In the Time of the Butterflies

Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception
Saint’s Day of our school!
Dear Little Book,
Minerva gives you to me today for my First Communion. You are so pretty
with a mother of pearl cover and a little latch like a prayerbook. I will have such
fun writing on your tissue-thin pages.
Minerva says keeping a diary is also a way to reflect and reflection deepens
one’s soul. It sounds so serious. I suppose now that I’ve got one I’m responsible
for, I have to expect some changes.

Sunday, December 9
Dear Little Book,
I have been trying to reflect, but I can’t come up with anything.
I love my new shoes from my First Communion. They’re white leather with
just a little heel like a grownup young lady. I practiced a lot beforehand, and I
must say, I didn’t wobble once on my way to the altar. I was so proud of myself.
Mama and Dedé and Patria and my little nephew Nelson and my little niece
Noris came all the way from Ojo de Agua just to watch me make my First
Communion. Papa couldn’t come. He is too busy with the cacao harvest.

Wednesday, December 12
Dear Little Book,
It is hard to write in you here at school. First, there is hardly any free time
except for prayers. Then, when I do take a minute, Daysi and Lidia come up
sneaky and grab you. They toss you back and forth while I run after them trying
to catch you. Finally, they give you back, giggling the whole time like I’m being
silly keeping a diary.
And you might not know this, Little Book, but I always cry when people
laugh at me.

Feast Day of Santa Lucia
Dear Little Book,
Tonight, we will have the candle lighting and all our eyes will be blessed on
account of Santa Lucia. And guess what? I have been chosen to be Santa Lucia
by all the sisters! I’ll get to wear my First Communion dress and shoes all over
again and lead the whole school from the dark courtyard into the lit-up chapel.
I have been practicing, walking up and down the Stations of the Cross with a
blessed look on my face, not an easy thing when you are trying to keep your
balance. I think saints all lived before high heels were invented.

Saturday, December 15
Dear Little Book,
What does it mean that I now really have a soul?
All I can think of is the picture in our Catechism of a valentine with measles.
That is the soul when it commits mortal sins. Venial sins are lighter, like a rash
instead of measles. A rash that goes away even without Confession if you say an
Act of Contrition.
I asked Minerva what it means to her, having a soul. We had been talking
about Daysi and Lidia and what I should do.
Minerva says a soul is like a deep longing in you that you can never fill up,
but you try. That is why there are stirring poems and brave heroes who die for
what is right.
I have that longing, I guess. Sometimes before a holiday or a birthday party, I
feel like I’m going to burst. But Minerva says that’s not exactly what she meant.

Sunday, December 16
Dear Little Book,
I don’t know if you realize how advanced I am for my age?
I think it’s because I have three older sisters, and so I’ve grown up quick. I
knew how to read before I even started school! In fact, Sor Asunción put me in
fourth, though really, I should have been in third with the other tens.
My penmanship is also very pretty as you will have noticed. I’ve won the
writing prize twice, and I would have this week, too, but I decided to leave some
i’s undotted. It doesn’t help with the other girls if you are best all the time.
At first, Mamá didn’t even want me to leave home. But she agreed it made
sense for me to come since this is Minerva’s last year at Inmaculada
Concepción, and so I would have family here to look after me my first year.
Don’t tell anyone: I don’t like it here that much. But after we talked Mama
into letting me board, I have to pretend. At least, Minerva is here with me even if
she sleeps in another hall.
And you are here with me too, my dear Little Book.

Thursday, December 20
My dear Little Book,
Tomorrow, Minerva and I take the train home for the holidays. I can’t wait!
My soul is full of longing all right.
I long to see Papa, whom I haven’t seen in three whole months!
And my rabbits, Nieve and Coco. I wonder how many new ones I have?
And Tono and Fela (they work for us) making a fuss over me.
And my room (I share with Minerva) with the windows you throw open on the
garden with its bougainvillea arch like the entrance to a magic kingdom in a
storybook.
And to be called Mate. (We’re not allowed nicknames here. Even Dedé was
called Belgica, which no one has ever called her.)
I guess I will miss some things here.
Like dear Sor Milagros who always helps me braid my hair with ribbons. And
Daysi and Lidia who have been so nice lately. I think it helped that Minerva had
a talk with them.
But I will NOT miss waking up at six and early morning Matins and sleeping
in a big dormitory hall with rude sleepers who snore and Rest & Silence every
day and wearing a navy blue serge uniform when there are so many nicer colors
and fabrics in the world.
And the chocolate not made with enough chocolate.

