The two of them rocked gently and silently in the rocking chair by the hearth. The little girl, nestled in the old woman's arms, felt the warmth of her body and the beating of her heart, a heartbeat that had so often lulled her to sleep peacefully. She would never leave that safe, warm place.
"Grandma, Grandma, tell me a story!"
The rocking chair paused for a moment. The grandmother gazed at the child, kissed her forehead, and held her little body close to hers with infinite tenderness. A wave of pleasant warmth and peace enveloped them. She closed her eyes, cleared her throat, and said:
"Well, I'm going to tell you a story that, although not very cheerful, shows children the dangers of life and the importance of trusting their parents."
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Gloria who was very pretty and obedient.
"Was she named after me?"
"Yes, my child, and like you, she was loving and kind. She was an only child, and her parents loved her very much and wanted the best for her. Although they weren't rich, they had managed to save, with great effort, a considerable sum of money with the sole purpose of giving their daughter the best possible education.
Her life passed peacefully, without haste, without arguments, but with much love.
Sebastián, as her father was called, was the shoemaker in the small town. He had made everyone's shoes, and he had made them so well that they lasted almost a lifetime. Only occasionally did the neighbors come for repairs, such as replacing half soles or heel caps that had worn down from use.
He charged little, late, and poorly. On many occasions, he didn't even charge because the customer complained about his bad luck. Sebastián would then say, "Don't worry, man." Pay me when you can.
He was so good that he never asked for payment, and sometimes the debts were never settled.
Her mother, Luisa, was a kind, loving, and prudent woman. Only occasionally, and on rare occasions, did she urge her husband to collect the payments. She trusted him and let him do as he pleased. She saved everything she could from her small salary and made wonders of it. Her priority was saving as much as possible so she could send her daughter to the capital to study and get a good education that would make her an independent and strong woman.
"Darling," she would say as she combed her hair and braided it, "you have to study hard so you can be whatever you want to be in life and not depend on anything or anyone. Do you promise me you will?"
The girl nodded, but without quite understanding what her mother meant.
The years passed sweetly for the three of them, until the moment arrived—both dreaded and longed for—when the girl, now a young woman, was sent to the capital to study at the high school. Since they didn't have enough money for a boarding school, they asked a relative if she could stay with them during the school year. She readily agreed, provided the parents paid a small sum for room and board. Everything was arranged.
The day of departure arrived. The parents accompanied the girl to make sure everything was in order. They went to the high school to speak with the headmistress and introduce their daughter. They gave the agreed-upon money to the relative and, with suppressed anxiety and sadness, said goodbye to their daughter with many hugs, many words of advice, and quite a few tears.
The parents returned to their village, and the girl remained behind, nervous but excited about the new life that lay before her.
Aunt Gertrudis was a distant cousin of Luisa's who had gone to the capital to work as a live-in maid. Over time, she had married, been widowed, and now lived alone in a fairly comfortable house.
At first, everything went well, as planned. The girl attended classes and did her homework when she got home. Being the well-mannered and obedient child she was, she helped her aunt with the chores and listened attentively to everything she said.
One day, Gertrudis, who was quite particular, said to her:
"Gloria, why do you go to school every day? Don't you get tired?"
"No, Auntie, besides, it's what my mother told me I should do."
"Wouldn't you like to see the city, have some fun?"
"Then I'd miss classes, and I have to study..."
"It wouldn't matter much. You know, I don't agree with your parents. I think it would be best if you used your time to find a boyfriend." That way you wouldn't have to work. We could spend your parents' money on dresses, jewelry... practical things to beautify you so you could snag a good husband who would lift you and your parents out of poverty.
"And what would they say if I did that? They'd be so angry with me!"
"No, dear, no. That would be at first, but later, when they saw you marrying a rich man, they'd be overjoyed. Don't doubt it!"
The little girl wasn't entirely sure what her aunt was saying, but through sheer persistence, she eventually convinced her. So, she stopped going to school, and the money she should have paid for classes was instead spent on shopping.
Rare was the day that the aunt didn't buy things for herself. She almost never, if ever, came home with anything for the girl. What a coincidence that the shops they visited never had anything suitable for little Gloria!
The naive girl suspected nothing. Her parents, good people and incapable of imagining what was really going on, sent the money regularly.
The old woman paused and sighed deeply.
"And what happened next, Grandma?"
"Well, Gertrudis, the aunt, found a new husband. Gloria was left without learning, without any education, and without the dresses and the rich husband her aunt had promised her." The parents, saddened by their daughter's behavior, fell gravely ill and, lacking the funds for treatment, died a month apart.
"What became of Gloria after her parents died?"
"Her aunt wanted nothing more to do with her. She was a nuisance in her life with her wealthy husband. She was ashamed of her. She found her a house where she made her a servant and never wanted to see her again."
"How sad, Grandma! I will always do what my parents tell me."
"I hope so, dear... And don't forget that a girl who walks through life with her head held too high risks falling to the ground. Listen to those who love you and don't heed the flattering voices that disturb you and lead you astray."
The rocking chair began to rock again, and the old woman tenderly embraced the small body that clung to her, seeking protection.