Are oc ho in the morning, as breakfast, as I always do, d escorro window curtain, which I can observe from a distance the pavilion 56, where I spent my childhood, and part of my youth. Many memories crowd into my mind, despite having lived a childhood full of limitations.
Inside me, there is a child who refuses to grow, and hold steadfast to this stage of my life. Somehow he manages to erase the negative moments of it. This very special child, which I appreciate, is not well defined age, must have between seven and eleven , and often forces me to roam the halls 55 and 56 of Lota Alto, as if to draw from that neighborhood, the energy needed to continue existing.
. These flags are now old, neglected, lonely, silent, they are a silent witness to a past full of life, noise, laughter, joy and clamor of children. As I meditate on it, things begin to happen, everything seems to come alive, my ears are delighted with what they hear, my eyes do not resist what they see, I feel transported back and I can not resist, I actually left lead, I can see clearly the halls 55 and 56 and amazing!, I am there! shorts, hair disheveled, and with an athletic claim for the lack of buttons, tarnished shoes (actually, I messed a bit, so you do not notice that are new, and avoid being teased). I tell you ... I think it is best to count them he has a much more lucid mind and cooler than mine ... uh ... the better we will do between the two, so I will bring details he has forgotten, or do not want to mention.
I feel anxious, waiting for my dad who went to work at the first turn, must be to reach the mine, where she works, and where I also work when she grows up. Here comes my father!, As always, his face blackened with powder coal, (although there were no showers in the company) rubber even in your head (helmet, always black, as harmonized with the thick darkness of the underground) and its guameco the shoulder, where the charro has and staining. His face betrays the weariness of the day, his look is calm and resigned, although he looks at me earnestly, his eyes can not disguise that he is glad to see me. Step into the kitchen, which is quite apart from the other room, which is what makes up the entire house. Removing the rubber, and Fanam guameco (A kind of scarf around his neck, kind of bag made of flour, which used to wipe the sweat, while in the task of extracting black mineral), then removed his coat (which is always the oldest to work), and promptly sat on a straw chair, without a word, get anxious hands of my mom, porcelain vase, medium liter, with flour (preferably red wine with roasted flour and sugar), slightly moistened lips and closed her eyes and tilting her face up, enjoy the rich flour, and as you do, your throat sounds rhythmically, as thanks for the freshness of this invigorating beverage.
As usual, I have permission to bustle the guameco and remove the stain, rather, what is left of it, because all parents bring you the spot for their children, especially minors, and is very rich. My dad says that the bread, being so long in the bottom of the mine, acquired the gustito so special, like water from the charro (aluminum canteen, herbs usually containing water)
With my staining in hand I go out, savoring the delicious food. OH how nice the neighborhood full of children throughout the pavilion, that beautiful scene, the girls at play, each " the Casinet " others " the ten " ( consisting of hand bouncing a ball rubber against the wall, ten times, initially struck with the palm, then clutching the hand, hit with knuckles, and so, as the game progresses, techniques are being added with a greater degree of difficulty), but there, the smaller play " to leave the lady lady " I can hear them singing and clapping " to leave the lady lady dressed as a sailor, if you have money the charity hope "while singing, one of them, walks between two rows of girls, accompanied with the clapping and holding a special rate, and thinking about who will choose to fill place, and so on. The biggest "jump the line " which are more daring asked to give "chocolate" (he will turn the rope as hard as possible) and the challenger showed his skill and speed in the jump.
games where I participate are varied, entertaining and fun, including: " The paquito drawer", "a round of San Miguel ... - to the round of San Miguel , he who laughs is going to the barracks, which he looks back on the peel-stick " while chanting these verses, the group squatting makes a closed circle and one of us, walking behind the circle with a handkerchief knotted at one end, hit that dares to look back, "the Thinite ", " the bronze horse (my mother has forbidden me to play this game, says it's too dangerous.) The game is a bit more difficult and requires some skill, is the spin . Here in my neighborhood we do in a very particular: the idea is to push a coin or plate and run through papos, and complete turn one of the pavilions, is played as a team, ideally, three per team, usually is not so good with the top, you have to watch the opposing team, avoiding to launch the currency by hand. The run can move the currency of 10 to 50 centimeters or so, but the culmination papo puts it, that depending on the type of spin, and the ability of the player can throw the coin up to 50 meters. In all honesty, to me, usually I had to watch.
While we turn to the pavilion, we passed sinks where washing is fed up ladies, with their paddles in hand, with which give strong blows to the wet clothes, so that it will cleaner, I say. Each with its own space for the task (as does the laundry, own one of the 14 punts, tomorrow is another). It's nice to see them in this work, because they see that they are happy and talking a lot. Speak loudly, so do quietly, when they speak slowly, suddenly all laugh out loud, as they do, some cover their mouths, as if trying to suppress laughter, probably a size to some mischief.
competition Continuing the spin, we passed to the public baths (not bathing), each pavilion has a bath, which serves about six people. I afraid to go there, since that day I was busy and appeared before me, a mouse, brown curiously, staring at me, which scared it off with a shy, but effective "out." However, when the conditions are and no one in the bathroom for the ladies, I like to look at how a large iron vessel, supported by a shaft, receives water from a key that is always open, the fun is , when the container is nearly full, and with the same weight of water, leaning to one side, dropping to force all its contents, dragging everything in its path, and thus keeps the baths clean (this container is only in the women's restroom, but to pour its contents, clean men's too).
