Love in the Cornhusks by Aida Rivera Ford
Summary
TLDRIn 'Love in the Corn Husk' by Ida Rivera, Ford Tinang visits her former employer, the Senora, with her baby. The visit reveals the stark contrast between her past life and current struggles as a wife and mother. She seeks the Senora's help for her baby's baptism and learns of a letter from Amado, her first love, who still holds a place in her heart. The letter stirs emotions, reminding her of a simpler time and a love unfulfilled.
Takeaways
- 🏡 The story revolves around a woman named Tang, who visits the Senora's house with her baby.
- 🐾 Tang encounters strange dogs at the Senora's gate, which shows a sense of superiority and barks at her.
- 👶 Tang's baby is afraid of the dogs and cries, which draws the attention of Tito, the young master of the house.
- 🌺 Tang is reminded of her past duties in caring for the Senora's orchids, which are now neglected.
- 👗 The Senora gives Tang some old clothes and a blanket for her baby, reflecting her former status in the household.
- 🤰 Tang is pregnant again and is in a difficult marriage, which the Senora comments on, showing a lack of privacy and respect.
- 🚜 The conversation hints at the absence of a good tractor driver named Amad, who was previously employed by the Senora.
- 🍼 In the kitchen, Tang observes the new girl who has taken over her previous role, indicating a change in the household staff.
- 💌 Tang receives a letter from Amad, her first love, who expresses his longing and asks if she still loves him.
- 📝 The letter reveals that Amad had to leave due to his mother's illness, and he hopes to reconnect with Tang in the future.
- 😢 Tang is deeply moved by the letter, showing her emotional connection to Amad and her current dissatisfaction with her life.
Q & A
Who is the main character in the script 'Love in the Corn Husk' by Ida Rivera?
-The main character in the script is Ford tinang, a young woman who has left her former life to be with her husband.
What is the setting of the story?
-The story is set in a rural area, with references to a farm, fields, and a bario (a small rural community).
What is the relationship between Ford tinang and the Senora?
-Ford tinang used to work for the Senora and has a complex relationship with her, marked by both respect and a sense of distance due to their changed roles.
Why does Ford tinang visit the Senora's house?
-Ford tinang visits the Senora's house to ask her to be the Madrina (godmother) in her baby's baptism.
What is the significance of the Walling orchid in the story?
-The Walling orchid symbolizes the past life of Ford tinang, as she used to take care of it, and its current state reflects the changes in her life and the absence of her care.
What does the letter that Ford tinang receives reveal about her past?
-The letter reveals that Ford tinang had a romantic relationship with Amado, a tractor driver, who left her but is still in love with her and hopes to fulfill their promise someday.
How does Ford tinang feel about her current life situation?
-Ford tinang feels conflicted about her current life situation; she experiences hardship and struggles but also moments of warmth and affection, particularly when she thinks about her past with Amado.
What is the significance of the corn husk in the story?
-The corn husk serves as a place where Ford tinang can momentarily escape her troubles and read the letter from Amado, symbolizing a brief respite from her difficult life.
How does the presence of the dogs at the Senora's gate reflect the theme of the story?
-The dogs at the gate symbolize the barriers and challenges Ford tinang faces in her life, as well as the sense of being an outsider in her own community.
What is the role of Tito in the story?
-Tito is the young master of the house and the son of the Senora. His interactions with Ford tinang and the dogs show a sense of innocence and a connection to the past.
What does the letter from Amado mean to Ford tinang?
-The letter from Amado is a reminder of a past love and a promise of a possible future together, providing Ford tinang with hope and emotional connection amidst her current struggles.
Outlines
🏡 A Visit to the Senora's House
The narrative begins with Ford tinang arriving at the Senora's house with her baby. She is greeted by strange dogs and a little black mongrel, before Tito, the young master, recognizes her and calls for his mother. Tinang is invited inside, where she feels a sense of nostalgia for her past life working there. The Senora discusses the hardships of marriage and motherhood with Tinang, who admits to being pregnant again. The Senora offers her old clothes and a blanket for the baby, and they talk about the changes in the household since the departure of Amad, a former tractor driver.
🍼 A Letter from the Past
In the second paragraph, Tinang visits the Senora to ask her to be the Madrina at her baby's baptism. The Senora agrees and also provides for the baptismal clothes and priest's fee. Before leaving, the Senora reminds Tinang about a letter for her at the local drugstore. Upon retrieving the letter, Tinang is anxious, fearing bad news. The letter turns out to be from Amad, her former love, expressing his continued affection and explaining his absence due to his mother's illness. The letter stirs up memories of their past relationship and the life she once had.
