ALBACORA 57 



"Si?" she said, 



"Lou," I said, "I just can't call her that. Suppose I 

 call her something more delicate, say, Nervious." 



The woman looked at me again, her broad, open face 

 wreathed in smiles. "Si?" she nodded happily. 



"It can't be, Lou," I repeated, "but it is." 



"Take care of yourself. Genie," Lou said, almost 

 gaily. "I'm sure the hip is going to be all right. I'm 

 positive it isn't broken." Then he was gone and I was 

 left alone with Nervous-Nervious, who spoke no English 

 but was warm and comforting, and brimming with the 

 best intentions. I addressed her by name as little as pos- 

 sible. Months later I learned that she had been christened 

 Nieves, a beautiful Chilean word that means "snow," 

 but by then it was too late. To us she had always been 

 "Nervious." 



Nieves called me "Niiia" when she gave me break- 

 fast and sponged me and got me ready for the coming 

 of Dr. Lombardy. She definitely approved of both the 

 sponging and the breakfast, but of Dr. Lombardy she 

 was not so certain. Since she spoke no English, offering 

 me medical advice presented a problem, yet she even- 

 tually got her ideas across. With great agitation she 

 pointed to my hip and then to a wide brass bracelet 

 which circled her own forearm just above the elbow. 

 Then, straining a little, she moved the bracelet down 

 so that I could see how it had left a black residue over 

 her dark reddish skin. 



"That's interesting," I said, with as much enthusiasm 



