Ilustrado (14 page)

“No, I said, what about your mother?”

“Oh. I’m certain Mama turned in her grave until she was dizzy. Angels keep her. Crispy painted her as pitiful.”

“So they were lies?”

“Of course there were no other guys!” Lena glared at me. “My mother was the definition of fidelity.”

“No, I said, was what Crispin said lies?”

“I see. You have such a soft voice. Are you a seminarian? Well, I
guess they weren’t lies. They weren’t how
we
would have put them. Were my mother alive, Crispin would have been more respectful.”

“Do you think, in a way, Crispin meant the book to be a tribute? A chronicle of the truths that the family would otherwise lose?”

“That’s a bit rich. Don’t give my brother too much credit. He was in a purgatory of insignificance and wanted to resurrect himself. How does he do it? Shirks his duties, as usual, and steps on those who love him. For a long time I blamed that silly girl, Sadie Baxter. The graduate student from Topeka, Kansas. She was less than half his age. Everyone was in absolute horror at how
he
would corrupt
her
. Because, oh my, she was so curious. Oh my, so blond. Oh my, so pristine. But
she
corrupted
him
! It’s not age that corrupts, it’s youth. Plus, I think she was Jewish. It worried Papa, the idea that she was after our money. Her family had changed their name from Bachman or Bachstein or something like that. Why change your name if you have nothing to hide? Well, Crispy was mad for her. I hadn’t seen him so smitten since that love affair with Mutya Dimatahimik.”

“When was that? I’d never read about that.”

“In the late sixties. The long love affair that would live in infamy. It affected him profoundly. It eventually broke up the Cinco Bravos. That’s why he didn’t write about it. He was culpable. Also, Sadie was the reason Crispy didn’t do anything with his beloved Dulcinea, and why that relationship would be his most tragic failure . . .”

“What do you mean? That name is on my list of people to . . .”

“That tiny Sadie Baxter stirred inside my brother adolescent delusions, made him selfish and reckless. Perhaps because she was constantly photographing him, with that camera she always carried. Suddenly, each morning he’s taking ginseng and ma huang and rhino horn. Ridiculous! I laugh, but it comes from a place of love. My brother was silly. I know now that I despised Sadie so that I could preserve my love for Crispin. But it was my hate for her that made him resent me. What can you do? Don’t we all need to blame somebody?”

“Can you tell me about Dulcinea—”

“Is that my brother’s fountain pen?”

“Um. Yes. You said I could take—”

“Keep it. That’s fine.”

“It means a lot to me. I’m using it to write his biography. I thought it was actually fitting . . .”

“It’s fine. Really. It was just odd to see it in someone else’s hands. It was our father’s before Crispin had it. I’m sorry, what were we discussing prior? Ah, yes. After his memoir proved a failure, it was Sadie Baxter who left him.”

“But I heard that he—”

“That’s how it happened.”

The maid with the fan shifts her weight onto her other hip and sighs.

“But your brother even dedicated
Autoplagiarist
to her.”

“I know. But in fairness to that hotsipatootsie, I can quite imagine how difficult it was being around my brother during that time. He never came to terms with failing. No, it wasn’t Sadie’s fault. She was young. She had hopes. Plus she was
different
. Not so much Jewish, but Western. She couldn’t be expected to understand how sacred family is to us. They cut their offspring loose right when they turn eighteen. The poor girl later died while bicycling in Monaco. I’m convinced her hard life was because she was never baptized.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to ask again. Pardon my frankness. But do you think Crispin killed himself?”

Lena sighs and frowns. She thinks for a moment. “My short answer: No. Not directly. First, because it’s a mortal sin, and Crispin, I have to believe, saw the light before the end. Second, he didn’t have it in him. I mean, okay, fine, he wasn’t quite sane. But suicidal?”

“What do you mean, ‘not quite sane’?”

