May Day Eve By Nick Joaquin The old people had ordered that the dancing should stop

at ten oclock but it was almost midnight be ore the carriages came iling up the departing guests! while the girls who were staying were promptly herded upstairs to the bedrooms! the young men gathering around to wish them a good night and lamenting their ascent with mock signs and moaning! proclaiming themselves disconsolate but straightway going o to inish the punch and the brandy though they were quite drunk already and simply bursting with wild spirits! merriment! arrogance and audacity! or they were young bucks newly arrived rom Europe" the ball had been in their honor" and they had walt#ed and polka$ed and bragged and swaggered and lirted all night and where in no mood to sleep yet$$no! caramba! not on this moist tropic eve% not on this mystic May eve% $$with the night still young and so seductive that it was madness not to go out! not to go orth$$$and serenade the neighbors% cried one" and swim in the &asid% cried another" and gather ire lies% cried a third'whereupon there arose a great clamor or coats and capes! or hats and canes! and they were a couple o street$lamps lickered and a last carriage rattled away upon the cobbles while the blind black houses muttered hush$ hush! their tile roo s looming like sinister chessboards against a wile sky murky with clouds! save where an evil young moon prowled about in a corner or where a murderous wind whirled! whistling and whining! smelling now o the sea and now o the summer orchards and wa ting unbearable childhood ragrances or ripe guavas to the young men trooping so uproariously down the street that the girls who were desiring upstairs in the bedrooms catered screaming to the windows! crowded giggling at the windows! but were soon sighing amorously over those young men bawling below" over those wicked young men and their handsome apparel! their proud lashing eyes! and their elegant mustaches so black and vivid in the moonlight that the girls were quite ravished with love! and began crying to one another how care ree were men but how aw ul to be a girl and what a horrid! horrid world it was! till old (nastasia plucked them o by the ear or the pigtail and chases them o to bed$$$while rom up the street came the clackety$clack o the watchmans boots on the cobble and the clang$clang o his lantern against his knee! and the mighty roll o his great voice booming through the night! )*uardia serno$o$o% ( las doce han dado$o$o+ (nd it was May again! said the old (nastasia+ ,t was the irst day o May and witches were abroad in the night! she said$$ or it was a night o divination! and night o lovers! and those who cared might peer into a mirror and would there behold the ace o whoever it was they were ated to marry! said the old (nastasia as she hobble about picking up the piled crinolines and olding up shawls and raking slippers in corner while the girls climbing into our great poster$beds that overwhelmed the room began shrieking with terror! scrambling over each other and imploring the old woman not to righten them+ )Enough! enough! (nastasia% -e want to sleep%) )*o scare the boys instead! you old witch%) ).he is not a witch! she is a maga+ .he is a maga+ .he was born o /hristmas Eve%) ).t+ (nastasia! virgin and martyr+) )0uh1 ,mpossible% .he has conquered seven husbands% (re you a virgin! (nastasia1) )No! but , am seven times a martyr because o you girls%) )2et her prophesy! let her prophesy% -hom will , marry! old gypsy1 /ome! tell me+) )3ou may learn in a mirror i you are not a raid+) ), am not a raid! , will go!) cried the young cousin (gueda! 4umping up in bed+ )*irls! girls$$$we are making too much noise% My mother will hear and will come and pinch us all+ (gueda! lie down% (nd you (nastasia! , command you to shut your mouth and go away%))3our mother told me to stay here all night! my grand lady%) )(nd , will not lie down%) cried the rebellious (gueda! leaping to the loor+ ).tay! old woman+ Tell me what , have to do+)