Sunday, December 23
Home!
My dear,
Minerva explained everything to me in detail and with diagrams as we were
coming home on the train. I was not one bit surprised. First, she had already told
me about cycles, and second, we do live on a farm, and it’s not like the bulls are
exactly private about what they do. But still, I don’t have to like it. I am hoping a
new way will be found by the time I am old enough to be married.
Oh dear, everyone is calling me to come see the pig Tio Pepe brought for
tomorrow’s Christmas Eve party.
To be continued, Little Book.

Later
Back to the train coming home. A young man started following us around,
saying Minerva was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. (She’s always
getting compliments when we walk on the street.)
Just as Minerva and I were going to sit down, this young man dashes forward
and wipes our seat with his handkerchief. Minerva thanks him, but doesn’t really
give him the time of day. At least not the time he wants, which is the invitation
to sit with us.
We thought we’d gotten rid of him. We were riding along, the thing lesson
being done, and here he comes again with a cone of roasted cashews he bought
for us at the last stop. He offers it to me, although I’m not to accept tokens from
strange men either.
And yet, and yet … those cashews smell so yummy and my stomach is
growling. I look up at Minerva with my sad puppy dog look, and she gives me
the nod. “Thank you very much,” I say, taking the cone, and suddenly, the young
man is sitting to my left, and peering at the lesson on my lap.
“What a lovely drawing,” he says. I could have died! There it was, the thing
and its two balls. Minerva and I giggled so hard, I started choking on a cashew,
and the young man smiled away, thinking he had said something very clever!

Christmas Eve
My dearest, darling Little Book!
I am so excited! Christmas and then New Year’s and then Three Kings—so
many holidays all at once! It is hard to sit still and reflect! My soul just wants to
have fun!
My little niece and nephew are staying through Three Kings’ Day. Yes, at ten,
I am an aunt twice over. My sister Patria has those two babies and is pregnant
with a third one. Noris is so cute, one year old, my little doll. Nelson is three and
his is the first boy’s thing I’ve seen close up, not counting animals.

First Day of 1946
Little Book,
I pulled out Regular from under my pillow for my New Year’s fortune. Mama
frowns that this isn’t allowed by the pope, but I have to think fortunes really do
tell the truth. My first day of the year wasn’t Good and it wasn’t Bad, just
Regular.
It started out with Patria scolding me for telling Nelson ghost stories. I know
that Patria is pregnant and not feeling all that well. Still, doesn’t she remember
she used to play Dark Passages with me when I was only four?
And it was Fela who told me the zombie story. I just repeated it.
It takes the joy out of making my resolves, but here they are.
Resolves of Maria Teresa Mirabal for 1946:
I resolve not to scare Nelson with scary stories.
I resolve to be diligent with my tasks and not fall asleep when I say my
prayers.
I resolve not to think of clothes when I am in church.
I resolve to be chaste, as that is a noble thing to do. (Sor Asunción said we
should all resolve this as young ladies in the holy Catholic and Apostolic
church.)
I resolve not to be so tenderhearted as even Minerva says crying will bring on
prematuring wrinkles.
I think that is enough resolves for a regular year.

