EXCERPT FROM SARA’S JOURNALJanuary 7, 1999
Huerta Santa Maria
Near Galaroza
Javier brings out his tractor and Wilf drives it over to the tree that
fell in the last great storm. Edwin rides along in the trailor. Javier cuts the tree with
a very sharp axe. The tree is spongy inside – no good for the fire.
Javier takes us for a short walk on the track that leads to Galaroza.
He says the walk is a good one for the children because it is short, and we can carry
Edwin. He finds chestnuts in the leaves and cuts them open for Wilf. He picks branches,
and collects a discarded plastic bottle, and points to a hollow tree where his children
built a treehouse. He tells us how this track used to be part of a mining road, that there
was silver here, that it was the main road from Portugal to Seville. He talks about the
plants and the tree that needs an insect to lay its eggs in the fruit in order for it to
survive and grow. Javier talks about symbiosis. Tomorrow he is going to give a
talk about ecological farming. Javier tells us about the stream, and how it fills up in
the spring and one can hear the rushing water from our bedroom. From the hillside, within
the trees, we can see Santa Maria. It glows orange with its bricks and tiles.
Wilf is very helpful with the woodstove. Rich tears the paper and
stuffs the leaves into the bottom. Wilf collects the smallest sticks and lays them on the
paper. The match is lit and dropped, then they add larger sticks. Wilf loves the stove,
and the stick collecting, and the warmth of the fire.
Edwin is spurting words. They come our forcebly, with great effort,
like an explosion. He listens to Wilfred, who is four, and repeats the words and phrases.
He dribbles gob and gobs drool. He watches everything. Edwin is fearless and Angela and I
turn grey at the edge of the swimming pool. The pool is a ecology of algae and leaves and
sticks.
Javier looks at my engagement ring and says it is muy bonita. He
tells us that he was married at 20 and had his first child at 24. We don’t know where
Javier’s wife is. She doesn't live here. He tells us that she taught for 15 years. He
speaks of his children a lot. He wrestles and kisses his dog. In the yard, under the shade
of tree, is a rough stone. It says Zara.