“When my mother was on her deathbed, that’s when it all started. The corruption in Crispin’s heart. I told him, it’s a test, be like Abraham. Remember how the Lord tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his child Isaac? But after Mama died, Crispin was inconsolable. He’d flown from New York to see her and arrived the day of the night she left us for the Lord. He rushed to the hospital, but Papa wouldn’t allow him into her room to say goodbye. It was for my mother’s good. My father, you know, he loved her very much. He still had hope that, with prayers, her cancer could be defeated. He went all the way to the Vatican and donated a fortune. Papa
got on his knees and begged the Pope to ask the Lord for His inter-cession. But Mama was in such pain.
Such
pain! Crispin had for weeks been saying maybe it was time to let her go. Easy to say while drinking martinis in Manhattan. So when Crispy arrived, Papa didn’t allow him to see our mother. He told my brother it was Mama who refused to see him. I think maybe that was unfair. After, Crispin went back to New York and wrote his memoir. He refused to stay for the wake and didn’t come to the funeral. When
Autoplagiarist
came out, my father felt betrayed. It was he who gave Crispin the money to publish it. Papa was always giving Crispin money, as an olive branch. So my father was very angry. As usual, he took it out on poor Narcisito. He treated him worse than the neighbor’s dog. Narcisito gave Papa his whole life. But because he did, he could never get Papa’s approval. I saw Narcisito in his room at the Fresh Starts Rehabilitation Retreat Home, and after I left, he hanged himself. I often wonder . . . had I stayed . . . or not visited that day . . .”

Lena sits silently, gazing away as if having her portrait painted. I watch and wait. Finally, she dabs at her eyes. Her face jells slowly into its former composure, then breaks into a little smile.

“Well,” she says. “Just your typical rich family, I guess.”

The maid with the fan looks toward the house. She sticks her tongue out at someone inside, scrunches up her nose, and blinks repeatedly in an odd way.

“What happened to Crispin?”

“One thing you’ll learn when you get older is that when you hate someone so much, a part of you wants desperately to forgive them. But you can’t decide if it’s because you really want to, or if you just want to stop hating. I still don’t know if forgiveness is generous or selfish. Maybe both. Crispin was such a talent as a young man. So mischievous. But he grew so angry. There’s expedience in anger. Simplicity, too.”

The final strains of oboes playing “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” fade away. The CD loops to the start and “Misty” fills the air.

“Did you ever get to make amends with Crispin before he died?”

“Before he died, that last time he was in Manila—you know, in February, for his infamous fiasco at the Cultural Center—well, Crispy visited me before that. Just appeared. The maids said I had
a visitor and I came down and there he was, suitcase beside him, fanning himself with his panama hat. I was convinced I was seeing a ghost. I even did the sign of the cross. When he looked up and smiled that irritating smile of his, I told him: ‘What makes you think you’re welcome here?’ But even I was surprised that I didn’t mean that.”

“He came here? Did he mention writing
The Bridges Ablaze
?”

“We didn’t talk about his work.”

“For how long was he here?”

“I had nothing at all to fear. He was my baby brother.”

“No, I said, how long was he here?”

“I’m sorry?”

“How long was he queer?” I couldn’t resist.

“I see. Less than a week.”

“That long?” I’m trying to keep a straight face.

“Weren’t you his friend?”

“I was. I’m sorry, I am.” I feel guilty. “But I was out of town, too. My girlfriend and I were in Costa Rica, helping build wells. My girlfriend at the time.”

“Why not the Philippines? Isn’t Costa Rica relatively well off?”

“Um, we didn’t know that till we got there. What I want to ask is, did Crispin do any research? Like, take notes? Or . . .”

“No. Nothing. Really, it was divine. I admit, I didn’t dare ask about his writing. It was just wonderful to see him. I didn’t want to ruin it. He’d aged so. During his stay, he strolled barefoot around the garden. Ate very well. We took walks to the beach where we used to swim as children. Talking only about wonderful things. He read to me every night. That was something we did as kids, read to each other, especially during the war. He always did the best voices. He recited ‘The Raven’ with all sorts of trilled
r
’s and all. I should have known it was too superlative
not
to be the last time.” Lena pauses. She wipes the sides of her eyes again.

“I’m sorry. It’s just . . . Growing up, it was just us three children. Papa was always away. Mama, well, she wasn’t really present. Despite what you read in Crispin’s memoir. Mama didn’t have a good relationship with her affections. Because of my father, Mama retreated into her painting, her botany. I rarely saw her laugh. Except with her best friend, Miss Florentina. Whom I assume you are interviewing.
No? You must. Amazing woman. Still she lives alone. The archangels are protecting her. Other than them, she refuses to have household help. She was a legendary beauty. Not at all like me.”

“No,” I say, “um, I’m sure that wasn’t true.”

