16I had my twelfth birthday in 2000 and I had to go to church to be confirmed.
‘Josephine!’ Mama Aida said. ‘José is twelve now.’
We were sitting around the dining table in the kitchen.
‘You go smoke your poisons, Aida, and let José go his own way,’ Mother replied.
‘I’ve given up smoking m*******a,’ Mama Aida retorted sharply.
‘Since when?’ asked Mother with interest.
‘From today,’ answered Mama Aida, without looking at my mother.
Mother didn’t comment, but went to feed Adrian. Mama Aida continued, ‘We have to take José to church, Josephine.’
Adrian automatically made the sign of the cross in the air as soon as Mama Aida mentioned the church.
‘Sooner or later José will turn Muslim in his father’s country,’ Mother said. ‘If you’re such a believer . . .’ she resumed, then paused a m