Friday, January 4
Dearest Little Book,
We went all the way to the shops in Santiago. They were swamped. Everyone
shopping for Three Kings. We had a list made up with things we needed. Papá
had given me some money for helping him out at the store. He calls me his little
secretary.
I talked Mamá into letting me buy another pair of shoes. She didn’t see why I
needed a second pair since she just got me my First Communion ones. But these
newest ones are patent leather, and I have always wanted patent leather shoes. I
must admit Minerva helped with some of the convincing.
Minerva is so smart. She always finds ways around Mama.
Like today, Minerva found this cute red-and-white checkered swimsuit with a
little skirt. When she went to buy it, Mamá reminded Minerva of her promesa.
Last night at dinner, Minerva announced that this year she’s giving up
swimming in our lagoon in exchange for divine help in becoming a lawyer.
Minerva drops hints as big as bombs, Papá always says.
“I don’t plan to use it,” Minerva explained to Mamá. “But how can my
promesa have any bite unless I have a pretty suit to tempt me?”
“You are going to argue with Saint Peter at the gate,” Mamá said. But she was
smiling and shaking her head.

Saturday, January 5
Dear Little Book,
Cousin Berto is so dear. His older brother Raúl, too, but Berto is especially
special-minded, if that is a word.
Yesterday when Tía Flor was up with the boys, Mama was bemoaning that her
rose bushes were so scrabbly and saying she wasn’t going to be seeing much of
her favorite flowers this year. Right after breakfast this morning, Berto appears
with a big basketful of the most beautiful roses for her he had picked himself.
Tia’s garden has been blooming every variety. Berto had arranged them so
specially in the basket. He had picked them with long stems too. Isn’t that
unheard of for a boy?
The whole house is as sweet as a perfume shop this morning.

Three Kings Day
Dear Little Book,
I had such a time deciding between the patent leather and white leather for
church today. I finally settled for the white pair as Mamá picked those out for
my First Communion, and I wanted her to feel that they were still my favorites.
Afterwards at Three Kings dinner with all the uncles and cute cousins, there
was a funny little moment. Tío Pepe reminded us of the big parade next Sunday
for Benefactor’s Day, and Minerva said something like why don’t we go
celebrate at the cemetery. The room went silent as a tomb, all right.
I guess I do have a reflection. Why should we celebrate Benefactor’s Day in
the cemetery? I asked Minerva, but she said it was just a bad joke, forget she
said so.

Benefactor’s Day
My dear Little Book,
We’re expecting Tio Pepe any moment. He is coming in the old wagon and
taking us to the celebrations in Salcedo. After the parade, there’s going to be
recitations and a big party over at the town hall. Papá is going to say the speech
for the Trujillo Tillers!
This time I’m inaugurating my patent leather shoes and a baby blue poplin
dress with a little jacket to match. Patria made them for me with fabric I picked
out.
While we’re waiting, I am taking these few minutes to wish El Jefe Happy
Benefactor’s Day with all my heart. I feel so lucky that we have him for a
president. I am even born the same month he is (October) and only nine days
(and forty-four years!) apart. I keep thinking it shows something special about
my character.

Monday, January 14
Dear best friend Little Book,
Back at school after the holidays, and I am so homesick. Really, I am writing
to keep myself from crying.
Daysi is now best friends with Rita. They both live in Puerto Plata, so they
became best friends over the holidays. Maybe Lidia will be my best friend now.
She is not coming back until after the Virgencita’s feast day on the 21st as her
whole family is making the pilgrimage to Higüey.
We are having Rest & Silence before lights-out. We must keep quiet and not
visit with each other, but think only of our immortal souls.
I am so tired of mine.

Monday February 18
Dear Little Book,
This morning without warning, I was summoned to the principal’s office, and
my heart dropped when I saw Minerva there, too. At first, I thought someone
had died in our family until I noticed Minerva eyeballing me as if to say, watch
what you say, girl.
Sor Asunción comes right out and says your older sister has been caught
sneaking out of school. Then, before I can even put that in my head, she asks me
if our Tio Mon, who lives in La Vega, is ill, yes or no. I take one look at
Minerva’s sick-looking face and I nod yes, our Tío Mon is ill, and then I invent
with sarampión, last I heard.
Minerva’s face recovers. She flashes our principal an I-told-you-so look.
I guess I even improved upon her lie. Now Minerva could explain her
sneaking out. Sarampión’s so contagious, the sisters would’ve never let her visit
if she’d asked.

