Paolita - Vignette of Love
SCENE I
Setting. Outside on a pleasant, peaceful, spring morning.
Two missionaries walk the quiet, humble streets of Coihueco, a small town in the fertile valley of southern Chile, within site of the majestic Andes Mountains to the east. One young man, an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is taller and has brown hair. He is nearing the end of his mission. His companion, shorter, with darker hair, and slightly darker complected, has five more months to serve his full-time mission for his faith. Along their walk some homes are small and very modest, surrounded by rickety fences of wood or metal. Other domiciles are larger with gardens and full walls of stone and cement. With little traffic to worry about, they walk on the cobblestone street. A man in a cart pulled by an ox moves past them.
Elder Aguilar: I think that the family will appreciate this service to their daughter. She has not received much attention. The mother is busy with all the other children all the time.
Elder Cluff: I hope that it makes a difference for Paolita herself. I am not a doctor or therapist, but her body could use some kind of exercise of her muscles and bones. Swill not improve without any attention.
Elder Aguilar: It's too bad that this small town does not have professionals that can help her. I am not sure how much that we can be of help, but I think the thought will go a long way. It will be worth it.
Elder Cluff: I really hope so. I would rather be doing this kind of thing at the end of my mission than many other things.
SCENE II
Setting. Inside the Ibanez home. The rooms are small, the floors are swept. Small children, including a baby, play around the kitchen, the living room, and in between. The mother, sister Ibanez, looks haggard as normal, but she has a warm smile looking at the two young men, who are not dressed in suits and ties as they would typically, but are wearing t-shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes. The young girl Paulita, is lying in her bed, shaking a little, and grits and grinds her teeth. She is a beautiful child, four years-old, but she is noticeably disformed, her small body is somewhat uncomfortable on the small floor mattress. She has a glean in her eyes as she looks at the missionaries enter her room.
Elder Cluff: Hello, Paolita! How are you?
Paulita smiles and hums. She cannot talk.
Elder Aguilar: Hey, we are here to do some exercises today. Does that sound all right?
Paulita seems to be excited; her mangled hands move quickly, which indicate that she wants to do this. She makes happy utterances, and laughs. It is hard to tell what her mental capacity or maturity is. Perhaps she is like a one year-old. Elder Cluff thinks she is at the level of her proper age. She will turn five later the next year.
The young missionaries moved her arms, up and down. The mother would watch from the doorway of the small bedroom. They would gently grab her ankles and make her stunted legs and knees move back and forth. They could all tell that Paulita like it, but it was not easy. She suffered from this disease from birth. Doctors could not figure out how to help her. Perhaps there was no cure. Elder Cluff thought that some interaction was better than nothing, if nothing else to show some care and compassion for this little girl and her mother, that people cared.
Elders Cluff and Aguilar did this twice a week for the remainder of his mission, which was only a couple more months that Chilean spring. The river of the town flowed stronger with the melting snow from the distant range.
SCENE III
Setting. In the bedroom of Aaron Cluff. In the days before the Internet and emails, people had to communicate via postage, that could take a long time. After being home a few weeks, Elder Cluff--now--Aaron, as a returned missionary in his hometown, reacquainting himself with his family, he has sent a letter to Elder Aguilar and got one back a couple weeks later.
It read:
"Hello, my favorite companion! How are you? Are you adjusting to post missionary life? The branch here in Coihueco misses you, the whole town does! --it is not the same. But we are doing good things, doing the Lord's work. In answer to your question about Paulita, it has been amazing! Many members of the branch come to Sister Ibanez's house and help her with her exercises. Paulita and her mother love it, and the whole family love the members of the church. You did a great thing, Elder Cluff. Some people in the streets ask me, "Where is that friendly tall Chilean that you were always with?"
Aaron smiled and laughed. He exclaimed in Spanish a half dozen Chilean terms that meant "cool". He had worked really hard to blend in with the people, to be like them and with them, to talk like them and not be abrasive, as some foreigners were known to be, but to be warm and interactive. To listen and to be an active participant as an emissary of his and their beliefs and their God. Most of all Aaron wanted to do good, be good, serve a higher cause and love others as he was supposed to.
