Sandra´s family

Nothing much happened today. But it was a different kind of nothing much. At least different from the last time I wrote about my typical Saturday.

I got up late this morning, after playing guitar and talking until 1 am last night at Stephanie’s apartment with her and Sandra and an acquaintance named Jorge. After eating a quick breakfast this morning, I went over to Sandra’s and helped her and her mother prepare small plates of boquitas (little snacks) for the inauguration of a new university program in Olanchito that Sandra’s father is associated with. Stephanie joined us a little later, and when we finished wrapping the one hundred plates Sandra’s mother was being paid for, we piled them in a big box and ate everything that was left. Stephanie and Sandra and I sat around her family’s dining room table and talked about our high school days and practical jokes and abortion and assisted suicide. Awhile later, her mother brought out fried chicken and potato salad and rice and mild white cheese for lunch, and we talked some more. We ate slowly, and I washed the dishes afterwards. Stephanie left to visit another friend, but I stayed. Sandra’s brother and cousin and another friend came in from the street, sat in a corner and began to play her brother’s guitar. Sandra ran back and forth between them and the family pulperia (dry goods store) in the front room of the house, singing along with the boys in between attending to customers. Sandra’s mother lounged on the living room sofa with me and told me about her husband’s hope to regain government employment now that the political party he supports has returned to power. After another hour or so of conversation, I finally left. I didn’t have any other pressing engagements, but I wanted to call my parents and run errands before the town shuts down at 6 pm.

I arrived at Sandra’s at 10 this morning, and didn’t leave until 3 pm. When I left, Sandra even invited me to come back tonight. Saturdays are different since I met Sandra. They are longer, and warmer. They aren’t so lonely anymore.