Across the Great River by Irene Beltrán Hernández

me to keep quiet. Again, the loud knocks crack upon the door. I see Anita glance back at the dozing Pablito and then back at the door.
    â€œMaybe it’s Mama,” I whisper.
    Anita seems to float magically across the floor. Once she reaches the door she starts spinning around and around, faster and faster. She stops abruptly and glares with bulging eyes, but I cannot tell if she is staring at or through the door. She makes wide sweeping motions with her hands, like half-moon shapes, then spins one way rapidly, making her skirt fan out above her knees, and then she pivots the other way very slowly and the skirt comes back down to her ankles.
    A low snake hiss escapes her clinched lips and grows louder as her arms circle wide over her head. She quickly steps back and freezes, with both arms outstretched to the heavens. Deep throaty moans jump rapidly out of her neck, growing louder, then suddenly changing into low cries like those of a kitten. Then she is still and silent. Red marks seem to crease her forehead and her shoulders stiffen. Within moments the sounds of heavy footsteps move away from the door.
    Anita collapses before me like a statue crumbles with age. She falls to the floor on her knees and her head hangs to her chest. Her breathing is heavy and she is covered with sweat. I run to help her, but she motions for me to let her sit for a while. I sit besideher, watching her chest and stomach heave. After a while she speaks slowly. “He will not bother you again. It was wise of you not to speak or he would have known you were here.”
    â€œAnita, why did you wave your arms like that?”
    â€œI put the evil eye on him. Evil fights evil and he will not bother you anymore.”
    â€œHow do you know, Anita?”
    â€œBecause I can see what others cannot. Evil has to be taken care of by someone who has God powers.”
    â€œBut Anita! I have not been afraid all week long… that is until I saw him today. At first I was not sure, but I remember him from when we crossed the river, maybe it was the way he wore his sleeves.”
    Her smile slowly fades. “Then he wants something that you or your Mama possess.” She stares into the distance for some time, then breaks into a wide smile, as if she has forgotten about the man. She pats my knee encouragingly.
    â€œAnita, he made me feel cold all over,” I add.
    â€œThat is the way your body warns you of danger. Listen to it, for it sends little messages warning us of things to happen.”
    â€œWhat would have happened?” I ask.
    She shrugs, “Perhaps, he would have harmed you and the boy. Then your mother would have been alone in the world.”
    â€œDo you mean, kill us?”
    Anita nods, then goes to Pablito, who is now stirring. I sit on the mattress and wonder how Anita knows all these things. I have heard tales in the old village of these blessed people who have powers and are capable of changing every day life with one stroke of the hand.
    I watch her sitting there, bouncing Pablito up anddown. I have seen her take my mother’s life in her hands and cure her. I have seen her heal like a medicine man, and I have seen her fight evil with her own hands. Yet, she is a simple woman who takes pleasure in post cards and little boys. I understand that she has much power, but I do not fear her.
    Anita looks up from playing with the baby and says, “It would be best if you told your Mama about this man and what has happened here.”
    â€œIf you think so, Anita. But, why worry her over nothing?”
    â€œIf you call your life nothing, then so be it. But, all mothers have a right to know the dangers that surround and befall their children.”
    I nod that I understand and she goes back to playing with Pablito.
    When Mama arrives she greets Anita with a hug. “Thanks for coming for the weekend, Anita.”
    â€œI missed the young ones so. It is good that I came when I did, too.”
    â€œWhat do you