WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.570 align:middle line:90% 00:00:00.570 --> 00:00:03.660 align:middle line:84% Now we do a little piece of the second part of the novel, 00:00:03.660 --> 00:00:05.130 align:middle line:90% which is-- 00:00:05.130 --> 00:00:06.900 align:middle line:84% this first part is very romantic. 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:08.370 align:middle line:90% The second part is very funny. 00:00:08.370 --> 00:00:11.460 align:middle line:84% And it's about the poor brothers who 00:00:11.460 --> 00:00:17.970 align:middle line:84% are sons in this family of low-middle class 00:00:17.970 --> 00:00:20.850 align:middle line:84% income in this city called La Concordia, which 00:00:20.850 --> 00:00:23.010 align:middle line:90% is not romantic at all. 00:00:23.010 --> 00:00:27.390 align:middle line:84% And it's full of frank-- [? Masonists ?],, just 00:00:27.390 --> 00:00:32.280 align:middle line:90% Freemasons and Masonic lodges. 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:33.610 align:middle line:90% So these people are very-- 00:00:33.610 --> 00:00:35.430 align:middle line:90% they harvest tax. 00:00:35.430 --> 00:00:40.210 align:middle line:84% And they're also very, very bright, but mainly very, 00:00:40.210 --> 00:00:42.470 align:middle line:90% very funny. 00:00:42.470 --> 00:00:46.320 align:middle line:84% Abuelo Chaguito met Brunhilda Casares, my step grandmother, 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:49.860 align:middle line:84% after he left Tia Celia at the convent in Chicago. 00:00:49.860 --> 00:00:52.008 align:middle line:84% Brunhilda was a pastry maker from Caguas. 00:00:52.008 --> 00:00:54.300 align:middle line:84% And I've never been able to eat a piece of wedding cake 00:00:54.300 --> 00:00:56.910 align:middle line:84% without thinking of her because her hair was 00:00:56.910 --> 00:01:00.600 align:middle line:84% the exact color of the golden batter she poured into her cake 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:01.560 align:middle line:90% molds. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:05.310 align:middle line:84% She always kept a tin can full of freshly baked ladyfingers 00:01:05.310 --> 00:01:06.330 align:middle line:90% at her house. 00:01:06.330 --> 00:01:10.050 align:middle line:84% And whenever Abuelo Chaguito's grandchildren came to visit, 00:01:10.050 --> 00:01:12.210 align:middle line:90% she'd offer us some. 00:01:12.210 --> 00:01:16.140 align:middle line:84% The ladyfingers were just like her, much too sweet and full 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:18.270 align:middle line:90% of air. 00:01:18.270 --> 00:01:20.220 align:middle line:84% After leaving Tia Celia at the convent, 00:01:20.220 --> 00:01:23.220 align:middle line:84% Abuelo Chaguito boarded the Borinquen in New York 00:01:23.220 --> 00:01:25.510 align:middle line:90% and set sail for Puerto Rico. 00:01:25.510 --> 00:01:27.130 align:middle line:90% He was very depressed. 00:01:27.130 --> 00:01:29.520 align:middle line:84% He dreaded sleeping by himself in his cabin 00:01:29.520 --> 00:01:32.850 align:middle line:84% and going back to the house on Calle Esperanza alone. 00:01:32.850 --> 00:01:36.030 align:middle line:84% He was strolling sadly on deck, cane in hand, 00:01:36.030 --> 00:01:40.860 align:middle line:84% watching the Statue of Liberty slide by on the port side 00:01:40.860 --> 00:01:44.130 align:middle line:84% and thinking of Adela when he saw a large woman leaning 00:01:44.130 --> 00:01:47.310 align:middle line:84% on the railing with her blond hair braided 00:01:47.310 --> 00:01:49.860 align:middle line:84% around her head in a golden crown. 00:01:49.860 --> 00:01:51.750 align:middle line:84% When she turned around and face him, 00:01:51.750 --> 00:01:54.960 align:middle line:84% she was laughing merrily apparently at nothing 00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:57.450 align:middle line:90% since she was completely alone. 