💌 The Rekindling of an Old Flame
The final paragraph delves into Tinang's emotional response to Amad's letter. She is overwhelmed by the realization that her first love has remained true to her despite their separation. The letter brings back vivid memories of their time together, her life as a young girl working in the fields, and the distinct attention she received from Amad. The paragraph ends with Tinang being startled by a snake and the abrupt awakening of her baby, which snaps her back to her present reality as a mother.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Corn husk
💡Scap
💡Senora
💡Tractor
💡Butterfly Orchid
💡Madrina
💡Baptism
💡Love letter
💡Desert
💡Foul
💡Calaman tree
Highlights
Ford tinang's encounter with strange dogs at the Senora's gate
The little black mongrel's emergence and interaction with tinang and the baby
Tito's warm welcome of tinang and his playful interaction with the dogs
Tinang's observation of the Senora's house and her memories of maintaining the orchids
The Senora's blunt questioning of tinang's marriage and pregnancy
Tinang's reflection on her difficult life with her husband and the hardships of motherhood
The Senora's offer of help by providing dresses and a blanket for the baby
Tinang's inquiry about the Senor's temperament and the absence of Amad, the former tractor driver
Tinang's experience in the kitchen and her observation of the new girl's work
The Senora's advice on baby care and work-life balance for tinang
Tinang's request for the Senora to be the baby's godmother in baptism
The Senora's acceptance and offer to provide baptismal clothes and priest's fee
Tinang's discovery of a letter for her at the drugstore
Tinang's emotional turmoil upon reading the letter from her first love, Amado
Amado's confession of love and longing for tinang in the letter
Tinang's reminiscence of her past with Amado and her feelings of love and betrayal
Tinang's realization of her baby's vulnerability and her fear for its safety
Tinang's emotional response to Amado's letter and her struggle with her feelings
Transcripts
love in the corn husk by Ida Rivera
Ford tinang stopped before the Senora's
gate and adjusted the baby's scap the
dogs that came to bark at the gate were
strange dogs big mouth animals with a
sense of
superiority they stuck their heads
through the hugin lulling their tongs
and straining suddenly from the Guma row
a little black mongr emerged and
slithered through the fence with East
it came to her head down and body
quivering b a
b she exclaimed as a little dog laid its
paws upon her shirt to sniff the baby on
her arm the baby was afraid and cried
the big animal sparked with his
pleasure Tito the young Master had seen
her and was calling to his mother ma
it's Tang ma ma it's Tang he came
running down to open the gate ABA you
are so tall now
Tito he smiled his girl smile as he
stood by wiing the dogs off tenang
passed quickly up The Veranda stairs
lined with Ferns and many colored fogan
Vila on Landing she paused to wipe her
shoes carefully about her the Senora's
white and lavender Butterfly Orchid
fluttered delicately in the sunshine she
noticed though that the purple Walling
Walling that had once been her task to
shade from the hot sun with banana
leaves and to water with mixture of
charcoal and eggs and water was not in
bloom is no one covering the Walling
Walling now tinang asked it will
die oh the maid will come to cover the
orchids
later the Senora called from the inside
Tang let me see your baby is it a boy
yes ma Tito shouted from downstairs and
the ears are huge what do you expect
replied his mother the father is a bobo
even tinang looks like a b
now tinang laughed and felt Warmness for
her former mistress and the boy Tito she
sat self-consciously on the black Nara
sofa for the first time of visitor her
eyes
clouded the sight of the Senora's
flaccidly plump figure swayed in a loose
wasteless house dress that came down to
her ankles and the faint scent of AA
colia blended with kitchen spice seemed
to her the essence of the comfortable
world and she sigh thinking of the Long
Walk Home through the mud the baby's
legs straddled to her waist and Ingo her
husband waiting for her he SP his
stinking of to BBA and sweat squatting
on the floor clad only in his foul
undergarments ano is it not a good thing
to be married the Senora asked ping
tinang because her dress gave way at the
placket and pressed at her swollen
breast it was as a matter of fact a
dress she had given tenang a long time
ago it is hard senor
very hard better that I were working
here
again there the Senora said didn't I
tell you what it would be like huh that
you would be a slave to your husband and
that you would work a baby eternally
strapped to you are you not pregnant
again tinang squirmed at the Senora's
directness but admitted she
was H you will have a dozen before long
the Senora got up come I will give you
some dresses and an old blanket that you
can cut into things for the
baby they went into a cluttered room
which looked like a huge closet and as
the Senora sorted out some clothes din
asked how is
seor I he is always losing his temper
over the tractor drivers it is not the
way it was when Amad was here you
remember what a good driver he was the
tractors were always kept in working
condition but now I wonder why he left
all of a sudden he said he would be gone
for only 2
days I don't know tinang said the baby
began to cry Tang shushed him with
irritation oi Tang come to the kitchen
your babito is
hungry for the next hour Tina sat in the
kitchen with an odd feeling she watched
the girl who was now in possession of
the kitchen work around with a
handkerchief clutch in one hand she had
lipstick on too din noted the girl
looked at her briefly but did not smile
she sat down a can of evaporated milk
for the baby and served her coffee and
cake the Senor drunk coffee with her and
lectured about keeping the baby's
stomach bound and training it to stay by
itself so she could work finally tinang
brought up haltingly with phrases like
if it will not offend you and if you are
not too busy the purpose of her visit
which was to ask Senora to be a Madrina
