She was wondering what was all the commotion about. Everyone was running around whispering, they were obviously excited, But trying very hard to contain their emotions. Of course she really wasn’t very surprise her Aunt Irma was they're visiting and it was always like that when she visited. There was always some kind of strange underlying current going on that she never quite understood. It had happen before when her other aunts would get together and talked in particular about this aunt .O well grown ups are a pain in the ass anyway, She kind of like this Aunt, she was different, they always said, she was, though they didn’t mean it in a complimentary way [kids know these things! She liked her aunt she was fun she had a bizarre sense of humor, she was spontaneous, she was impulsive, she was creative, romantic and a great storyteller. Her aunt was also scary she really was different sometimes when she visited her, she would go into highly charged emotional tirades and go on about all the injustice that had been and still were directed at her by her family. They were scary scenes she went from being extremely irate to indignant to a sad melancholy that broke your heart and made you want to cry and somehow make it better. Half an hour latter she was happy, joyful full of enthusiasm and plans, it was very had to switch gears, I marveled how her kids dealt with those episodes, but then I guess that they were used to it, so they just took it in stride. I learned to do that too! Anyway most of the time it was a lot of fun there were so many kids five of them they were so loving and full of fun they were like a band of free spirits all close one for all for one and led by the biggest free spirit herself her Aunt .Gee that must be nice she thought to have some one around all the time, you would never be lonely or afraid .she was a lonely child herself there was never anyone there when she came home from school. She was a latch key kid before the phrase came into vogue. Her mother would come home from work at 7oclock her father a 6 o'clock, but there was no time to really talk they were all to busy getting supper ready, washing dishes planning for the next day there just wasn’t enough time. In her Aunt house there was plenty of time, time for talk and stories and mischief, she sure was different oh boy what’s going on? They really look upset. My mother wants me to go down to my other aunt's house and wait till she calls me. My Aunt Blanca lives on the first floor she has this cute two room apartment its so clean almost like no one lives there. Her bathroom is in the public hall that’s how all the apartments on the first floor are, hers is the best it's so clean and pretty the others look like outhouses. She knows, she has seen them the doors are open. Got the keys from her Aunt and went downstairs to her apartment to wait to be called back up. This argument must be a lulu they never sent her away before. Well here I am alone again alone upstairs alone down here sometimes life really sucks! There’s the knock she's back Hi! Tia Blanca come in, Time for me to go upstairs! What? You want me to sit down you want to tell me a story, why are you crying?. Okay, I'll be quiet, am listening once upon a time there was this young girl who was very foolish and headstrong and wanted her own way. She was very selfish and never listened to her elders and betters and people who knew what was best for her .she ran off by herself met some young man and got into trouble. What kind of trouble Auntie? She got pregnant do you know what that means? Yes I do, well they broke up and there she was with a baby and no husband and no money and no way to take care of that baby, that would not had happen if she listened but that was not her way. She was too headstrong. Thank God though she had a wonderful sister who was perfect and kind and charitable and was willing to take her baby in and give it a home, so she did and since this young woman was so selfish she really was glad the responsibility of this child was handled by the older kinder responsible sister. This way she could continue with her life and do whatever she wanted to do with no concern for anyone else and that's exactly what she 's done with her life. Oh that's terrible Tia what happen to that poor baby. She’s not poor at all she a very lucky little girl You see that little girl is you! And Virginia is the wonderful sister who took you in and your Aunt Irma the selfish young woman who gave you away, so you see Irma's your real mother! Your father isn’t your father your mother isn’t your mother your sisters aren’t your sister .My goodness I said, I don't know if I understand, who am I? Why you are the luckiest little girl in the whole world! I don't know if I understand how come am so lucky? Now stop this immediately! My Aunt Blanca said, don't become like your mother, she has always been selfish and never appreciated anything her family has done for her. That’s why she's such a misfit and makes everybody unhappy. Right now she made us tell you the truth with her ungodly threats. She should be kissing her sister Virginia feet, in gratitude that she took you in and raise you like one of her own, instead, She upstairs raising hell and demanding maternal rights that she very casually gave up years ago. She has no rights and you don't have to feel any love for her as a matter of fact it would be disloyal to poor Virginia and Moises who made the supreme sacrifice and took you in. You only owe love to them and gratitude don't forget that you must always be grateful you were not given away to strangers, but were taken in by your own relatives. And now go upstairs and don't act upset or silly you know everything you have to know. Don't upset poor Virginia and Moises tell them you understand everything that everything is all right you will always love them and that you are so grateful for their sacrifice? And will hear no more about this ugly and upsetting situation. Do you. Understand? Yes Tia Blanca I said, I understand, I understood nothing, nothing I didn’t go upstairs right away even though I said I would I hung around the dumbwaiter for a while and then finally decided to go upstairs. I was so nervous, so frighten, so lonely, so all alone. Take hold of yourself girl I said to myself. You must be strong, you can't upset anyone are you going to be like your mother. They have all had a great shock today; they have endured unbearable pain it has been a most disagreeable situation their world has been turn upside down, by that horrible creature. Its up to you to make it better, You have to make it okay for them you own them that remember gratitude, gratitude. They didn’t have to take you in it was most kind. When I finally got home, not a word was spoken about the whole incident; we all pretended it never happen. You must be strong I told myself, I will be strong and I was! As strong as you can be when you’re ten years old! 11/7/95

(Looking back now I realize my Aunt Blanca was not being cruel she truly thought she was helping me out. It just did not seem so at the time, at the time it was earthshaking and very confusing. I feel I should have been told from the beginning. But you know what they say Hindsight is 20/20)