00:01:57.450 --> 00:01:59.910 align:middle line:84% Chaguito approached her, introduced himself, 00:01:59.910 --> 00:02:02.370 align:middle line:90% thinking she was an American. 00:02:02.370 --> 00:02:03.660 align:middle line:90% 'I'm Brunhilda Casares. 00:02:03.660 --> 00:02:05.070 align:middle line:90% Very nice to meet you. 00:02:05.070 --> 00:02:06.810 align:middle line:90% Have you been traveling long? 00:02:06.810 --> 00:02:08.580 align:middle line:90% I've spent a month in New York. 00:02:08.580 --> 00:02:11.100 align:middle line:84% My husband just recently passed away, 00:02:11.100 --> 00:02:12.900 align:middle line:84% and I was staying with relatives.' 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:16.950 align:middle line:84% And she laughed a silvery laugh, winking at him puckishly, 00:02:16.950 --> 00:02:20.490 align:middle line:84% though neither of them had said anything funny. 00:02:20.490 --> 00:02:23.040 align:middle line:84% Chaguito made a bow and kissed her hand. 00:02:23.040 --> 00:02:27.270 align:middle line:84% 'I like women like you with an ample provision of everything-- 00:02:27.270 --> 00:02:30.720 align:middle line:84% caramel tresses, guava flan hips and derriere, 00:02:30.720 --> 00:02:34.920 align:middle line:84% and large coconut-custard tits full of laughter.' 00:02:34.920 --> 00:02:37.770 align:middle line:90% Chaguito was very surprised. 00:02:37.770 --> 00:02:40.140 align:middle line:84% He wasn't usually so forward, but he 00:02:40.140 --> 00:02:43.620 align:middle line:84% was sick of musty black habits, clouds of incense, 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:47.790 align:middle line:84% and mumbled talk of salvation, immolation, and sacrifice. 00:02:47.790 --> 00:02:51.030 align:middle line:84% And he was enchanted by Brunhilda's laughter. 00:02:51.030 --> 00:02:52.860 align:middle line:84% Adela had never laughed like that. 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:55.940 align:middle line:84% She was usually as stern as a sphinx. 00:02:55.940 --> 00:02:58.320 align:middle line:84% Brunhilda looked at him as if what he had said 00:02:58.320 --> 00:03:00.630 align:middle line:84% was the most natural thing in the world 00:03:00.630 --> 00:03:03.630 align:middle line:84% and giggled softly, fixing a loose hairpin that 00:03:03.630 --> 00:03:06.150 align:middle line:90% sparkled in the afternoon sun. 00:03:06.150 --> 00:03:09.510 align:middle line:84% Her good humor seemed to spread out glimmering over 00:03:09.510 --> 00:03:11.670 align:middle line:90% the sea in beckoning waves. 00:03:11.670 --> 00:03:14.430 align:middle line:84% Three dolphins sprung immediately to the surface 00:03:14.430 --> 00:03:16.590 align:middle line:84% and began to swim next to the ship, 00:03:16.590 --> 00:03:19.350 align:middle line:84% curving their sleek backs playfully in and out 00:03:19.350 --> 00:03:20.880 align:middle line:90% of the water. 00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:23.280 align:middle line:84% Brunhilda pretended to be afraid of them 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.470 align:middle line:84% and drew closer to Chaguito so he 00:03:25.470 --> 00:03:28.050 align:middle line:84% could smell the Bala Versailles essence she 00:03:28.050 --> 00:03:31.860 align:middle line:84% had dabbed under the gauze flounces of her dress. 00:03:31.860 --> 00:03:33.840 align:middle line:84% Chaguito didn't have to spend the night alone 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.490 align:middle line:90% in his stateroom after all. 00:03:35.490 --> 00:03:40.080 align:middle line:84% He slept enmeshed in the sweet net of Brunhilda's hair. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.290 align:middle line:84% After making love with her, he said to her, 00:03:43.290 --> 00:03:45.000 align:middle line:90% 'I'm so happy I met you. