Authors: Mercedes Keyes
Fully changed, she sat combing the tangles from her hair when Cornelius and Alfredo returned after collecting the coins. Alfredo stepped in with his eyes going straight to her. “I think thisa gonna be, you las’ dance. No – no more Goldie. I do’no like the way thesa men…they look at you.” He stated firmly as he put the coins away in the hiding place with their other money.
“
And still, I see two…they stand and wait for you to come out. They ask me, “Who is this girl? What is her name amigo?” I tell them! Don’t you worry – go away!!” He fumed in anger. “No…no more. It is done!”
“
I don’ mind pa-pah. It does not bother me.” She lied. “You know it is dancing, that gives us the most money.” She reminded him.
“
No
– I say no! We’a make it some other way, but’ah no more dance! You no longer, leatle girl; you’ah big girl now; yet – still leatle girl inside. Only – you’ah woman look’ah’like on the ou’side.” He admonished affectionately with a tender pat to her cheek.
“
Now…you’ah got ah, ah ah ah-…” He gulped raising his hands nervously to indicate her breast. Hope stuck out her chest even more. “Breasts pa-pah!” She helped him proudly.
Alfredo gasped shielding his face turning away, nervously nodding his head yes, as he followed it up with, “Yeah yeah yeah-…”
Anna began laughing at her husband’s discomfort, shaking her head, loving him despite his inability to cope with their daughter’s crossing over into womanhood. “And you got ah, ah ah ah-…” He made rounding motions with his hands indicating her hips. Hope’s eyebrows drew up in confusion for this one. “Curves ba-by. Pa-pah say you’ah got nice big heaps.” Anna supplied to help him out. Alfredo sighed, nodding in relief, wilting from the stress of discussing such a thing. Hope shrank back pouting. “I don’t like my heaps I think. They are too big! I wish slim heaps, like some of the women we see in their fancy dress, yes!” She gave a certain nod. Anna laughed at her.
“
Oh my precious one; no no no, be thankful. I see these women, yes. They stuff they dress here…and they stuff it there. They try you see, to make a look like what God, he give t’you!” She laid down her sewing to illustrated the women high born and of fancy garb. Putting her hands on her hips, sticking out her ample bosom with her chin up and out, she turned her nose way up, looking down at them.
They all started laughing, as Cornelius stood outside of the wagon looking in grinning while his mother put on the airs of aristocracy.
“
An’ they walk about, just struttin’ lika they so special; hol’in they breath cause they can’t breathe – no! This meadle they tie up so tight! This why they can’t breathe – …”
“
Ma-mah!?” Hope called out in doubt.
“
I tell you…it is true; this what they do! I see them wit’my own eyes! One I see, she pass out on the street! This fool, they have to cut open her dress, this way…she can breathe!”
Amidst their mirth, she continued to say, “Oh the fat that come rollin’ out! Is no wonder I tell you.”
Shaking her head and smiling, Hope leaned forward putting her arms to her mother’s shoulders, kissing her cheek lovingly. “Ma-mah, they are not s’bad as that.” She grinned with twinkling eyes.
“
Oh yes… I’m telling you, I see this with my own eyes!”
Alfredo looked doubtful, as did a smiling Cornelius.
“
Fine! Don’t believe me – is truth I’m tellin’ you!”
“
Anna-a-a?!” Alfredo stretched her name in disbelief.
“
Pa-pah… she go from here…to there, in one blink!” She said with her hands close, and then widened them to exaggerate her point with a snap of her fingers. Eliciting more chuckles she shifted her shoulders feigning insult with a ‘humph’ and then, “Bah! On you all!! You don’t have to believe me; I don’t care.” She waved her hand in a huff, as Alfredo laughed pulling her over for a kiss to soothe her. “I believe you ma-mah!”
“
Pa-pah…it is not so late, can I please go and look into some of the shop windows? There are so many pretty things…can I please?” Hope asked softly.
“
Emmm, not alone my Goldie; Cornelius and I must see to repairs.”
