When The Church Bells Toll

The Christening

     As I walked up the pavement leading to the Parroquia de San Vicente, the sun was high early over the whole village of Frias - the smallest town on the northern side of Burgos. It cast a bright, light yellow-orange shade on the brown-clotted century-old church bells, while streaks of fine sunlight, passed through the branches of a lone sycamore tree in front of it. The Romanesque bell tower church – a prominent landmark – stood proud and mighty along Calle de San Victores. Visible from the clock tower of the Frias town hall’s building, the parochial church was a quiet edifice perched on a massive rugged hill. It was 400 meters away walk to the majestic Castle of the Duke of Frias, which overlooked the whole village – the descending houses built on a cliff. El castillo y parroquia (the castle and the parish church), these were remnants of the past and considered the heart of this small medieval city. In Frias, everybody has known each other. Local people roamed the streets, laughed, sang, and danced the flamenco to their heart’s content. Old friends and neighbors met at every corner of the town plaza. The Fuente de Agua in front of the municipio - symbolized the circle of life where every life story was shared. Every struggle sympathized. Every victory was lauded.

   The first-morning mass was usually the busiest. The Sunday service was teeming with devoted elderly churchgoers who arrived early. Raised by Sagrado Catolico parents in a strict, disciplinarian way, old folks usually say, El tiempo es oro! (Time is gold). Going to church was no laughing matter. It’s as significant as life itself. The parientes had been gone for so long, yet, words reverberated in the dusty winds, stuck on the old wooden walls and ceilings of their ancestral houses, and haunted them in their sleep.

    Remember! The clothes and shoes must be modest and clean. The hair well-combed. The nails must be cut. Manners inside the church must be decent and respectable. To secure the front row seat or the whole family, we must be at the church entrance at exactly 6:30 a.m. En punto!Vamos!

    Over the years, nothing has changed in Frias, unless a new event happened, like the christening of Ana’s daughter, Daniela. Ana, belonged to the Nieves clan, a prominent family and a descendant of wealthy businessmen in Spain. She got herself pregnant while in the second year of the course, medicina at an exclusive school for girls. She now managed one of her father’s businesses. On the other hand, I found my vocation working as a librarian – which I loved so much. Our personalities clashed most of the time, which we both found interesting. Ana used to say, "we were sisters born from different mothers." Ana, privileged and carefree, an epitome of a modern woman living on a higher scale, while me, a traditional and contemporary woman - if there is such a thing. Don’t let the word traditional fool you, there’s more to it than beneath the eyes. If there was one thing we both commonly shared: it was a good sense of humor.

   My mind had drifted far away from the present moment as I stared at the gift for Daniela – a red box with pink ribbons beside me. I wonder what is it like to have a baby of my own? I laughed at my sense of silliness and quickly dismissed the thought. I enjoyed Father Domino’s sermon about the loyalty and devotion of Mary Magdalene. He read, She was last at the cross and she was first at the tomb. 

   Daniela’s three pairs of godparents were all prominent individuals from Frias and nearby towns. Two were politicians, one was a doctor, the rest were businessmen.

     Celina, you don’t belong here, I thought. As we all smiled for the cameras with Ana’s family. On the second thought, for Ana and Daniela’s sake, it felt good to be different.

   “Daniela was a lovely girl and she’s well-behaved at the ceremony,” I told Ana right after the christening.

    “Oh, I’m so proud of her. I even expected her to cry during the ceremony but, she slept the whole time,” Ana told Celina, then held both of her hands. “ Thank you comadre, at last, our sisterhood was forever sealed.”

    “So, it means, I have to save more money for Christmas and New Year’s gifts, huh?”Plus, her 18th birthday and wedding, right comadre?”

    “Well, I guess, you have to, comadre.”

    “All I pray to San Vicente... to make people come and read more books, it's good for the local people of Frias.

    “Let’s do that!”

    We both laughed on our way to the reception held at the ballroom of a grand hotel, Las Casas de Montemar in Burgos. We have known each other since we were six, our friendship went beyond the borders of superficial reasons. We knew each one of us to have our dark sides, so be it. 

    Little Daniela stole the show with her antics. She giggled, shouted, and made a lot of baby talk. The girl had so much fun. Her mom’s face was a picture of happiness. I was pretty sure, Daniela would grow up to be a fine lady like her mother.

    At the reception, the air of affluence was noticeable in the crowds – the signature clothes, shoes, and bags most appealed to the eyes of people with fancy style, and the jewelry sparkled. The table overflowed with delicious food and decorated with elegant silverware. The ambiance of the hotel had the classic Mediterranean feel to it. To think that it was only Daniela’s christening. How much more her wedding day. I was seated on a special table reserved for the famous godparents and yet, rubbing elbows with the rich was not my cup of tea. As the party went on, the conversations and laughter echoed inside the massive ballroom, the bandstand singers, and the utensils which jangled, all these noises made my head throbbed.

   Bored beyond oblivion, my eyes roamed around. One particular guy caught my fancy because of his dashing looks, which to be honest, I had never seen such magnetism. Blind without my pair of spectacles - yes, indeed spectacles, I so loved the sound of it –  I reached for my brown purse on top of the table and wore it to see him better. My eyes popped open. Hear beat fast. My lips trembled. I couldn’t believe what I just saw. 

   I had a bad feeling so I called Ana, “Who is that guy talking to your father on the other table?” I inquired.

    “Quien? Leoncio Marco? He’s a sailor, papa and his father were childhood friends in Tobera. He invited him.” We also grew up together, but since we transferred to Frias, I haven't seen him ever since high school. Hmmm… are you interested, my dear Celina?”

    “Oh,no-no-no! Never! Over my dead and gorgeous body! He’s the one I was telling you about the book he lost a year ago. Remember, of all the things, Ana! Que cabron!

    “Oh, Celina, is that you? I never heard you swear before, ha-ha-ha!”

    “And it might not be the first time, Ana! Losing a book was a serious matter! Can’t you see he didn’t want to take responsibility? I asked him to pay for it, he ignored me and left. Who did he think he is? I would cancel his library card soon. You’ll see. Pray to all the gods that he would not cross my path…!”

  “You were just over-reacting, it’s only a book Celina.”

  I stared at Ana for a very long time. My mind raced to question how could she utter such words, it’s only a book, Celina.

   “Huh?! Ana, it’s not only a book. It’s neither about the money, nor the replacement of the book. The issue here is, the love for my job and the commitment to take care of them like they were my babies. It was my responsibility. Can’t you realized that?”

    Ana fell silent. She knew I was serious this time. She would be better off not to say a word. It was not a secret how passionate I am about my books. It’s my life. My heart and soul and everything.

    For me, nothing else matters.