Page 461 - Microsoft Word - Belicena respaldo

my journey. –He is very near from here, in the Province of Catamarca. I’ve never visited him
because he prohibited it expressly although he gave me the direction for a case of emergency.

I gave her a card and the pen, checking that my mother had memorized the address.

–In these 35 years you’ve not seen nor written him? –I asked incredulous.

She smiled while was giving me back the card and the pen.

–Yes silly. We’ve seen him with my father some few times, in Salta once and in Buenos
Aires, for holidays. But we never wrote him. He writes us two times a year, to a Mailbox that
your father has in Cerrillos and tells us when he’ll go to Salta, occasion that we utilize to meet a
few hours. They don’t reach to twenty the times that I’ve seen him during all these years.

It was difficult for me to believe that two separated brothers by just 350 km. could not
visit each other for reasons that nobody remember, occurred forty years ago and at thousands
of miles of distance. Nevertheless I justified the fears of my mother and I comprehended the
effort that she had to do to yield to my request and confirm me her secret.

Suddenly I remembered my Father and I trembled in advance, calculating the rage that
would feel at knowing my impertinence. Mom would not hide him my thoughtless requests and
he’d fly off the handle. The shame covered me and I should have to swear to no go to
Catamarca. I decided to avoid any discussion and leave immediately.

I kissed my Mother in the brow and I went to the car. She didn’t notice my hurry
because before I put the motor in march she screamed:

–Wait, Arturo; wait some minutes that I’ll give you something.

She entered in the house and even for my impatience; I had to wait ten large minutes.
Finally she came back with a letter in the hand.

–I wrote some lines for Kurt. You’re so hasty that you don’t think that he doesn’t know
you. He saw you five minutes when you were a child, how do you think that he’ll remember
you?

She gave me the letter that I received gratefully due to, I admitted, it’d be of great help
to identify myself.

–Open the right hand and put the palm upwards –said Mom with air between
mysterious and accomplice.

461