Grandma and Grandpa lived next to Minnie and Amalie in Austin, Texas. Β Minnie and Amalie had immigrated from Mexico fairly recently and spoke very little English, but that didnβt hamper their friendship. Β Grandma and Minnie had coffee every morning, chatting over recipes, patterns, housework, and their shared garden plot.. Β It didnβt matter that Grandma spoke not a word of Spanish and Minnie knew little English. Β Theyβd check out each otherβs tomatoes, peppers, and flowers, chattering like nobodyβs business. Though I was a small child when we visited there, I remember fondly that Minnie trusted me push her pretty, black-eyed baby around the yard in her stroller.I was so proud to be a big girl.
Sometimes I followeed Grandpa and Amalie Β around as they smoked hand-rollled cigarettes and worked at some project in the yard or dug in the garden. Β One day they made me a chair by nailing two apple crates end-to-end. Β I sat in that chair as long as I could squeeze into it. Β I learned my first Spanish when Amalie hammered his finger and cursed in Spanish. Β Though I didnβt know Spanish, cursing in any language is cursing. I admired cursing and was always on the Β alert for a tasty tidbit, since I didnβt get to hear it at home.
I was intrigued at hearing Minnie and Amalie talk, my introduction to a foreign language. Β Iβd jabber along, thinking, I was speaking Spanish, stopping periodically to ask Grandma or Minnie to interpret what Iβd said for me.I wish we all got on with our neighbors so well. Β We shared a lovely meal of Grandmaβs greens, pork chops and cornbread and Minnesβs tamales and beans one special evening. Β I didnβt care much for the greens, but Iβll never forget the bite of Minnieβs spicy tortillas.