Thursday, February 21
Dear Little Book,
I’ve been worrying about Minerva sneaking out and lying about Tío Mon.
Today, after our courtyard rosary, I cornered her behind the statue of the
Merciful Mother. What is going on? I asked, but she tried to brush me off with a
joke, “Now, little sister, you don’t want us to talk behind the Virgin’s back, do
you?”
I said yes, yes I do. So Minerva said I was too young to be told some things.
That made me angry. I told her that if I was going to commit a Mortal sin, as
lying to a religious can’t be Venial, the least Minerva could do was tell me what
I was risking my immortal soul for.
She seemed pretty impressed with my arguing back at her like that. She’s
always telling me to stand up for myself, but I guess she didn’t figure I’d stand
up to her.
She promised to tell me later when we can have a more private conversation.

Sunday, February 24
Little Book,
The whole school went to the Little Park of the Dead today. Minerva and I
had a chance to talk and she told me everything. Now I am worried to death
again. I swear my older sister will be the death of me!
It turns out she and Elsa and Lourdes and Sinita have been going to some
secret meetings over at Don Horacio’s house! Don Horacio is Elsa’s grandfather
who is in trouble with the police because he won’t do things he’s supposed to,
like hang a picture of our president in his house. Minerva says the police don’t
kill him because he is so old, he will soon die on his own without any bother to
them.
I asked Minerva why she was doing such a dangerous thing. And then, she
said the strangest thing. She wanted me to grow up in a free country.
“And it isn’t that already?” I asked. My chest was getting all tight. I felt one of
my asthma attacks coming on.
Minerva didn’t answer me. I supposed she could see that I was already upset
enough. She took both my hands in hers as if we were getting ready to jump
together into a deep spot in the lagoon of Ojo de Agua. “Breathe slowly and
deeply,” she intoned, “slowly and deeply.”
I pictured myself on a hot day falling, slowly and deeply, into those cold
layers of water. I held on tight to my sister’s hands, no longer afraid of anything
but that she might let go.

Monday, February 25
Dearest Little Book,
It is so strange now I know something I’m not supposed to know. Everything
looks just a little different.
I see a guardia, and I think, who have you killed. I hear a police siren, and I
think who is going to be killed. See what I mean?
I see the picture of our president with eyes that follow me around the room,
and I am thinking he is trying to catch me doing something wrong. Before, I
always thought our president was like God, watching over everything I did.
I am not saying I don’t love our president, because I do. It’s like if I were to
find out Papá did something wrong. I would still love him, wouldn’t I?
Sunday, March 3
Oh dear! Little Book!
Tio Mon appears today for visiting hours with some letters and a parcel for us,
and almost the first words out of Sor Asunción’s mouth are “And how are you
feeling, Don Ramón?” I just about died of flabbergastedness, if that is a word.
Minerva, who is much quicker on her feet, just hooked her arm in his and
whisked him away saying, “Tío Mon, a nice stroll will do you good.” Tío Mon
looked a little confused, but Minerva had him through the arm as well as around
her little finger, so off he goes.
About the letters he brought me. Dear Little Book, here I am ten years old and
already getting beaus. Berto wrote again. I’ve shown Minerva all his letters and
she smiles and says they are “sweet, boyish letters.”
I confess I didn’t show her his last one.
It’s not that it was mushy, but I felt sort of shy about it. Berto wrote so
sympathizingly about my homesickness and signed himself, “your Stronghold.”
I do like the sound of that.

Tuesday, April 30
Dearest Little Book,
This new friend of Minerva‘s, Hilda, is really rude. She wears trousers and a
beret slanted on her head like she is Michelangelo. Minerva met her at one of her
secret meetings at Don Horacio’s house. Very soon this Hilda was always at
Inmaculada. I think the sisters felt sorry for her because she is some kind of
orphan. Rather, she made herself an orphan, I am sure. Her parents probably just
died of shock to hear that girl talk!
She says the most awful things like she isn’t sure God exists. Poor Sor
Asunción. She keeps giving Hilda little booklets to read that will explain
everything. I’ve seen what happens to those little booklets the minute our
principal turns her back. The nuns have let her get away with her fresh ways for
a while, but today, they finally put their foot down.
Sor Asunción asked Hilda if she wouldn’t like to join us for Holy
Communion, and Hilda said that she liked a heartier menu!
So, she was asked to leave and not come back. “She has a very poor attitude,”
is how Sor Asunción explained it, “and your sister and her friends are catching
it.” Although I hated to hear anyone criticize Minerva, I had to agree about
Hilda.