“
I will be okay pa-pah! I will stay to the busy street. No harm will come to me. Please, I wish to look before we set off once again …ple-e-e-ase?”
Anna looked at Alfredo, who sighed nodding his head. “Alright, alright; but you must stick to where there are people, an-n-nd…wait…here.” He went into their hiding place, removing several coins. “Take this…buy some’ting pretty what you see. Cornelius, come…we must see to thesa wagon wheel to fix.”
“
Oh pa-pah, noooo, we need the money for food and more important things. I wish only to look.” Hope went to hand the money back.
“
No!” Anna covered her daughter’s hand. “You take this money like pa-pah says! Go! Some’ting nice for our pretty Goldie.” She smiled cupping her daughter’s soft cheek. Hope sighed and smiled.
“
Thank you ma-mah.” Elated, off she went.
***
“
Aye, so what you think? I think Miguel will be pleased that we have observed many rich merchants using this bank."
The two young Mexicans, Eugene and Juan stood at the bar in the saloon of the busy French quarter of New Orleans. Its opulent streets filled with the well to do, merchants and poor. Scattered throughout the business district were houses with courtyards, protected by wrought iron gates, giving the owners privacy and security. A cacophony of sounds filled the air, horse’s hooves, carriage wheels and vendors calling out. Dandies accompanied by their fashionably adorned, parasol-twirling ladies, who strolled along, carrying on with their daily affairs. None gave attention to the two loitering about the town paying close attention to the activities of the law and visitors to the bank. Having observed as much as they needed, they now stood working out the details between them.
“
Si si
, I hear!” Juan returned, distracted by his own thoughts.
“
Then answer me! What do you think?” Eugene pressed his companion, who seemed obviously preoccupied.
“
What I think is this my friend. Our
Jefé
would be most pleased with me finally…should I provide for him, the young gypsy that danced so nicely.”
“
Oh ho; so it is there where your mind has stopped!” Eugene chuckled. “Jefé has already forgotten your blundering buffoonery at the last bank.” Eugene assured Juan, who shook his head in doubt.
“
If this is so, why does he yet treat me as if I am an imbecile?”
“
Because you are my friend…you are!” Eugene laughed as he remembered the last bank robbery, when thanks to Juan's roaming eye and lust they were nearly caught.
Eugene shook his head. “And this gypsy…what of her?”
Juan perked up remembering his original plan as a smile came to him thinking of his cousin by marriage. He too had a taste for rare beauties. “I think when I take him such a prize as she, he will forget my blunder. He will be pleased at my thoughtfulness. This is my plan my friend.”
“
Ah I see, and have you forgotten Maria? She will not like this. Miguel belongs to her. What can you be thinking, here you are, her very own cousin, bringing the gypsy for her husband as competition.” Eugene pointed out with an incredulous look.
“
Mirar – Mirar
! (Look) Is he not our leader? Has he not proven his power? His right? His worth as such? Who else conquered Ephraim? Who but he dared to challenge him? No one I say, but Miguel! As our leader, should he not have the best of everything; the choicest wench to tantalize? I tell you, he will have her.”
“
And if…by some chance, he cannot work things out between Maria and the gypsy. Well then, I will have to step in and take her off his hands. You see, I have it all planned.” He smiled and winked at Eugene. “After all…it is my duty! It is the least I can do for my
compadre
. On top of that, have we not seen to spying out all best means to rob this bank? Yes, I feel our
Jefé
will be very pleased!” He finished lifting his drink to his mouth. “We shall see Juan, we shall see.” Eugene chuckled.
***
Hope walked along the boardwalk looking from window to window of the expensive dress shops. In its reflection, she also caught glimpses of women from the elite classes that passed behind her, turning their noses up snobbishly. She ignored their haughtiness and continued admiring the displays.
There was a pair of ankle high button up boots, black and white…with a matching open parasol, gloves and bonnet. She imagined herself wearing them.
The next shop displayed a lovely string of pearls, with matching earbobs beside it. In the same window, was a porcelain doll dressed and made-up to reflect all the finery of the upper class. Closer to the window glass in a bed of white satin, sat a filigree music box. Her hand touched the glass as she wondered at what tune it would play.
