A newspaper photographer takes a picture of Auntie and all her “children.” The next morning, Frank and I can’t wait to open the paper and count the crying babies. The record was two years ago—twenty-seven squalling babies. Auntie was in the center, smiling like the proud godmother.

A Proposal

Mrs. Cruz hosts the reception following Carmella’s christening. Her backyard reminds me of a regular fiesta, with three tables put together to make one long table for the food. After everyone’s bellies are filled with red rice, grilled eggplant, tamales, and fish, Dominic lifts his beer can high in the air. “Excuse me, everyone,” he yells over and over until only the Chamorro music playing from a CD player can be heard.

Even Ana stares up at him from her lawn chair like she wishes he’d sit. Carmella’s chin rests on her shoulder as Ana pats her back. Dominic kneels in front of Ana and some of the women say, “Ohhh!”

Doesn’t he know the man is supposed to kneel on one knee?

Dominic pulls a gold ring with a tiny diamond from his back pocket and grabs Ana’s left hand away from Carmella. Sweat beads run down his face and his shirt has two wet spots underneath the armpits.

“Ana, will you marry me?”

Ana looks down, embarrassed, and pulls her hand away and starts to pat Carmella’s back. For a moment I think she’s going to say no. I even feel sorry for Dominic, kneeling there, waiting. But then Carmella burps loud and everyone laughs. Ana smiles and nods at Dominic, who seems relieved. He tries to slip the ring on her finger, but it won’t fit. Finally the ring makes a nice pinky ring. The women rush up to Ana and the men slap Dominic on the back. Sounds of beer cans snapping open fill the air. A few swigs to celebrate the good news.

I overhear Auntie Bernadette talking to Mrs. Camacho.

“Looks like Lucia Cruz has a wedding to plan,” says Auntie.

Mrs. Camacho shakes her head. “First a baby, then a marriage. So many things out of order these days.”

Happily Ever After

Teresita shakes her head when Dominic proposes. “It will never last.”

“Why not?” I ask.

“If it does last, she’ll end up black-and-blue like his mother. Those men in Dominic’s family have nasty tempers.”

Across the yard, Dominic’s mom, Maria Flores, cries and picks up baby Carmella.

“See Mrs. Flores,” Teresita says. “She’s crying because she knows Ana’s destiny. It’s the same as hers.”

“I think she’s crying because she’s happy. And Dominic is different than his dad.” I want Ana to have a fairy-tale love story like the ones I read about in my romance novels.

Collecting in the Jungle

Auntie Bernadette recruits me to help her hunt for the medicinal herbs she uses in her amot tininu and amot patgon. We go into the jungle with machetes and buckets. The machetes cut the thick vines that block our way. I pray to the Virgin Mary that we don’t see brown tree snakes, not that they would bother us anyway.