Song of the Mockingbird: My Journey with Josefina

I launch myself into the air, almost colliding with the mountain lion as he springs at Sombrita. For an instant, I smell his musky odor and feel the heat of his body. Then my fingers close on Sombrita’s front leg and I jerk her toward me. The mountain lion screams, and a paw flashes out.

I see a burst of red as I pull the little goat underneath me. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the mountain lion to leap to my back. And then, something touches my back, and I scream.

I expect blinding pain, but instead I feel only Josefina’s touch on my back. She says that the mountain lion is gone. I shakily push myself up. Amazingly, I seem to be fine except for a few scrapes. And then I look down and see Sombrita lying on the ground. She’s hurt.

The little goat lies still, her ribcage rising and falling rapidly. A deep gash gapes in her shoulder. Miguel runs up behind us and tells us to stay with the goat. He follows the mountain lion down the path to make sure he’s gone.

Josefina and I drop to our knees over the little goat. Blood seeps from the wound, staining Sombrita’s fur and dripping onto the sandy dirt beneath her. Josefina says we have to stop the bleeding before she loses too much blood. She presses her fingers to her forehead. Tía Magdalena never told her how to do that. Her voice is starting to panic. I try to remember the way my drama teacher would talk down kids who are having an attack of stage fright.

I make my voice low and quiet as I tell Josefina that she can do this. She knew how to save Sombrita when she was tiny. Now she can do it again. In truth, my heart is pounding out of my chest. I’m terrified.

But Josefina raises her eyes and looks me in the face. She must believe what I’m saying, because her mouth hardens and her eyes glitter crystal clear. She says we need leaves. Try to get some mallow leaves. I grab handfuls of the broad, dark green leaves sprouting from a low plant nearby. They’re covered with soft hairs. Josefina layers the leaves over Sombrita’s wound. I take off my rebozo and give it to Josefina to tie the leaves on. Josefina twists the shawl into a bandage and wraps it securely over her shoulder and leg.

Behind us, Miguel trots up again. The mountain lion is gone.

Josefina strokes Sombrita forehead and bows her own head. I see her lips moving, and realize she must be saying a prayer. I close my eyes, too, and find myself praying to please let Sombrita live.