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:48.330 align:middle line:84% I swear I could die in your arms.' 00:03:48.330 --> 00:03:52.398 align:middle line:84% And that's exactly what he does (CHUCKLING) a while later. 00:03:52.398 --> 00:03:54.150 align:middle line:90% 00:03:54.150 --> 00:03:56.040 align:middle line:84% When they arrived in La Concordia, 00:03:56.040 --> 00:03:57.870 align:middle line:90% they were already married. 00:03:57.870 --> 00:04:00.000 align:middle line:84% Chaguito walked through the door of 13 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.840 align:middle line:84% Calle Esperanza with Brunhilda proudly clinging to his arm. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:07.440 align:middle line:84% 'No one will have to worry about me from now on,' he told his 00:04:07.440 --> 00:04:10.050 align:middle line:84% children heartily as he greeted them. 00:04:10.050 --> 00:04:11.760 align:middle line:90% Brunhilda is young and strong. 00:04:11.760 --> 00:04:13.690 align:middle line:84% With her to take care of me, I'll 00:04:13.690 --> 00:04:15.450 align:middle line:90% never be a nuisance to anybody. 00:04:15.450 --> 00:04:18.779 align:middle line:84% And a few years from now, you'll save yourself a pretty penny 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:22.600 align:middle line:84% because you won't have to put me in a nursing home,' 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:24.510 align:middle line:84% At first, the family was concerned 00:04:24.510 --> 00:04:29.250 align:middle line:84% because Brunhilda was only 28 years old, half Abuelo's age. 00:04:29.250 --> 00:04:32.460 align:middle line:84% They were afraid she might be a scheming, greedy woman. 00:04:32.460 --> 00:04:35.640 align:middle line:84% But when they saw how she laughed at every little thing 00:04:35.640 --> 00:04:37.890 align:middle line:84% and refused to take anything seriously, 00:04:37.890 --> 00:04:39.720 align:middle line:90% they stopped worrying. 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:44.550 align:middle line:84% They were convinced she was a complete dunce. 00:04:44.550 --> 00:04:47.460 align:middle line:84% The first thing Brunhilda did was to bake Chaguito her 00:04:47.460 --> 00:04:49.140 align:middle line:90% special ponqué . 00:04:49.140 --> 00:04:52.140 align:middle line:84% 'I'm an artist in my own right,' she said as she brought 00:04:52.140 --> 00:04:54.000 align:middle line:90% the cake into the dining room. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.480 align:middle line:84% 'It's not my fault that gourmet food is amongst the most 00:04:57.480 --> 00:04:59.780 align:middle line:90% perishable of all the arts. 00:04:59.780 --> 00:05:02.940 align:middle line:84% It's very difficult to cook one's way to immortality 00:05:02.940 --> 00:05:06.340 align:middle line:84% because the tongue has such a short memory and gives only 00:05:06.340 --> 00:05:08.310 align:middle line:90% ephemeral pleasure.' 00:05:08.310 --> 00:05:10.800 align:middle line:84% She had been a locally famous pastry maker 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.740 align:middle line:84% before she met her husband, a Dr. Mediavilla 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:17.160 align:middle line:84% and have had her own catering shop in Caguas. 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:20.700 align:middle line:84% Dr. Mediavilla managed a nursing home for the terminally ill 00:05:20.700 --> 00:05:23.250 align:middle line:84% in San Juan, El Angel de la Guardia, 00:05:23.250 --> 00:05:25.420 align:middle line:90% and he had many patients. 00:05:25.420 --> 00:05:27.240 align:middle line:84% But when they were married, Brunhilda 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:31.310 align:middle line:84% closed her pastry shop and moved to San Juan."