in
baptism the Senora readily ascented and
said she would provide the baptismal
clothes and the fee for the priest it
was time to
go when are you coming again Tang the
Senora asked as tinang got the baby
ready don't forget the bundle of clothes
and oh tinang you better stop by the
drugstore they asked me once whether you
were still with us you have a letter
there and I was going to open it to see
if there was a bad news but I thought
you would be
coming a letter Tina's heart beat
violently somebody is dead I know
somebody is dead she thought she crossed
her self and after thanking the Senora
prly she hurried down the dogs came
forward and Tito had to restrain them
bring me some young corn next time Tang
he called after
her tinang waited a while at the
drugstore which was also the post office
of the bario finally the man turned to
her Mrs do you want medicine for your
baby or for
yourself no
I came for my letter I was told I have a
letter and what is your name Mrs he
drawled constantina
terol the man pulled the box and slowly
went through the pile of envelopes most
of which were scribbled in pencil
trollolol he finally pulled out the
letter and handed it to her she stared
at the unfamiliar scrw it was not from
her sister and she could think of no one
else who could write to
her Santa Maria she thought maybe
something has happened to my
sister do you want me to read it for
you no no she hurried from the drugstore
crushed that he should think her
illiterate with a baby on one arm and a
bundle of clothes on the other and the
letter clutch in her hand she found
herself walking toward home
home the Reigns had made a deep slew of
the Clay Road and Tino followed the
prince left by the man and the caribous
that had gone before her to keep from
sinking mud up to her knees she was deep
in the road before she became conscious
of her shoes in horror she saw that they
were coated with thick black clay
gingerly she pulled off one shoe after
the other with the hands still clutching
to the ladder when she had tied the
shoes together with the laces and had
slung them on an arm the baby the bundle
and the L were all smeared with
mud there must be a place to put the
baby down she thought desperate now
about the letter she walked on until she
spotted a corner of a field where Carn
husk were scattered under a calaman tree
she shoved together a pile of hus with
her foot and laid the baby down upon it
with a sigh she drew the letter from the
envelope she stared at the letter which
was written in
English my dearest tenai hello how is
life getting along are you still in good
condition as for myself the same as
usual but you're far from my side it is
not easy to be far from our lover dinai
do you still love me I hope your kind
and generous heart will never fade
someday or somehow I'll be there again
to fulfill our
promise many weeks and months have
elapsed still I remember our byon days
especially when I was suffering with the
heat of the tractor Under The Heat Of
The Sun I was always in despair until I
imagine your personal appearance coming
forward bearing the sweetest smile that
that enabled me to view the distant
Horizon dinai I could not return because
I found that my mother was very ill that
is why I was not able to take you as a
partner of Life please respond to my
missive at once so that I know whether
you still love me or not I hope you did
not love anybody except
myself I think I am going beyond the
limit of your leisure hours so I close
with best wishes to you my friends
kunding sarapin bundo
Etc yours forever
Amado P.S my mother died last month
address your letter Mr Amad guran balun
kotab it was tin's first love letter a
flush spread over her face and crept
into her body she read the letter again
it is not easy to be far from our
lover I imagine your personal appearance
coming
forward someday somehow I'll be there to
fulfill our
promise tinang was
intoxicated she pressed herself against
the calaman
tree my lover is true to me he never
meant to Desert me Amado she thought
Amado
and she cried remembering the young girl
she was less than 2 years ago when she
would take food to Senor in the field
and the laborers would eye her
fely she thought herself above them for
she was always neat and clean in her
hometown before she went away to work
she had gone to school and had reached
sixth grade her skin too was not as dark
as those of the girls who worked in the
fields weeding around the clumps of
abaka her lower lip jotted out
disdainfully when the farm hands spoke
to her with many flattering words she
laughed when a babo with two hectar of
land asked her to marry him it was only
a mad the tractor driver who could look
at her and make her lower her
eyes he was very dark and wore filthy
and torn clothes on the farm but on
Saturdays when he came up to the house
for his week salary his hair was licked
down and he would be dressed as well as
Mr hinto the school
teacher once he told her he would study
in the city night schools and take up
mechanical engineering
someday he had not said much more to her
but one afternoon when she was beat to
take some bolts and tools to him in the
field a great excitement came over
her the Shadows moved fitfully in in the
bamboo Groves she passed and the cool
November air edged into her nostrils
sharply he stood and moving beside the
tractor with tools and parts scattered
on the ground around him his eyes were
black glow as he watch her draw near
when she held out the bolts he seized
her wrist and said come pulling her to
the screen of trees Beyond she resisted
but his arms were strong
he embraced her roughly and awkwardly
and she trembled and gasped and clung to
him a little green snake slithered
languidly into the Tall Grass a few
yards from the calaman tree tinang
started violently and remembered her
child it lay motionless on the mat of
husk with a shrick she grabbed it wildly
and hug it close the baby awoke from its
sleep and cries
lustily a mar IA Santisima do not punish
me she prayed searching the baby's skin
for Marks among the Cornus the letter
fell
unnoticed
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