“Witches are attracted to the moon,” said Nang Lerma, peering outside the window. As soon as Iya Vellit disappeared inside her hut, we started the rosary. We all knelt on the wooden floor in front of the altar. It was hard on the knees. I knelt down halfway through the first mystery and sat out the rest. The adults knelt until it was finished.
The worship leader began the rosary. She made the sign of the cross, and we followed. “I believe in God, the Father Almighty …” she said, and we joined in. I was fascinated with how they prayed. When they prayed the “Lord’s Prayer” and the “Hail Mary,” they divided themselves into two groups. One prayed the first half of the prayers, and the other finished them. When the first group was at the tailend of their prayer, the other butted in with their
