WEBVTT

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Let's see.

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This book that I
don't know why they

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have put at the same a
novel is not a novel.

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It's a book with short prose
writings and then poetry.

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So I don't know
what to call that.

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So I will read from
you one of these that

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is called "First Communion".

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It's in prose.

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A short prose.

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It says, Everything was ready
for the party the night before.

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Chabela, Luisa's nana,
had just finished

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ironing the pleated
organdy dress that

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reached to the girl's ankles,
and the wide, vaporous veil.

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Her mother gave the final
touches to the table.

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It was covered with
several damask tablecloths,

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and it extended the entire
length of the patio corridor.

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The cake, surmounted by a tiny
doll dressed just like Luisa,

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was going to occupy
the very center.

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"Of to bed now," Chabe
told her, "and remember

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to drink a glass of water,
because tomorrow morning

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you can't, not so
much as a drop."

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Luisa knew that even if she
drank tons of water that night,

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she would wake up
horribly thirsty,

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but there was no help for it.

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Her mother, Chabe,
her aunts, had all

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told her it was to be the most
important day of her life,

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and she had to make
some sacrifice for it.

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"Come along," Chabe told
her, "let's get to bed."

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Luisa follow her obediently.

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When Chabe turned off the light,
Luisa call her to her side.

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"Is true that tomorrow
I can ask for anything

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I want, and I'll get
whatever I ask for?"

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"That depends.

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You can ask for one
thing, something

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that's very important to you."

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"What should I ask for, Chabe?"

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"How should I know?

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That God keeps your parents
safe and sound for many years,

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that you remain pure
and healthy and good.

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You are the one
who has to decide."

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Luisa lay for a long time
with her eyes wide open

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in the darkness.

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The next morning, both
Chabe and her mother

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helped her get dressed.

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She was dying of thirst, her
new shoes pinched her feet,

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and the cap that sustained
her veil was terribly hot,

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but she didn't
complain, not even once.

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What she was going to ask
for was very important,

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and she had to
make some sacrifice

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so it would be granted her.

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Her father honked
impatiently from the street,

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and Luisa went running out and
climbed into the front seat

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so her dress wouldn't
get wrinkled.

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Two nuns from Assumption
College, dressed

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in heavy purple habits
and cream colored veils

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were at the entrance
to receive her,

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and they accompanied her into
the chapel, which was already

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filled with school girls.

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As Luisa enter, the choir
up in the chapel loft

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started singing, and she felt
her eyes filling with tears.

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The nuns escorted her
to her prayer bench,

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which was covered with satin.

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Father Agapito, dressed in
a white chasuble embroidered

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in gold thread and
accompanied by a sacristan,

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gave the benediction
and began to say mass.

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Luisa opened her small,
mother-of-pearl missal

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and followed the
mass attentively.

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After a long time,
the nuns came for her

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and accompanied
her to the altar.

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Luisa knelt, opened
her mouth discreetly

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and received the host.

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With her head
lowered and her hands

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clasped against her breast,
she returned to her prayer pew,

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feeling slightly dizzy.

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"It's now, right now that
you have to make your wish,"

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her internal voice told her.

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"Dear Little Jesus," Luisa
said under her breath.

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"I don't want to be married;
I don't like the way men treat

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women, but I do want to
have a baby, Dear Jesus,

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and Chabe says that only
married women can have babies.

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So that's why I ask you with all
my heart to let me get married,

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and as soon as I have a
baby, to let my husband die.

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[LAUGHTER]

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The host dissolved in her mouth,
and Luisa lifted her gaze,

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a beatific smile
illuminating her features.

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[LAUGHTER]

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[APPLAUSE]

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I thank you.

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