| Jennie sat in the grass beside her grandmother's
cane chair. She leaned back against the wood and looked up to the sky.
Over their heads was a huge flame tree with its bright, blood red flowers.
Its branches were full of color. "Will you tell me once more about the
flame tree, Nana? I love that story."
Nana Biha put a hand on the top of her granddaughter's head and stroked
her long hair. She smiled as she remembered sitting just the same way under
the
same tree with her own grandmother and begging to hear the same story over
and over again.
"Antes na tiempo, a long time ago, two families from the same village
had been good friends for many years. The grandfathers had enjoyed many
dippers of tuba together. Until they entered into a land deal with each
other and each man ended up thinking he had been cheated. Since that time,
both families refused to talk to the other.
"Elena, the granddaughter of one of the men, was the most beautiful,
sweetest girl in their village. Because her mother had died when she was
very young, Elena learned at an early age how to run a household. Every
morning before sunrise, she got up early to make food for her father and
her brothers to take to work. She washed clothes,
made soap and wove beautiful mats and baskets in the traditional way. She
was very busy and rarely left their house.
"Nicolas was the only grandson of the other man. From a very early age,
Nicolas was one of the best fishermen on the island. He was well known
for his skill and daring in the deep waters. Everyone knew of this young
man whose exploits outshone all the others in the village.
"One quiet afternoon, these two met by accident. During a fiesta, they
ended up praying in front of the same saint in their church. Not knowing
who she was, he waited outside alone for her to leave the church. Nicolas
introduced himself and they began to talk, strolling down the street as
they did. This was the beginning of their deep love for one another. When
Elena found out who Nicolas was, they decided not to let it stop their
love and began meeting in secret.
"But soon Elena's father learned of their secret courtship. He was furious
and told Elena's brothers to take turns watching their sister closely.
If the boy came near her, they were to beat him and send him away. But,
as lovers will, they found ways to send messages to one another. They left
letters beneath the feet of the saint where they first saw met. Sometimes,
Elena left a note in a missal or in the corner of a confessional. In each
of these notes, they told each other how much they loved them.
"The love notes were not enough. One night, Nicolas went to the garden
wall around her house. Inside, Elena prayed to the heavens that she might
be with her love. When she heard his voice whispering to her from outside,
her heart beat so fast. From then on, they met each night, speaking in
whispers through a hole in the stone wall.
"Nicolas gave Elena a beautiful white mantilla for her birthday. He
pushed the delicate lace through the hole. Elena wore it proudly whenever
she left the house. She walked through the town wearing his gift, knowing
he was looking at her. Even though they could not speak to each other,
it was a good way to say how much she loved him.
"One evening, Elena's oldest brother heard his sister talking to the
stone wall. He crept up to her and listened. He ran to the house to tell
his father what was going on. Elena's father came running out of the house
and grabbed her. He sent her to her room and sent her brothers out to find
Nicolas and beat him. They didn't find him.
"The next day, Elena found a note at the saint's feet saying Nicolas
was tired of hiding their love and asking her to meet him under the tree
with the white blossoms at the edge of the jungle. She waited until she
thought everyone was asleep and sneaked out of the house, wearing Nicolas'
gift. Elena, impatient to be with her true love, didn't know her two older
brothers, with sharp machetes in hand, followed her. They would not let
their family be dishonored again.
"Arriving at the appointed place, she waited near the tree, not knowing
her brothers were hiding close by. She heard a noise in the bushes and
hide behind the huge tree. Her mantilla got caught on a branch as she ran
and fell to the ground. A wild boar ran out of the jungle near the brothers'
hiding place. Thinking they were being attacked, they used their machetes
to hack at the boar in the darkness. Thinking Elena had run home, they
fled, terrified by the huge animal. Listening from her hiding place, Elena
covered her ears.
"The maddened boar smelled another human scent and found Elena's mantilla
on the ground. It gored the fine white lace, ripping it apart and smearing
it with blood.
"Nicolas hadn't been able to get away as early as he wanted to meet
Elena. Elena's father had angrily warned Nicolas' father to keep the boy
away from his daughter. Knowing his son, Nicolas's father had cousins guarding
him carefully. It took time for Nicolas to slip away.
"When Nicolas arrived, the moon was bright. When he saw Elena's mantilla
covered in blood, he thought she was dead. Overwhelmed with guilt, he picked
up the mantilla and kissed it, bathing it with tears. "Its my fault," he
cried. "If she is dead, there is no reason to live. Tonight the moon will
see both of us dead."
"Sitting down beneath the tree with its white blossoms shining brightly
in the moonlight, he took his fishing knife from his belt and stabbed himself
in the chest. His bright red blood poured out of the wound and covered
the ground around the tree.
"When Elena came out from her hiding place, she looked around the tree
and saw a body lying there. Still badly frightened, she wanted to run away,
but stopped when she recognized Nicolas. Kneeling beside him, she touched
his cold face and cried his name. She saw a bloody machete one of her brothers
had dropped. "Why have my cruel brothers done this to you?" Hearing her
voice, Nicolas opened his eyes for a moment, smiled at her and then he
died.
"She wept uncontrollable tears. Finally, as dawn began to color the
sky, she raised her head. Hurt and angry she declared, "Neither family
nor death can keep me from Nicolas."
"In a brief prayer, Elena asked the spirit of the tree to bear witness
to their love. Then, she plunged the same fishing knife deep into her own
chest. The gods of nature looked down on the two lovers with compassion.
Then, the pure loving blood of the young people which covered the ground
flowed into the tree's roots and up to the white blossoms, turning them
to a burning red. The next day, when the two bodies were found, their families
ended the foolish quarrel and mourned together.
"Now a days, people say the color of the flame tree is the blood and
tears of the two lovers. Others believe the blazing blossoms represent
young, unfulfilled passion. Some young people think the blossoms represent
the shame felt by the families of the young people." Nana took a deep breath,
"In any case, in the season when flowers burst forth red, they remind us
that love alone should rule the world."
Jennie breathed a big sign with her grandmother and thought about the
story her fourth grade teacher, Miss Mitschelen, had read about two people
from a place far away named Romeo and Juliet. The two stories were very
similar. One of these days, thought Jennie, someone will love me that much.
I just hope it is someone my family can love, too.
As if reading her mind, Nana said, "Don't worry, Jennie, when it comes
time for you to marry, I am sure everyone will be happy." Her Nana's hand
resting on her head, Jennie sighed once more and closed her eyes to dream
about that far away day.
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