SCENE IV
Setting. The old house dining room table where Elder Cluff had stayed in Coihueco. Two years later. Aaron gets a chance through his college to do study abroad. He returns to Chile, at a small college only a half hour from Coihueco, the last area where he and Elder Aguilar tried to show their love and care to little Paulita the best they could. Aaron took the bus there and went visiting his old friends, first to the house, called a "pension", where he had lived his last three months in the country.
It was a joyous reunion.
Clara: Oh, Elder! It is wonderful that you have come back to visit! So many of the young men from Gringolandia never return. Some have written letters but is so special that you have come back in person. We are so happy to have you! You must eat here!
Aaron: Thanks so much for the offer. I can have a bite here, with you, but there are quite a few people that I wanted to visit as well. How are the people doing? Has there been many changes?
Clara: Well, the Fuenzalida family moved to Concepcion. The father got a job there. Little old Grandma Lopez finally passed away. Her funeral was so sweet, so beautiful.
Aaron: Oh, yes, I remember them so much. They always treated me like a king. So gracious and hospitable. They lived in very humble circumstances, but always so generous.
Clara: Well, Elder, this is how we Chileans are. We always treat the stranger with kindness and dignity.
Aaron: So it is, yep. (Aaron spoke like the locals.)
Clara: I am not sure if you knew about Sister Ibanez...
Aaron: Sister Ibanez, the one who lives close to the downtown plaza, behind the chapel?
Clara: Yes, Elder, her house burnt down, so sadly.
Aaron: Oh, no! Were they all okay? No one hurt?
Clara: They all got out, thank goodness. All those little children.
Aaron: I imagine Paolita must have been a special case to remove.
Clara: Oh, you did not hear?
Aaron: No, what is that? What happened?
Clara: Paolita passed away about a year ago. Her body was not strong enough to keep her spirit.
Aaron: Oh, sister! I am so sorry to hear. I did not know. Thank you for telling me.
The two discussed more details; Aaron made sure to find out about all of Clara's family, as that was the biggest source of concern in her life. Her son who was working on buses came by, Aaron and he, Marcelo, had a good time reminiscing. Aaron said his goodbyes, and proceeded to see the other people in the town that he knew. He could not find where Sister Ibanez had moved to. Perhaps she had left town after the fire. He thought about asking some neighbors, which he did at a couple of doors, but they were new residents and did not know.
SCENE V:
The flight home to the United States. It is similar to the one he took home with his fellow missionaries, but now it is deeper and richer than he could have imagined, full of the visits and new adventures that he had experienced by returning to the land of his mission. The people, the changes, the differences and novelties. Aaron sits by the window as they alight from Santiago on the long flight north. He is sitting next to a young woman. She is from Peru. They begin conversing; they both realize they have big spiritual beliefs in common. They are pretty deep into their conversation when the following occurs.
Claudia: That is pretty impressive, two years of your life. Some people may not value the effect that you make on others and society, but I see it as an amazing time of personal growth and learning.
Aaron: Sure, there is a lot in it for us. In the bigger, longer, scheme for those of us who believe in a God and heaven for all our souls, it is about everything. Eternal life and living together with Him in happiness is the ultimate goal. This life is only a part of it. One important step.
Claudia: It is admirable that you have that view. So, you believe in angels?
Aaron: Yes, most certainly. The scriptures are full of angels from heaven; in our Church today we know that angels of God have been to earth to visit us, and inspire us, and at times take care of us.
Claudia: Like guardian angels.
Aaron: Yep. (The Chilean pronunciation and mannerism came out.)
Claudia: Do you believe that you have your own guardian angels?
Aaron: Yes, I believe I do have some. Not sure how or when or how many. My mom thinks she has them, like some of her deceased family, or others.
Claudia: Do you know any of the names of your angels, your guardians and guides?
Aaron thought about that a few beats. He got a little teary. He appreciated having a kind listener who respected his thoughts and challenged his own lines of thinking.
Aaron: I think I do, thanks for making me think. Thinking of who they might be by name.
Claudia: Would you share who it is? Their name?
Aaron smiled and looked off into the clouds through the plane window, trying to shield the water in his eyes from being too visible to his passenger mate.
Aaron: I am pretty sure there is one named Paolita.
Claudia: Oh, how beautiful! Do you ever see her?
Aaron paused a second, uttering his words weakly in volume because of the lump in his throat, but with an assured confidence.
Aaron: I see her now.
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THE END