The shopkeeper waved at her from the other side of the window, gesturing angrily that she obviously wanted her to move on. Sighing, Hope did so going to the next shop window, stopping there and staring. With a gasp, she was transfixed. Instantly her mind flashed back to a scene so many years ago. Clearly, a vision and words came to her mind. She was a little girl, held in strong arms, looking into just this sort of window. She could see herself so clearly then, when her eyes grew huge and she called.
“Look m’daddy…look! Pretty – so pretty.”
She had gushed.
“Yes it is and it is only fitting that such a dress as that, should be worn by one as pretty as you.”
Her father chuckled. Turning, he looked behind him to a woman who stood with her head bound in a scarf. Her face cast downward in submission and waiting.
“What do you think?”
He asked her. Hope watched her mother’s face lift as golden eyes looked up at her and then to her father.
“You are the child’s father. It matters not what I think master.”
She simpered, an ever so slight smile filled with secrets.
“
So you are right! Come along then wench, don’t tarry…perhaps if you’re good; I shall buy something for you.”
His chest shook as he laughed. The look her mother returned promised retribution…they entered the shop.
Though Hope smiled at the memory, she wiped at a tear. “Oh mama, I remember you. I remember you.” She whispered to herself, her focus back on the dress. Sniffing, she wiped the track of her tears from the other cheek.
“
Now why would such a fetching creature have reason to wipe at a tear?”
Startled, Hope turned to face the man who stood behind her. He had been admiring her as she had the storefront display.
Her eyes glanced up at him, noting his obvious interest in her. She was not impressed as she stared up at the tall man. He looked to be quite a bit older than Cornelius and not half as good looking but he was dressed smartly, with a certain air about him.
“
Who are you, that I should tell such a thing? What do you want?” She asked with drawn eyebrows; immediately suspicious of him, her parents had warned her to be wary and she was.
“
Christopher Mann is my name. I ask such a thing because you are – the most beautiful creature – my eyes have ever seen. Please forgive me if I have offended you.” He answered
, truly captivated by her. Her face held features that were almost perfect. Smooth creamy skin, bright eyes, full lips and an enchanting spirit glowed about her.
With her head tilted, Hope inspected him quizzically; because he was so well spoken she began to wonder. With the constant traveling they did, she rarely chanced to meet anyone like him; as in smart, intelligent, and wondered did this mean, that he could also read? For so long, she wanted to know and understand the meaning of the important papers her real mother Lena had possessed and she now owned. She became determined, as time passed to find any link to her true parents but she had no means by which to start the search. She had no idea or memory of where she came from. All she knew was her father’s name and the first name of her mother.
“
You seem clever in your speech, can you read?” She asked boldly.
By his expression, he appeared obviously taken aback, yet he smiled and answered honestly. “I suppose I am in a sense, and yes, I can read.”
“
On paper, where there is writing…you can read this?” She asked hopeful.
“
As long as it is in English, certainly.”
“
What is it you do for money?” She asked right out. Christopher chuckled thrilled by her. Never had he known such a young woman who looked someone directly in the eye without game or pretense, straight forward and to the point. “I’m an accountant. There are people with large sums of money and I help them to keep up with it, document what they’ve done with it and how it adds up in their books.”
Hope gave that some thought, looking away from Christopher Mann as her mind tossed it about, then looking back at him she stated, “To have so much money, one cannot keep account themselves, is too much money!”
He laughed at her, then nodded, “Perhaps…but I assure you, they don’t see it that way.”
“
No matter that, you will serve me well enough. I too wish to pay you as they do. I have words for you to read and money to pay you…see.” She held up her coin purse for him to look into it. “There is more, if this does not meet your fee. Please…will you read them for me?” She chewed the inside of her mouth nervously waiting.
“
I see. So – you cannot read.”
“
No. But you can, and I will pay you.” She repeated.
“
What is your name young woman?”
“
Goldie…I am Goldie.”