The Puppet Girl

Postcards

Crowned with rollers on her head and a crumpled nightgown that covered her body, Mrs. Guerrero walked in pushing a cart tray. "Buenos Dias!" she greeted her while her attendant followed her in. "Your mother told me how much you liked cherry pies and gala pies so I made them all myself, didn't I Novio?" she pushed the cart towards the sitting arrangement and looked at her attendant. Summer was surprised to see the lady in that state, she had always dressed to perfection, unlike today.

"Mrs. Guerrero you didn't have to..." Summer rushed towards her and humbly apologised for causing the trouble for Mrs. Guerrero.

"Oh carino! You're no trouble for me and just call me tia', Mrs. Guerrero sounds too formal for me. I'm your aunt, aren't I?" she touched her rollers and sat on one of the chairs While Novio set the table.

"I spoke to your mother last night, she said she will be calling you today..." she said in one breath and watched how Summer shifted in her seat. As much as Mrs. Guerrero wanted to find out what had happened last night, she tried sounding less nosy.

"I'm sorry for what happened last night, I was rude to you," Summer blurted.

"Sorry? You have every right to be rude after what that ignorant fool did to you. In fact, I should be the one apologising on behalf of him. I forced you to go out in the first place. And please call me tia'," Mrs. Guerrero expressed her sympathies.

"Sorry, Mrs. Guerrero...I mean tia. '," Summer apologised again and pushed her hair behind.

"Summer you have to learn to be more aggressive and not so docile!" Mrs. Guerrero sighed. "You're too soft-spoken and with that submissive attitude, people are bound to take advantage of you!" she quoted.

No sooner did Mrs. Guerrero take the word advantage, Summer recalled the horrific incident that took place with her last night and cringed. She knew what Mrs. Guerrero was saying was right, but that was her nature since childhood, she couldn't transform overnight to an aggressive twenty years old. Summer wanted to differ but was too scared to open her mouth and simply agreed to what Mrs. Guerrero said.

"I hope I'm not sounding too harsh but it's for your own good. You should learn from us, we Spanish natives don't give up without having the last say. Especially the ladies, we are as aggressive as the tigress...Look at Evita for example!" Mrs. Guerrero pointed at the portrait.

Summer's heart skipped a beat when she mentioned the name and pointed at the portrait. "You know her?" Summer shivered as she held the cup of tea in her hands.

"Everyone in Spain knows about Evita, you will find her portrait where ever you go," Mrs. Guerrero smiled looking at the portrait while summer stared in disbelief.

"She isn't related to you?" Summer enquired and noticed how the expression on Mrs. Guerrero's face changed immediately. She paused and glanced back at Summer before answering, "No my carino, she is just a rare beauty that captured an artist's eye years ago who latter preserved it in the form of a portrait. Look at her isn't she full of zest and confidence? I wonder if she were for real or just the artist's imagination?" Mrs. Guerrero sighed and got lost in her thoughts as she continued to look intently at the portrait.

Summer recalled the dream she had a pondered for an explanation when all of a sudden Novio interrupted them. "There's a call for la senorita!" he exclaimed with his heavy Spanish accent and looked at Summer.

Overwhelmed that her mother had called, she hurriedly darted down the stairs and jumped for the telephone. She spoke to her heart's content and expressed how much she missed them. She planned to talk more until she heard footsteps from above and caught Rain walking down the stairs. He walked as if he was being forced by an unseen force from behind.

"Hmm...I'll talk to you later mamma and don't worry about me, I'll manage," with that Summer hung up, seeing Rain had ruined her mood.

She waited till he was out of sight and hurried back into her room. "Eh, you're back so soon? Are you feeling better now?" Mrs. Guerrero inquired.

"Yes, tia'!" Summer smiled and glanced at the portrait.

"I don't want to upset you again but I want to apologise for my nephew's behaviour, he is out of my control, unlike his elder brother. Sigh the elder one was much mature than Rainerio, he was a wild child from the start. Anyway, feel free to explore the villa instead of being cooped up in here," she advised and left.

Down in the dining area, Rain sat next to his uncle who had immersed his face in the local newspaper. Rain looked quite different though. His cheekbone had swelled and the scar on the other side looked like he had been to the war.

Covering a side of his face with one hand and resting his elbow on the table he stared at the clock and waited for Novio to serve breakfast. Mr. Guerrero was a man who spoke very less or for that matter hardly spoke anything at all. Not that he never spoke when he was young, he was the complete opposite of what he was now. He loved his service in the army but after age caught up and he was asked to retire, Mr. Guerrero lost interest in his surroundings and developed a liking towards gardening just like most retired army officials did in the neighborhood.

Rain caught him staring through his round spectacles. Amused to see Rain sitting like that, he raised his brows and adjusted his spectacles, indicating him to tell it all.

Rain reluctantly withdrew his hand and revealed the scar on his face. Unfazed, his uncle sighed and buried his head in the newspaper again. Not that the news was more interesting than Rain but he felt that his nephew deserved it for playing such a spoil host. The phone vibrated in Rain's pocket and caught his attention. Rain pulled it out and grimaced on seeing a text message from his friend, Alicia.

