Happy Families_ Stories - Carlos Fuentes [36]
I’m not going to think about problems anymore. When they come, I’ll know how to face them by myself. Of course I will.
He said this with a look that was not resigned but tranquil.
He seemed, Leo, to know more about what’s going to come than what already happened . . .
Why? What did he say to you?
He said he was at a crossroads because he hadn’t gotten from me the total love that lasts only one night . . .
What did you say?
Nothing. He got down on his knees. He placed his head against my belly and I caressed it.
You didn’t say anything to him?
Yes. I said, “I’ll never leave you.”
Why, Cordelia? Please tell me why you’re going back to him. You’re under no obligation. Do you want to be punished for the mere fact of having loved me?
No, Leo. It’s that only his eyes remember how I was when I was young. He tells me that. “You stay with me because nobody but me remembers your youthful beauty. Only I have your young eyes in my old ones.”
SHE TOOK OFF HER YELLOW DRESS. She didn’t hear the barking of the yellow dog in the courtyard. She allowed him to caress her loose yellow hair for a long time. She planned never to come back.
Chorus of the Father of Rock
Father Silvestre Sánchez cries out in vain, the mass of young people shouts weeps advances like a Roman legion in togas in sandals boots and totally Palacio miniskirts with the name and likeness of the fallen idol Daddy Juan printed on their backs singing and shouting the words to his songs
think twice before you go
when the lights go out
pretty girls don’t cry
it’s too late
I told you so
while Father Silvestre attempts in vain to counter the cacophony with the ancient music of the requiem
quiet children behave this is a religious service
dona eis domine
requiem aeternam
lux perpetua
now Daddy Juan’s coffin is in the open grave let me bless it before the gravediggers cover it in earth and then seal it carefully and the world is left in peace because you youngsters don’t want your idol to be eaten by dogs or worms, isn’t that right?
locked up in makesicko seedy
drowning in the shit of the cow the muck
fuckin with the nuts the gland
dancing to the mock the zooma
you’re divine Daddy Juan you carry God on your back Idol, even though you are God
anathema let it be anathema
Ana the ma-le tit be Ana
Ana Ledibee
if you love Daddy Juan so much respect the ceremony girls respect the remains and the girls advance uncontrollably in an avalanche crying shouting Daddy Juan don’t leave Daddy Juan let me toss you my panties, take my bra, here’s my Tampax, sainted god, sweet little daddy,
only Juan said Jesús is God
before Mateo or Lucas or Marco found the courage
Daddy Juan is God
Daddy Juan is like the sun three things in one thing light heat and star
Ana Theme
Daddy Juan came like a ray of light into our lives
Christ Jesus is effluence protection and erection
Daddy Juan was created established and projected
God is the word
The word is Daddy Juan
God is the shepherd the door the truth the resurrection
Daddy Juan guide us open us tell us resuscitate
the mob at the grave passes beers from hand to hand to mitigate grief and augment goodbye singing the songs of Daddy Juan and pushing Father Silvestre let me officiate in the name of God quiet crow here there’s no other God but Daddy Juan
here is Mexico Makesicko City here where they burned the feet of Cow the Muck where they stoned Mock the Zooma to death here the city was founded on water and rock and thorn and dust storms with glands and woven baskets the city of rock and roll perpetually at twelve on the Richter scale
here there’s no other savior father but our sweet Daddy Juan surrounded by loose earth and irate dust and mute cypresses and leaden sun daddy-oh daddy-oh
until they push Father Silvestre into the open grave of Daddy Juan and the mob of fifteen-year-olds in miniskirts screaming and singing at the grave grabs the shovels away from the gravediggers and begins to shovel dirt into the pit onto the body of Father Silvestre mute now though openmouthed lying