Memories

Who doesn't carry, deep in their heart, a memory from childhood? How many little devils do we carry inside? Are children wicked, or are they simply unaware of the mischief they do? You'll give the answer yourselves once I've told you this story. A casa chorizo, a long central courtyard, rooms running the whole length of it. Wood-burning stoves, one for each room, where a married couple with one or two children lived. At the back a staircase that led up to the sky, freedom for the kids, there were 8 of us with ages ranging from 3 to 8. A generous grapevine covered the whole courtyard, we dreamed about those grapes, but they weren't ripe yet. My mother, I was 5 years old, warned me, "Green grapes are bad for you, you can die."

Someone had to prove it, "NOT ME," I had to pick one of the older kids, no, they'd catch on, well, I thought, Bella has 4 children and if one of them dies it's not a problem. I planned the thing out, I pulled off a bunch from the terrace and sat down to wait, along came Miriam, 3 years old.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing, eating grapes"

"Can I have some?"

"They're not green"

"I want some"

"What if you get sick"

"I want them, give them to me," she grabbed 2 grapes from me and ate them. Mission accomplished, now to wait.

That night my sleep was tormented, the ghosts of death made faces at me (I was 5 years old, I had no idea what death was) I couldn't sleep, mom got up at 6 like every day.

I told her Miriam died and I started crying inconsolably.

"Poor thing, you had a nightmare,"

"No, really, it's my fault she died," stammering and crying inconsolably. "I I I gave her gr green grapes. I didn't want her to die, it it was a te test." Mom had to hold back her laughter and didn't punish me, because I felt so guilty already that she figured the bad night and the guilt were punishment enough.

From that day on I became Miriam's guardian and I defended her to everyone. As far as her mother knew, the little girl just had diarrhea.

You, my secret accomplices, be the judge of whether it was a wicked act or just a childish prank.