)Tell her% Tell her%) chimed the other girls+ The old woman dropped the clothes she had gathered and approached and i5ed her eyes on the girl+ )3ou must take a candle!) she instructed! )and go into a room that is dark and that has a mirror in it and you must be alone in the room+ *o up to the mirror and close your eyes and shy6 Mirror! mirror! show to me him whose woman , will be+ , all goes right! 4ust above your le t shoulder will appear the ace o the man you will marry+) ( silence+ Then6 )(nd hat i all does not go right1) asked (gueda+ )(h! then the 2ord have mercy on you%) )-hy+) )Because you may see$$the Devil%) The girls screamed and clutched one another! shivering+ )But what nonsense%) cried (gueda+ )This is the year 789:+ There are no devil anymore%) Nevertheless she had turned pale+ )But where could , go! hugh1 3es! , know% Down to the sala+ ,t has that big mirror and no one is there now+) )No! (gueda! no% ,t is a mortal sin% 3ou will see the devil%) ), do not care% , am not a raid% , will go%) );h! you wicked girl% ;h! you mad girl%) ), you do not come to bed! (gueda! , will call my mother+) )(nd i you do , will tell her who came to visit you at the convent last March+ /ome! old woman$$$give me that candle+ , go+) );h girls$$$give me that candle! , go+) But (gueda had already slipped outside" was already tiptoeing across the hall" her eet bare and her dark hair alling down her shoulders and streaming in the wind as she led down the stairs! the lighted candle sputtering in one hand while with the other she pulled up her white gown rom her ankles+ .he paused breathless in the doorway to the sala and her heart ailed her+ .he tried to imagine the room illed again with lights! laughter! whirling couples! and the 4olly 4erky music o the iddlers+ But! oh! it was a dark den! a weird cavern or the windows had been closed and the urniture stacked up against the walls+ .he crossed hersel and stepped inside+ The mirror hung on the wall be ore her" a big antique mirror with a gold rame carved into leaves and lowers and mysterious curlicues+ .he saw hersel approaching ear ully in it6 a small while ghost that the darkness bodied orth$$$but not willingly! not completely! or her eyes and hair were so dark that the ace approaching in the mirror seemed only a mask that loated orward" a bright mask with two holes gaping in it! blown orward by the white cloud o her gown+ But when she stood be ore the mirror she li ted the candle level with her chin and the dead mask bloomed into her living ace+ .he closed her eyes and whispered the incantation+ -hen she had inished such a terror took hold o her that she elt unable to move! unable to open her eyes and thought she would stand there orever! enchanted+ But she heard a step behind her! and a smothered giggle! and instantly opened her eyes+ )(nd what did you see! Mama1 ;h! what was it1) But Dona (gueda had orgotten the little girl on her lap6 she was staring pass the curly head nestling at her breast and seeing hersel in the big mirror hanging in the room+ ,t was the same room and the same mirror out the ace she now saw in it was an old ace$$$a hard! bitter! venge ul ace! ramed in graying hair! and so sadly altered! so sadly di erent rom that other ace like a white mask! that resh young ace like a pure mask than she had brought be ore this mirror one wild May Day midnight years and years ago++++ )But what was it Mama1 ;h please go on% -hat did you see1) Dona (gueda looked down at her daughter but her ace did not so ten though her eyes illed with tears+ ), saw the devil+) she said bitterly+ The child blanched+ )The devil! Mama1 ;h+++ ;h+++) )3es! my love+ , opened my eyes and there in the mirror! smiling at me over my le t shoulder! was the ace o the devil+) );h! my poor little Mama% (nd were you very rightened1) )3ou can imagine+ (nd that is why good little girls do not look into mirrors e5cept when their mothers tell them+ 3ou must stop this naughty habit! darling! o admiring yoursel in every mirror you pass$ or you may see something right ul some day+) )But the devil! Mama$$$what did he look like1) )-ell! let me see+++ he has curly hair and a scar on his cheek$$$) )2ike the scar o &apa1) )-ell! yes+ But this o the devil was a scar o sin! while that o your &apa is a scar o honor+ ;r so he says+) )*o on about the devil+) )-ell! he had mustaches+) )2ike those o &apa1) );h! no+ Those o your &apa are dirty and graying and smell horribly o tobacco! while these o the devil were very black and elegant$$oh! how elegant%) )(nd did he speak

