The old lady had never learned anything else in her life except to drop
blessings from her lips, as if the blessings sustained her.
Her eyelash colour faded, her face was a mass of wrinkles. “Daughter, give
me the votive candle so I may light it, and may you reign like a queen one
day”.
On Sundays, in the courtyard under the vine, they’d turn on the radio. ”
Daughter, bring the radio, and may you pick up soil and have it turned to gold
in your hands”.
Her legs were unable to take much walking anymore, she didn’t go to church
anymore.