The maid with the fan rolls her eyes. She fingers the hem of her skirt, playing with a spot where the mint-green fabric has become frayed.

“Miss Florentina’s name was
whispered
in the Spanish royal court. Ask her about her many suitors. It will make her happy. They were mad for her. She could have chosen from dozens. But she was never to be tied down. Even in conversation. Beware: you think you’re fooling her when all along she’s fooling you.”

“What was the family connection?”

“She was the
dearest
of all our titas, though we weren’t related. She was first a friend of our tito, Herculeo. You know, my father didn’t even attend his funeral? His own brother. Tito Herculeo was, you know. A confirmed bachelor. At that time, it wasn’t something you could be. Tito Herculeo always had the most beautiful clothes, and made gazpacho that was famous from here to Shanghai. Sorry, what was I discussing?”

“You were talking about Crispin’s last visit. Was there anything strange?”

“Come to think of it, there
was
something surprising. I’ve had a long involvement with this group of children. My old classmate from the Assumption, Shirley Nuñes, a nun, a living saint, she educates the children of two towns in Antique province. I told Crispin, you know, your trip isn’t so well timed, because I’m going up to visit. I go each February, before the season becomes hot. I’ve always loved children. So anyway, Crispy, he tells me, I’ll go with you. I said, Ha! You won’t last the day. But he came. We spent two days and one night. We looked at the cottage-industry projects I fund. Weaving, that’s what they do. Remind me to give you one of the loincloths they make. They’re wonderful as table runners. Anyway, all the children were so happy to see us. You see, many of their parents are gone. Then the kids get to a certain age and the light dulls in their eyes. Sorry? Oh, their parents go to the fish farms in the estuaries by the coast. Milkfish. Or many become domestic helpers or contract workers in Manila. Maybe Brunei or Saudi. It’s hard. My
friend Shirley is aging, and these people keep having children. I remember when Shirley wanted to introduce condoms to the people there and I had to stop her. Imagine?! I told her: ‘Don’t you dare! I’ll cease my funding! I’ll tell you to the diocese.’ I don’t know why those men and women just can’t control themselves. I did. I think it’s like animals. Bless them all, but still. Shirley says many children ensure a family of helping hands. I don’t know about that. Don’t get me wrong, you should see these children. Miracles, each one.

“This is the strange part. On the day we leave for home, Shirley and two kids are coming with us in the car to drop us at the town where we catch the ferry. As we enter the car, Crispy notices the other children are crying. A few are being unpleasant to the two dears accompanying us. What’s wrong? he asks Shirley. She explains: Every year, the two with the best grades make a trip to see the sea. Only two, because she can’t afford to bring them all. Most of the children had never seen the sea, even if it’s only three hours away. Bear in mind, they’re very remote. They don’t even have television, so how will they know what an ocean looks like? Shirley explains: ‘You should hear them trying to describe it to their friends. They simply cannot. I try to help, then I realize how impossible it is.’ Well, Crispy, he’s upset. Angry. The way he gets. He pulls out his wallet and sends Shirley with our car to contract jeepneys from the nearest town. Crispy just sat and waited, like a mule chewing grass. Nearly two hours in silence. I think he felt ashamed. He’d famously
hated
children. He thought I’d criticize him. The school motto we had at KGV is
Honestas ante Honores
. Honesty before glory. Not the sort of rot the Salvador men believed. I dare say, on that last trip, Crispy came round. Just like Saint Augustine.”

A clock inside the house makes electronic cuckoo sounds, four times. A maid in a pink uniform comes out. She takes the place of the maid in the mint-green, hoisting the fan and moving it gently above us. The off-duty maid walks to the house, slowing a few yards from the door, waving, gesticulating, and acting all goofy to someone in the shadows of the sala.

“And that is how we took
all
the children to see the sea. Thirty-seven of them. I’ll never forget it. Many children, mostly the older ones, were afraid of the water. But a few brave ones jumped right in.
The younger ones, would you believe? A few who thought they were courageous came running back each time a wave came. Eventually, they were all in the water, splashing and tumbling. I’ve never heard so much laughter. And Crispy just stood there, among all the excitement, hands in pockets, trousers rolled up and the water coming and going around his knees. He’s always had that smug way of whistling his own tune, all my life, like he’s ignoring you. Or as if he knows better than you. Narcisito and I hated that. But that afternoon, when Crispy whistled like that, it was more than okay.