Song of the Mockingbird: My Journey with Josefina

At home, I’d probably be watching TV with Mom on the couch while Dad grades papers in his recliner. But Josefina’s family seems cozy, too. Tía Dolores sits at the piano in the corner, playing scales with sweeping motions while Josefina beams with pride. I nod along, as if hearing a piano for the first time.

Francisca mends a torn shirt while Clara embroiders flowers around the edge of a large piece of cloth with a big needle. I admire it, though I can barely see it in the dim firelight. Clara asks if I learned colcha, the embroidery, as a cautiva. I tell her I never did.

Josefina explains that Mamá taught them before she died. She was very good at it, and even made an altar cloth for the church.

Francisca says a fire damaged it, but Tía Dolores helped them repair the colcha, adding their own designs, too. She says doing colcha keeps them close to Mamá. I trace the outline of a flower on Clara’s cloth, and it makes me think of my own room back home, full of Drama Club scripts and skyline views.

Josefina says they can show me the altar cloth, which they’ll keep safe until next Christmas. Tía Dolores also helped them make a memory book for Mamá, writing poems and songs Mamá used to love inside it. Now the girls write in it, too.

Tía Dolores turns from the piano and says Mamá knew many lovely poems and songs, and that words keep her memory alive. All four sisters lean toward her as she rises and caresses Josefina’s cheek.

Josefina jumps up, eager to get the memory book. Tía Dolores says prayers are soon, so there isn’t much time. Josefina asks whether I’d like to see the memory book or the altar cloth.