In 1986, my mother asked me to go to Uncle Antonio’s house to borrow some rice.-nghia

In 1986, my mother asked me to go to Uncle Antonio’s house to borrow some rice.

I didn’t expect him to give us a whole ten kilos. But when my mother emptied it, she suddenly covered her face and began to cry uncontrollably…

The reason behind that left me frozen and it’s something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.

In 1986 I had just turned twelve.

It was a time when poverty crept into many homes in the working-class neighborhoods on the outskirts of  Guadalajara , in the state of  Jalisco, Mexico .

My family’s meals almost always consisted of a little rice mixed with beans or ground corn, accompanied by a watery soup made with wild herbs that we gathered in the countryside.

My father had died several years earlier in a construction accident, leaving my mother alone to raise my two sisters and me.

That day was at the end of winter.

The cold wind blew between the tin roofs of the old houses in the poor neighborhood of  Colonia Santa Lucía .

I saw my mother sitting next to the almost empty jar of rice. She was scooping up the few remaining grains with her fingers and then she sighed.

— Go to Uncle Antonio’s house and ask him for some rice…
— Tomorrow I’ll find a way to pay him back.

I timidly picked up an old cloth bag and left the house.

The dirt road that led to Uncle Antonio’s house was full of dust and buffeted by the icy wind.

His house was just a few doors down from ours. He was my father’s older brother and had lived alone in an old brick house since his wife had died.

When I stood in front of her door, my heart was beating fast.

Asking for help made me feel a shame that burned my cheeks.

But Uncle Antonio didn’t scold me.

He just looked at me for a long time.

There was something in her eyes that was hard to explain…
a mixture of sadness, compassion, and a silent burden.

After a while, he turned around and went into the house.

I thought I would come back with a small handful of rice.

But when he returned, he was carrying a  large bag of rice , which must have weighed about ten kilos.

She put it in my hands.

Her voice was low and slightly trembling.

— Take it to your mom.
— Don’t be embarrassed.

I felt so happy I could hardly believe it.

I thanked him several times and returned home carrying the heavy bag.

On the way back, the cold didn’t seem to hurt so much anymore.

I was just thinking that tonight we could finally eat  hot white rice , instead of watery soup.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I shouted enthusiastically:

— Mom! Uncle Antonio gave us so much!

My mother left quickly.

He helped me place the bag of rice on the floor.

When he opened the mouth of the sack…

His hand   suddenly became motionless .

Among the grains of rice was  a small old wooden box , along with  a carefully tied cloth bag .

I looked surprised.

But my mother began to  tremble .

He slowly opened the box.

Inside was  a letter yellowed with age .