Friday, June 27
My dear secret Little Book,
All week guards have been coming in and out, looking for Hilda.
Minerva has told me the whole story.
Hilda appeared a few nights ago at Inmaculada wanting to hide! What
happened was she hid some secret papers in the trunk of a car she borrowed, and
she ran out of gas on the highway. A friend came to pick her up, and they got
some gas in a can at a station, but when they were on the way back, they saw
police swarming around the car. The trunk was pried open. Hilda got her friend
to drop her off at Inmaculada where she woke up Minerva and her friends. They
all argued what to do. Finally they decided they had to ask the sisters for help.
So, late that night, they knocked on the convent door. Sor Asunción appeared,
in her night dress, wearing a nightcap, and Minerva told her the problem.
Minerva said she still doesn’t know if Sor Asunción agreed to help Hilda out
of the goodness of her heart or because this was a perfect lesson to teach that
fresh girl. Imagine! Hilda, who doesn’t even believe in God!
The police have been here again today. They passed right by Sor Hilda with
her hands tucked in her sleeves and her head bowed before the statue of the
Merciful Mother. If I weren’t so scared, I’d be laughing.

Thursday, July 4
Home at last!
Dear Little Book,
Minerva graduated this last Sunday. Everyone went to La Vega to watch her
get her diploma. Even Patria with her stomach big as a house. She is expecting
any day now.
We are home for the summer. I can’t wait to go swimming. Minerva says
she’s taking me to our lagoon and diving right in herself in her “temptation”
swimsuit. She says why keep her promesa when Mamá and Papá still won’t let
her go to law school in the capital?
I’m going to spend the summer learning things I really want to learn! Like (1)
doing embroidery from Patria (2) keeping books from Dedé (3) cooking cakes
from my Tía Flor (I’ll get to see more of my cute cousin Berto, and Raúl, too!!!)
(4) spells from Fela (I better not tell Mama!) (5) how to argue so I’m right, and
anything else Minerva wants to teach me.

Sunday, July 20
Oh Little Book,
We all just got back from the cemetery burying Patria’s baby boy that was
born dead yesterday.
Patria is very sad and cries all the time. Mama keeps repeating that the Lord
knows what he does and Patria nods like she doesn’t half believe it. Pedrito just
cracks his knuckles and consoles her by saying that they can have another one
real soon. Imagine making such a gross promise to someone who is already
having a hard enough time.
They are going to stay with us until she feels better. I am trying to be brave,
but every time I think of that pretty baby dead in a box like it doesn’t have a soul
at all, I just start to cry.
I better stop till I get over my emotions.
Wednesday, in a hurry
My dearest Little Book, Oh my dearest,
Minerva asks if I’m ready to hand you over. I say, give me a minute to explain
things and say goodbye.
Hilda has been caught! She was grabbed by the police while trying to leave
the convent. Everyone in Don Horacio’s meeting group has been told to destroy
anything that would make them guilty.
Minerva is burying all her poems and papers and letters. She says she hadn’t
meant to read my diary, but it was lying around, and she noticed Hilda’s name.
She says it was not really right to read it, but sometimes you have to do
something wrong for a higher good. (Some more of that lawyer talk she likes so
much!) She says we have to bury you, too.
It won’t be forever, my dear Little Book, I promise. As soon as things are
better, Minerva says we can dig up our treasure box. She’s told Pedrito about our
plan and he’s already found a spot among his cacao where he’s going to dig a
hole for us to bury our box.
So, my dearest, sweetest Little Book, now you know.
Minerva was right. My soul has gotten deeper since I started writing in you.
But this is what I want to know that not even Minerva knows.
What do I do now to fill up that hole?
Here ends my Little Book
Goodbye
for now, not forever
(I hope)