Rigo, Rigo, the voice of my mother calling me, "are ready" she says, and I entered the kitchen, take out the basket, a good piece of homemade bread, which break in two, leaving half his pants pocket and the other sirviéndomela, while I take the basket with pine nuts, and to sell away!. Starting from the sale from my house, which is the last of the flag 56 and ending in Hall 55 (between the two pavilions complete a number of 39 homes) shouting "sprockets cosicaliente, pine cosicaliente. " The first pine nuts sold, burned some hands when removing the canister and count, but as it goes on sale, being allowed to cool. I walk the two pavilions with my merchandise and the traditional cry "Pine cosicaliente." Never missing which then tells me my scream: (used the same tone of my opening speech) "to your grandmother is missing a tooth" and as a gesture apparent acceptance of the joke, replied in the same way, "and yours is missing twenty." And so, with the basket more and weighing less, I come full circle, to get to my house, delivering the money from the sale of my mother, who as always keep with great discretion, for when we lack for food in those days that my father runs her hand, and takes the silver "worth" (a very local term to refer to an advance of salary giving every Monday)
Matias Cousino at school, today I learned something new, I made some oblique streaks, each within a square of the arithmetic book, I did a full page.
Leaving school I ran to my house (distance to two or three blocks from school) had to show my mom the book as quickly as possible, but not at home, was in the oven (no more than fifty meters from my house) with some neighbors, hoping to make the bread - Look Mom what I did in school, "he said, looked at me tenderly, then smiled (as long as he smiled, could see a gold tooth that he looked very nice) looked at the notebook and stroking my hair I said aloud (to also hear the neighbors, who previously had given them a knowing look)-but well mijito, you're learning to write, "I was very happy for your comments. At that moment Ms. Elba said, "get ready, the bread is ready. Removing the oven door a few bags and a top brass was revealed that its precious contents and lulos beautiful breads!, with a special gold and the scent, ah, the smell how delicious!
Mrs. Elba is the expert with the paddle, slide it under the bread pulls it out of the oven. And each of the neighbors recognized him, by the brands that previously have. All equipped with cloth (Acts of bags of flour) for receiving the bread, taking the cloth, not to burn your hands and wiping it away, and never fails, which, looking very skilled in the art, hit the pan with knuckles, to ensure, according to the sound it produces, if the cooking the same is or is not ready. And so, baskets well stocked with linens, are filling the precious food. Once the task of taking the bread from the oven, and filled the baskets, cover neatly, so that the bread is kept warm for a while.
To appreciate all this, we must be attentive and very near the scene, so yes, I have learned not to win behind Mrs. Elba, that its task to load and unload the palette (which has a long handle) is always likely that someone gets a hit with the handle; accident that I experienced more than once, and my stature, I always played the slap in the face.
Night falls, and at the corner of the flag 55, is gradually beginning to join a group of young and old, talking animatedly about various topics, especially the film shown that day, either in the theater of high Lota or cinema Lota Laurie low. Others form a group apart, talking football and local competition (our district has two teams: the "Union and the sports club" September 18 "In addition, parties are expected to play between the two pavilions) . A group of four, apart from the rest and get to play brisca, building a focus of public lighting and a coal, that the occasion, is ideal.
is vacation time in the morning going to the pool group (owned by the ENAC, is free) most bathing suits, if not all, are handmade, usually of a vest old moms or sisters, legs go in the sleeves, and a stitch here and there and enjoy the bath! At my age, I'm good for water, they say, and to swim, unlike my friends my age, and even, I launched the trampoline and I'm proud. I should mention the time that I jumped from the springboard, out of the water and saw the "Dapple" with the clear intention of doing the same thing seemed very odd, since he can not swim. Apparently not wanting to be younger than me, the fact is resolutely climbed the diving board and jumped into a dive, I was even more surprised and thought the "Dapple" learned to swim and it was quiet. What happened next left me perplexed, Dapple surfaced with his face submerged in the water with outstretched arms, but did not move, was stunned, I thought, so, like a good boy of the film and without thinking twice, I rushed to her rescue, swimming fast, I approached him, trying take it from where he could, was at that moment, I felt a big hug from Dapple, who squeezed me so hard, he could not free myself, both began to sink, I struggled to break free, but it was impossible, had no more air in my lungs, I thought I was dying, when suddenly, unexpectedly, I felt a hard push on my back, they took me to the shore, I felt I could still take a little breath, ugh, ugh, finally I could hold the tiles of the pool, Dapple was like fainted, lying on the cement, several people wanted to help, you could hear all kinds of instructions, finally appeared the lifeguard , Who had apparently made some breathing exercises and recovered, thank God. Ah, I forgot, these timely and shoving rescuers were caused by my older brother, who acted with alacrity and intelligence (as a child was a dreamer ENAC worked until it closed, but thanks to his perseverance and innovation, today is a Lotina successful businessman, in the area of \u200b\u200bmetalworking, employing over 20 people, an example worthy of emulation)
With a great effort to achieve this little whimsical sleep, which probably sold out, like a child in every sense of the word, with that pleasant fatigue that occurs playing, no major worries, no bad thoughts or anything like it, just thinking about the next day, where you can play and play again at home.
My neighborhood ... oh my beloved neighborhood. In my 55 years of age, I am living in what was once 50 new Hall (demolished), nostalgia comes over me, time can not go back, but for this small, which maintains a constant struggle not to grow.
Today, while doing my job as a postman, (in my childhood, long thought that the only existing work everywhere, was to mine) I often Dapple and meeting with other childhood friends, some professionals, some retirees from ENAC, the majority are grandparents, others have departed.
When crossing my dear Lota, I note with sadness as some of the pavilions are deteriorating day by day. I dream that they are restored and thus keep many like me, these children who live within us and refuse to forget. FIN
Rigoberto Ignacio Acosta Molinet
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