Nora

n the dining room:

("I don't know why my husband is doing this to me . . . and in front of
my face! He thinks I don't know he's looking at Nora out of the corner
of his eye. I'm no fool. I've lost my appetite now. I'd like to kill
him. I can't stand that he's not even trying too hard to conceal what
he's doing. She's been all smiles for him too but he hasn't smiled
back, at least he has some respect left for me and for his son.

On the other hand, he's never (or at least not that I know of) being
unfaithful before but . . . there's that saying, there is no fool like
an old fool. He probably wants to start now that he is fast approaching
50. It's true Nora is only 26 and pretty and I am 41 ... well 42 more
or less. I still don't think it's fair. I can't believe he . . ., but
this isn't going to remain like this. I've told him many times that if
he is ever unfaithful to me I would get even . . . an eye for an eye,
that's my motto. "

"Marquito is also watching his father. He seems to be a little ill at
ease. Maybe he knows something and his father has asked him to keep it
from me. I won't forgive Nicomedes if he has recruited his own son to
help him conceal whatever it is he's doing. I really find it extremely
low of him. What kind of example is he setting for his 13 year old son?
On the other hand, he may think it a good idea to start introducing him
to this Latin guy notion of having a couple of mistresses behind the
wife's backs. Well, not just among Latins but here it's more condoned
and even encouraged by the macho society in which we live.")
------------------------------------
After work

Nora had finished clearing the table and had excused herself to go
upstairs to rest a little after the midday meal. She came daily to help
the Peraltas after she has finished her work at the local bakery in the
morning. Now she wanted to rest, put her aching feet up on a couple of
pillows on her bed. Loida Peralta observed her husband's eyes following
the girl as she left the room. Incensed as she was she tried to hide
it, not wanting him to know she was aware of what he was up to.

Still the dining room

Marquito also asked to be excused but his father sent him to clear part
of the back yard in preparation for some work he was planning to do.
Loida was astonished. Why didn't he want his son to take his usual
afternoon nap? This was very suspicious. The only possible explanation
was the he wished to be left alone with Nora on the second floor
knowing quite well that Loida normally stayed downstairs reading,
sometimes falling asleep there. Loida's thoughts started taking a more
militant turn. She was now sure she'll soon have to honor her motto and
get even. Mentally she tried to go over the possible candidates.

A list of admirers

First of all, there was the librarian who always stopped when he saw
her and talked to her extensively about different authors and books
that they both enjoyed. There was some kind of mental rapport there, no
doubt about it. However, she was forced to admit that this particular
idea was leading her nowhere. This candidate and his platonic interest
have no hope of making any dent on her husband's honor. The librarian
was in a way of speaking not interested on females.

She next thought of Gonzalo, the bank clerk with his unctuous talking
and lascivious stares. This one was a well-known coward that would not
risk a confrontation with her husband or any other husband for that
matter. Then there was the butcher. He usually added a little extra
meat and a sausage or two when she went there shopping and gave her
agonizing looks from behind the counter. This one was hopelessly shy
and his wife kept a stern eye on him with little chance for Loida to
find him alone. Besides she didn't want to cause another woman the same
pain she was going through.

Finally she considered her last candidate. Venancio, the baker.
repeatedly praised her, and was attentive and full of gallantries and
pleasantries for her. The best part was that he always paid more
attention to her than to Nora who worked for him, showing with this a
partiality for cleavage rather than youth. He had the added bonus that
he was usually alone in the afternoon, his customers rarely entering
his premises after 2 o'clock. At this hypothetical stage he was no
doubt the best candidate.

Loida watched her husband getting up and heard him mumbling some excuse
to disappear not before asking her to keep an eye on Marquito. Loida
was left speechless. Keep and eye on Marquito, indeed! What about
keeping an eye on him! She couldn't believe that kind of shameless
behaviour. However this mentioning of her son reminded her that his
clothes were on the line and it had started to rain lightly. She rushed
to the kitchen yard and picked up the clothes busying herself in
placing them on chairs and armchairs to dry.

On the stairs

When she finished she moved toward the stairs. She wanted to find her
husband, maybe even catch him red handed. As she climbed some steps she
heard some giggling and low voices coming precisely from Nora's small
room on her left. Loida stopped and leaned against the railing. She had
to hold on to it, she felt so overwhelmed.

Her mind started racing, one image followed another in her plan for
revenge against her husband. She would go out dressed in a particularly
becoming attire, perfumed and fresh, entered the bakery, a coquetish
smile on her face soon making her intentions known to the owner of the
establishment behind the counter. Or she would go out in disguise
avoiding everyone and furtively entering the bakery, revealing herself
to the baker, a coquetish smile on her face. Or then again she would
pretend an urgent need for a combination of rye and sunflower bread
calling from the back door of the bakery during the midday closing
hours crying when he open the door and so gaining the baker's
sympathy.

These thoughts were rudely interrupted by more muffled and suspicious
sounds coming from Nora's room. Loida felt sure now she was going to
need the baker's services in the very near future. Fuming and full of
revengeful thoughts she reached the top of the stairs. However at this
moment some images were intruding in her mind putting some obstacles in
her well-thought out plans. First of all the baker, being his own best
customer in pastry's consumption and with a rather short stature had
developed long ago a rotundity of figure that made Loida doubt he could
tie his own shoes and "what if he can't" she thought with some alarm.
The next image was even more distressing because now she pictured the
baker welcoming her with a smile where some of the most important teeth
were missing. Her intentions of cuckolding her husband with the baker
in the role of Don Juan were now considerably weakened.

However, the sounds were getting even more suggestive and she had to
come to a decision. She wanted to pretend ignorance of the affair and
keep her dignity but on the other hand she could not allow such
behaviour to go on in her own house. Baker or no baker she must put a
stop to it. She walked determinedly towards Nora's door, opening it.
Her eyes fell on the bed, a look of horror replacing her angry
expression while she heard her husband's voice from the top of the
stairs: "I told you to keep an eye on Marquito."