Song of the Mockingbird: My Journey with Josefina

The sun is low and the air holds a hint of chill when we return to the courtyard, where frying scents drift from the kitchen. After Josefina and I finish hauling in our heavy baskets, I sit on a blanket and help Josefina, Clara, and Francisca slice the squash into round disks, then string the slices with a needle and thread into a big squash necklace called a ristra, ready to hang and dry.

Josefina rejoices that we have so much squash, and Francisca chimes in that her head still aches from hauling so much water from the stream. Clara says we’ll be glad for the squash come winter, and Tía Dolores adds that it’s good we’re keeping busy, as God intended. Josefina interrupts, quoting the saying that the saints cry over lost time. All the girls laugh, and I chuckle with them.

I sit quietly, thinking how different this is from home, where we can get anything we want anytime at the grocery store. Josefina’s family works hard for every bite, but they don’t seem unhappy about it.

Francisca holds a small squash up behind her ear and asks whether she should wear it to tomorrow’s harvest fandango, which means party. My ears perk up. I do love parties. Clara teases that she could wear squash blossoms instead, not their food. When Josefina sees I’m confused by the joke, she explains. When a young lady wants to refuse a gentleman’s marriage proposal, her family sends his family a squash. It’s such a funny custom that I laugh, too, and seeing the sisters tease each other so easily reminds me of Danielle.

I pick up my ristra again. Audrey’s face flashes in my mind, a new friend, and I push the thought away and get back to work.