News from Prison (205) Dede and Mama came back from the capital with the “good news” that the girls’ names, along with those of the men and my Nelson, had appeared on the latest list of _________ detained. I arranged his spray of jasmine and stems of gardenias in a vase on the little table. There were moments…______ gathering speed. And on the third day, He rose again.

To Salcedo for Mass (205) None of us expected the Voice of God from Padre Gabriel, a stooge substitute sent in after Padre de Jesus was _____. “All human beings are born with rights derived from God that no earthly power can take away. ” Oh Lord release my son. Let me be your sacrificial _______. With each service, the rumor spread, the crowds grew. ______ agents also started showing up. We could spot them easily. The church had at last thrown in its lot with the people!

Mass: The next two Sundays (207) Sunday after the pastoral, we were visited by a contingent of ________s. She marched off to the SIM to collect whatever her charge was for desecrating. The following Sunday, we arrived for early mass and couldn’t get in the door for the stench. They had come into the church the night before and deposited the contents of ______ inside the confessional.

A Month later, Margarita (208) I had another visitor. Dede and Mama had gone to the capital, then drove out to La Victoria, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girls. There were often sheets and _____ hanging to dry through the bars of windows. It was Margarita, no last name given. The eyes, the brows, the whole look had Mirabel written all over it. She reached in her pocket and offered me a folded ______. “My mother’s cousin works in La Victoria. ”

The Folded Note (209) It was the label off a can of _______ paste. “We’re in Cell #_____, Pavilion A, La Victoria—Dulce, Miriam, Violeta, Asela, Delia, Sina, Minerva, and me. Please notify their families. Send Trinalin and Lomotil. Many kisses to all, especially to my little darling. ” -Mate I ran to get my purse. She looked pained when I offered her the bills. “No, no, we wouldn’t take anything from you. She handed me a card with the name of a pharmacy: “Margarita _____, to serve you. ”

Later that Night (210) Dede, Mama, and I stayed up late preparing the package. Mama thought it would be a mistake to send Mate her good black _____. Dede convinced her. I put some money and our note. Dearest Minerva and Mate, we are petitioning, and God willing, some door will open soon. Mama wrote her own name. I couldn’t keep back my tears.

The Sim is everywhere (212) All night, we smelled their cigarettes in the yard and heard coughs and sneezes. Sometimes we’d call out “_____!” As the days wore on, we began taking our little revenges on them. One night, she set out a thermos full of ice water and a snack, as if the three _____s were coming. They stole thermos and trampled through Mama’s flowers. Mama moved her thorn bushes to to that side of the yard. That night, she dumped Jacqueline’s dirty bath water out into the yard. There was a surprised cry.

Visiting the pharmacy (213) Getting our packet to Margarita took some plotting. I was holding Raulito in such a way that his ______ covered up the package. I handed her the package. Quickly, she slipped it under the counter. The owner of the pharmacy was approaching. “I hope this helps, ” Margarita said, handing me a bottle of _____ to disguise our transaction.

Mama and Dede’s Weekly trip (213) That week, Mama and Dede came back elated from their weekly trip. They had seen a black _____ hanging out of a window of La Victoria! “Look at this!” Jaimito called. “Eight prisoners pardoned yesterday. ” I felt my heart lifting, my cross as light as a feather. Jaimito went on “_______ was listed in the real estate transactions as having bought the old Gonzalez farm from the government. ” “He stole it is what he did, ” I blurted out.

Patria plans to visit Captain Pena (214) Pena owed me was the way I saw it. The next day, I put on the yellow dress I’d just finished and the black heels Dede had passed on to me. I didn’t want Mama or Dede to know about my outing. “Don Bernardo, I need a ride to ______ to Captain Pena’s office. ”

Visiting Captain Victor Pena (216) Captain Victor Alicinio Pena received me right away. “It’s a pleasure to see you, Dona Patria, ” Pena eyeballed me. “What can I do for you? ” Suddenly, it all came out, along with the tears. How I had read about El Jefe excusing minors, how my boy had just turned ______, if there was anything at all Pena could do. “This matter is outside my department” he lied. That’s when it struck me. I had a power stronger than his. Soften his devil’s heart, oh Lord, For he, too, is one of your children.

Pena’s Response to Patria (217) Maybe because I was watching him so closely a funny thing started to happen. The devil I was so used to seeing disappeared, and for a moment, I saw an overgrown fat boy, ashamed of himself for kicking the car and pulling the wings off _______. “Captain, ” I pleaded, ” can you offer me any hope? “It’s in the works, ” he said. “I’ll let you know what I find out. ” I might have lost everything, but my spirit burned bright. Now that I had shined it on him, this poor blind moth couldn’t resist my light. “I’ll pray for you. ” I wanted him to understand that I knew he had taken our _____.

Weeks go by (217 -8) The regime responded with a full-force war against the church. Every day or so, I stopped at the portrait with a fresh flower. “You know that casting out the church won’t do you a bit of good. ”I reminded him of the pardon I asked for. But nothing came through. Only the thought of _______ kept Patria inching along. And on the third day He rose again… The notes kept streaming in. They asked for food. A dozen small _____. For Mate, a blank _______ and pen.

Pena arrives again, Finally (219) Finally, when I’d almost given up hope, Pena arrived at the house in his big showy white ______. “Captain Pena, ” I welcomed him. “Please come inside where it’s cool. ” I realized this visit was as much for him as for me. I’d heard he was having trouble at our place—I will never call that farm something else. Mama would never visit with the monster who had torn her girls from her side. But I knew it was more complicated than that. He was both, ______ and _____, like the rest of us. “I have good news for you, ” he waited for me to gush a little more over him. “Three passes. ” “It should be _______, shouldn’t it? ” “We think we can get [Nelson] in with the next round. ” “And the girls, Captain? ” “They seem to like it in prison. They have refused. ”

The Good news (220) As soon as he was gone, I rushed to Mama’s bedroom and delivered the good news. Mama threw her hands up, “The truth is the Lord has not forgotten us!” “And the girls? ” “We have passes to see them, ” I said. Mama stood up, “And what does the ____ want in return? ” “A sancocho when Nelson comes hom. ” “Over my _____ is that man going to eat in my house, ” Mama hissed.

A Visit to the Capital (224) We made the trip to the capital in two cars. The room was a parlor with _______ chairs no one would dream of sitting on even if invited, which we weren’t. El Jefe entered in a wash of camera flashes. He sat down in an ornate chair on a raised platform. When our turn came, I said “Patria Mercedes Mirabal de Gonzalez, to serve you. ” His bored eyes showed a spark of interest. “So you are one of the Mirabal sisters, eh? ” “Yes, Jefe, I’m the oldest. Mother of Nelson Gonzalez. And we’re very ______ to you. ”

Nelson’s Release (225) A door swung open. A cortege of guards came through, followed by a handful of sorry-looking boys, their _______s visible under their shaven heads, their eyes big and scared, their faces swollen with ____s. Lord, I remember praying, thank you for giving me my son again. I didn’t need to remind Him of what I had offered in return. Still, I didn’t expect Him to come right out and claim it. I heard Him all right, and he called _____.