Bless Me Ultima: Independent Reading Project
Bless Me Ultima is a book that I read during an Independent Reading Project. It was my favorite book and also my favorite to work with. There were 4 choices in which you can do to get a graded. I chose to rewrite a chapter in the story into my own words. This I liked doing because I was able to modify the text into my liking. I was able to create a story within a story that’s why I enjoyed this project so much. The story had many things to write about but I chose chapter 2 because I didn’t want to spoil the story for my classmates by going in too deep. Also, this chapter had a lot of suspense and my classmates like suspense. This work is worth putting into the portfolio because it shows my interest in making stories. The story is shown below and you can read if you want.
Binly Phounsily
11/19/02 Per. 6
Bless Me Ultima, Chapter 2
Ultima got used to our daily routines in life. They first day she put her apron on and helped mother with breakfast. Later, she wiped the windows and did the laundry that was in the garage. It was as if she has always been there. My mother did not feel lonely anymore because she could talk about anything with Ultima. She usually would talk about my brothers and how worried she is about them fighting in Vietnam. My sisters Mary and Joy were relieved they did not have to do work. They were happy that they had time to play with their Barbie dolls and Playstation 2. They gossiped too much about the boys in their classroom, and their descriptions of them are very meticulous.
“Ultima, thank you for cleaning out my closet and my room, I would have died trying to fix the mess. Oh and I can’t wait to taste your food during dinner time!” My father was pleased to see another helping hand in the household. Although the house was big, it was not what you would call rich. “Sigh… My sons used to help me with cleaning and hammering broken parts together. Those were the days…” The house is very old and was built by my brothers, who my dad would sigh about all the time. Having Ultima around the house made him feel like he had an aunt running the house. Ultima was only 21, but young and beautiful to me. She is like my godmother who helped my mother give birth when she was only 14. My father was always happy when this came to mind.
“You should stop drinking for a while Marez, you might get real sick from all this poison you are consuming,” Ultima would gesture. When these thoughts were not present, my father would be sad and bitter. His three sons were at war and he did not know if they were coming back. He would get drunk every night just to forget his pains. Muttering to him in a raving sense about marez blood and moving westward was what he enjoyed doing. Sometimes my father would even cry, although I do understand this because even men can cry.
I was also happy with Ultima present in the household. Everyday in the morning we would set out and gather flowers, plants, or just gather herbs for her medicines. I felt comfortable when I saw her chant to the flowers. Her voice was reassuring and thought my life would all be alright. Despite the evil people taking our land and pushing us away from our homeland. She taught me how to speak to the plants to ask to use the plants or trees. She taught me many lessons in life just by walking with her. She knew so much and yet was so young. I wondered how I would be like when I was 21, but that is a long time away from now.
I had been afraid of the awful presence of the river, but due to Ultima, I learned to love it. The river has spirits and spirits live in peace unless an evil force messes the flow of their spirit lives. Innocence would be my shield for only so long, and Ultima helped me realized that I would not be safe from truth for so long. Her falcon’s cries also warned me that the time will come for me to see reality.
It was Friday night; my mother was folding our clothes as we were getting ready for Sunday’s Mass. I was minding my business watching “Superman” on TV. My sisters were already sleeping and my dad was feeding the animals before late supper. The house felt silent even with the television making sounds of heat rays and punches. It felt dead silent when Ultima’s Falcon gave its warning cry. I jumped up instantly and ran to the window to see what was going on. I saw a man in a dark silhouette running fast paced towards my house. He hurled himself at the door pounding.
“Marez!” he shouted, “Marez! Something has happened!”
I was frightened to see what was going on, but I soon recognized the voice. It was the voice of Jason’s father.
“What is it?” My father asked in concern. My father opened the door and Jason’s father hurled himself in. He was panting gasping for air.
“Lupito! Lupito killed my brother! Just a few minutes ago he shot my brother in the fields and ran towards the bridge in the plains!” Jason’s father gasped for air. His name was Chavez.
My father heard my mother shout “Gabriel” but my father held her and blocked her from seeing Chavez’s face because it was completely horrific. He told my mother to get him a drink of water.
“Oh my God! Oh my God!”
“Calm down Chavez, tell me why did you come here to tell me?”
“Isn’t that bridge part of your land?”
“Why yes it is! Oh my, this could be dangerous. We must set out at once to get Lupito before anything happens!”
My father left with Chavez right after he drank a big glass of Brisk Ice Tea, I assumed we didn’t have water and we ran out. Anyway, the two of them marched out of the house as fast as they could and ran towards the bridge which was half a mile away. I had an unforgiving urge to follow them. I begged my mom until she gave in. After that I ran and followed them to the bridge.
When I arrived there, I saw my father stand with Sheriff Rufus and Chavez. He sighed and shouted, “Lupito, the war made him insane.”
I crawled through the reeds to search for Lupito. When I stumbled through the reeds I caught sight of him. He was a scary looking figure. He had eyes of a wild animal and he was carrying a pistol. I tried not to make noise but I did. He caught sight of me then and there and I was terrified. Soon the flood lights from the sheriff’s car blinded the both of us.
“Lupito, we know you are out there, come out now. You are under arrest for the murder of Mario. Come out now to so you can get questioned,” Rufus shouted out.
Lupito just stared in silence; he would aim his pistol at anyone who drew near. From the distance I heard my father speak, “He is insane. We must shoot him and shoot him now.”
“Yes, we must avenge my brother!” Chavez too was carrying a pistol.
From the yonder I heard a man shout, “Stop this please, we must all reason like human beings. Please give Lupito a chance. You know the war has different effects on different people. Let Lupito state his reasoning,” it was Narisco!
“He cannot reason! He is an animal that killed my brother!” Chavez exclaimed.
“Right!” My father agreed
“No, let me try to reason with him,” Narisco walked towards us he looked like a giant from the shadows.
“Hello Lupito how has it been? Remember we used to get drunk together at the saloons before the war? Oh those were the good old days. I know the war has messed with your mind, but we could all restart new lives. Please go to court and when you do you’ll start a new life. Lupito you could trust me that we all will reason like human beings.”
Lupito whimpered like a dog. He was curious and confused about what to do. Then, he aimed his pistol in the air, and started shooting.
“Look! Lupito is shooting!” Chavez and Rufus shoot their pistols towards the reeds. Lupito jumped up and fired back. I heard Chavez scream in pain. I looked and I saw him collapsing to the floor hold his chest. I couldn’t believe it, but he was dying…
Lupito shouted and ran towards the forest. I couldn’t hear his voice anymore. I crawled and looked at my father and Rufus, who were looking at Chavez holding him as well.
“Bless me…before I die…” Chavez held my father’s hand.
“I bless you good friend, may your spirit sleep in the rivers of the Llano.” It looked as it my father was crying. After all of this, Rufus took his car and drove away.
As for my Father, he carried Chavez to my home. I ran before them so my father wouldn’t see me. When I arrived home I snuck into my bed and hid under the covers. I was crying because I didn’t understand what was going on. I was crying because I just saw the death, the murder of another man. I was sniffling until I heard the soothing cries of Ultima’s falcon. The cries made me feel relaxed and I fell asleep. I felt Ultima’s hand on my forehead before I went in my slumber…