Apprehensive about stepping out in public with a scar on his face, he informed her that town on a new assignment. Rainero was too conscious about his looks and he was no way ready to step out looking like a battered soldier.

Up in Summer's room, two inquisitive eyes peered through the doorway while she cleaned her puppets. "Hola! Is someone out there?" she realized she was being watched and enquired.

"Eh it's just the cat...Meow!" a faint voice answered.

"Amada, is that you? Come inside,"

Realising she had been caught, Amada sheepishly walked up to her and enquired about the puppets. She had sneaked in the day before and was enamoured by them. where summer had kept the puppets. "Your dolls are so pretty," Amada exclaimed and reached for Eva.

"Uh...thanks, but don't touch them or they will disappear," Summer gave a light warning and heaved a sigh of relief when Amada withdrew her hands from Eva.

"I know who you are...You are a magician like in the t.v," Amada grinned and said sheepishly.

"A magician? Why do you say so?" Summer asked and laughed.

"I saw you making the dolls talk and move, only magicians can do that," Amada replied and played with the edges of her pink frock.

"Oh no! So you saw me...Hmm well then you know my secret already," Summer winked and asked Amada to tell her more about herself. They hit it off easily and bonded on topics they mutually liked.

"You haven't met my brother, have you? Let's go out," Amada pulled her out.

"Uh...maybe some other time." Summer hesitated.

"It's very pleasant outside! Please I want to show you something!" Amada pestered her and somehow managed to get her out of the room. Summer walked in constant fear of encountering Rain as Amada led the way. She took her around the villa and brought her out to the lawn.

"Amado!" Amada called out to her twin brother who was up to one of his pranks. He was on the verge of launching an earthworm in his grandpa's pants before Amada shrieked and distracted him.

"Buenos tardes! I'm Amado, pleased to meet you," Amado walked up to Summer and kissed her hand like a gentleman.

"Wow! Where did you learn that?" Summer laughed and fell in love with the little boy's charms.

The weather was much better than the day she had first arrived in Madrid. Summer noticed the row of houses around her which were built in a similar fashion with the lawns and villas raised above the ground and roads that snaked below. The place where the Guerreros' lived was just a fifteen minutes walk away from the main city. Seeing the calmness and greenery of the place, Summer understood that it was the Spanish Army's quarters.

The warmth she received from the twin's cheerful laughter and innocence, compensated for last night's ordeal. Summer felt much better and at peace as she watched the twin playing with their grandpa while he watered the lawn.

"I guess coming out to the lawn wasn't such a bad idea after all," She inhaled the fresh air and untied her hair. Letting the wind caress her face, she looked up and caught Rain watching her from the balcony. "Damn he is here!" her heart thumped as she quickly turned away. "He is so unpleasant and unpredictable...just like the rain," She muttered while Rain shifted his gaze towards the twins.

"I'm never saving an Irish girl ever again! Huh...Summer, just like the weather she is dry and boring," Rain grimaced seeing the twins enjoy her company.

"Amado!" he screamed in envy and ordered him to come upstairs.

As any other kid, Amado ignored him. "Amado! Come up at once I said," Rain changed the tone of his voice and sounded serious.

Aware why Rain was reacting that way, she advised Amado to obey his uncle and not enrage him further. While Amado protested, his sister ran towards the mailman and returned jumping in excitement.

"It's here it's here...The parcel is here!" she shrieked in delight.

Amado saw the parcel and ran towards his sister in the same enthusiasm as hers. They both tore open the wrapper and pounced on the things inside it. The girl pulled out a stuffed toy while the boy pulled out a postcard and rolled over the lawn. He kept reading it while the girl came dancing towards her. "My parents sent me this, isn't it pretty?" she cried in joy.

"Your parents sent you the parcel?" Summer froze and felt her legs go numb when she heard what Amada said. How was it logically possible to receive a parcel from the deceased?

"Look they are in the desserts of Africa now, isn't that cool?" Amado came over and showed the postcard to his sister. "I wonder when we will get a chance to travel along with them," Amada sighed.

Summer looked at the two and wondered what was happening either she was going insane by the day or the parents were really alive and sending postcards to their kids. She didn't know how to react and just stood there and glanced at Mr. Guerrero. He seemed unfazed by the parcel and so was Rain.

"Surprised?" Mrs. Guerrero came over and pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Tia', how is this possible? You told me..." she paused and waited till the kids headed back into the villa with the parcel.

"What you heard was right but the twins don't know it yet, they believe that their parents are out there travelling around the world," Mrs. Guerrero looked up at the clear sky and closed her eyes.

"It was Rainerio's decision to not break it to the twins, he loves them more than anything in the world. The twins don't know, but it's him. He sends postcards and gifts. Their parents loved to visit places and often sent postcards to them back when they were alive. Rainerio is continuing where they left.... at least the kids will remain happy and not have to undergo the trauma of losing their parents like other orphans," she explained with a heavy heart.

"B-but, won't he ever tell them the truth?" Summer asked worriedly.

"I asked him the same, but all he says is now is not the time..." she glanced at her husband as he walked past them.