Love in the Cornhusks by Aida Rivera Ford

Summary

In '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

00:00

🏡 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.

05:02

🍼 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.

10:02

💌 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.

Keywords

💡Corn husk

Corn husk refers to the protective layers that encase the corn cob. In the video's narrative, it is used as a makeshift bed for the baby, symbolizing the humble and rustic setting of the story. The scene where the protagonist, Tina, places her baby on a pile of corn husks under a calaman tree illustrates the simplicity and hardship of her life.

💡Scap

In the context of the script, 'scap' seems to be a typographical error for 'scapula', which is the bone between the shoulder blades. The term is used to describe the physical adjustment Ford Tinang makes to the baby, indicating the care and attention she gives to her child despite the challenging circumstances.

💡Senora

Senora is a Spanish term for 'lady' or 'Mrs.' In the script, Senora represents a figure of authority and wealth, contrasting with the protagonist's life. The interactions between Ford Tinang and Senora reveal the class differences and the dynamics of their relationship, which is central to the story's theme of social disparity.

💡Tractor

A tractor is a heavy-duty vehicle used in agriculture for pulling or pushing heavy loads. In the script, the tractor symbolizes the hard labor and the harsh working conditions that the characters endure. Amad, the tractor driver, is a significant character whose absence affects the operations and emotional state of others.

💡Butterfly Orchid

Butterfly Orchid is a type of flowering plant known for its delicate and beautiful appearance. In the script, the orchid represents beauty and elegance, contrasting with the harsh realities of the characters' lives. The mention of the orchid not blooming anymore could symbolize the loss of beauty and hope in the characters' lives.

💡Madrina

Madrina is a Spanish term for a female godparent. In the script, when Ford Tinang asks Senora to be the Madrina in her baby's baptism, it shows the cultural importance of religious rituals and community support in times of personal struggles.

💡Baptism

Baptism is a Christian sacrament that symbolizes the cleansing of sins and admission into the faith. The request for Senora to be a Madrina in the baby's baptism highlights the significance of religious and community ties in the characters' lives and the hope for spiritual guidance and support.

💡Love letter

A love letter is a written expression of affection and longing. In the script, Amado's love letter to Ford Tinang is a significant plot device that reveals his true feelings and the depth of their past relationship. The letter serves as a reminder of lost love and unfulfilled promises, adding emotional depth to the story.

💡Desert

To desert someone means to abandon them. In the context of the love letter, Amado expresses that he never intended to desert Ford Tinang, indicating his loyalty and the emotional bond that persists despite their separation.

💡Foul

Foul in this context refers to something offensive or unpleasant. The description of Ford Tinang's husband as 'stinking of tobbaco and sweat' emphasizes the stark contrast between her current life and the romanticized memories of her past with Amado, highlighting the harsh realities of her marriage.

💡Calaman tree

A calaman tree is a specific type of tree mentioned in the script. The tree serves as a backdrop for the pivotal moment when Ford Tinang reads Amado's love letter, symbolizing a place of reflection and emotional awakening amidst the challenges of her daily life.

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