to you! Mama1) )3es< 3es! he spoke to me!) said Dona (gueda+ (nd bowing her graying head" she wept+ )/harms like yours have no need or a candle! air one!) he had said! smiling at her in the mirror and stepping back to give her a low mocking bow+ .he had whirled around and glared at him and he had burst into laughter+ )But , remember you%) he cried+ )3ou are (gueda! whom , le t a mere in ant and came home to ind a tremendous beauty! and , danced a walt# with you but you would not give me the polka+) )2et me pass!) she muttered iercely! or he was barring the way+ )But , want to dance the polka with you! air one!) he said+ .o they stood be ore the mirror" their panting breath the only sound in the dark room" the candle shining between them and linging their shadows to the wall+ (nd young Badoy Montiya =who had crept home very drunk to pass out quietly in bed> suddenly ound himsel cold sober and very much awake and ready or anything+ 0is eyes sparkled and the scar on his ace gleamed scarlet+ )2et me pass%) she cried again! in a voice o ury! but he grasped her by the wrist+ )No!) he smiled+ )Not until we have danced+) )*o to the devil%) )-hat a temper has my serrana%) ), am not your serrana%) )-hose! then1 .omeone , know1 .omeone , have o ended grievously1 Because you treat me! you treat all my riends like your mortal enemies+) )(nd why not1) she demanded! 4erking her wrist away and lashing her teeth in his ace+ );h! how , detest you! you pompous young men% 3ou go to Europe and you come back elegant lords and we poor girls are too tame to please you+ -e have no grace like the &arisiennes! we have no ire like the .evillians! and we have no salt! no salt! no salt% (ie! how you weary me! how you bore me! you astidious men%) )/ome! come$$$how do you know about us1) ), was not admiring mysel ! sir%) )3ou were admiring the moon perhaps1) );h%) she gasped! and burst into tears+ The candle dropped rom her hand and she covered her ace and sobbed piteously+ The candle had gone out and they stood in darkness! and young Badoy was conscience$stricken+ );h! do not cry! little one%) ;h! please orgive me% &lease do not cry% But what a brute , am% , was drunk! little one! , was drunk and knew not what , said+) 0e groped and ound her hand and touched it to his lips+ .he shuddered in her white gown+ )2et me go!) she moaned! and tugged eebly+ )No+ .ay you orgive me irst+ .ay you orgive me! (gueda+) But instead she pulled his hand to her mouth and bit it $ bit so sharply in the knuckles that he cried with pain and lashed cut with his other hand$$lashed out and hit the air! or she was gone! she had led! and he heard the rustling o her skirts up the stairs as he uriously sucked his bleeding ingers+ /ruel thoughts raced through his head6 he would go and tell his mother and make her turn the savage girl out o the house$$or he would go himsel to the girls room and drag her out o bed and slap! slap! slap her silly ace% But at the same time he was thinking that they were all going to (ntipolo in the morning and was already planning how he would maneuver himsel into the same boat with her+ ;h! he would have his revenge! he would make her pay! that little harlot% .he should su er or this! he thought greedily! licking his bleeding knuckles+ But$$$Judas% 0e remembered her bare shoulders6 gold in her candlelight and delicately urred+ 0e saw the mobile insolence o her neck! and her taut breasts steady in the luid gown+ .on o a Turk! but she was quite enchanting% 0ow could she think she had no ire or grace1 (nd no salt1 (n arroba she had o it% )+++ No lack o salt in the chrism (t the moment o thy baptism%) 0e sang aloud in the dark room and suddenly reali#ed that he had allen madly in love with her+ 0e ached intensely to see her again$$$at once% $$$to touch her hands and her hair" to hear her harsh voice+ 0e ran to the window and lung open the casements and the beauty o the night struck him back like a blow+ ,t was May! it was summer! and he was young$$$young% $$$and deliriously in love+ .uch a happiness welled up within him that the tears spurted rom his eyes+ But he did not orgive her$$no% 0e would still make her pay! he would still have his revenge! he thought viciously! and kissed his wounded ingers+ But what a night it had been% ), will never orge this night% he thought aloud in an awed voice! standing by the window in the dark room! the tears in his eyes and the wind in his hair and his bleeding knuckles pressed to his mouth+ But! alas! the heart orgets" the heart is distracted" and May time passes" summer lends" the storms break over the rot$tipe orchards and the heart grows old" while the hours! the days! the months! and the years pile up and pile up! till the mind becomes too crowded! too con used6 dust gathers in it" cobwebs multiply" the walls darken and all into ruin and decay" the memory perished+++and there came a time when Don Badoy Montiya walked home through a May Day midnight without remembering! without

even caring to remember" being merely concerned in eeling his way across the street with his cane" his eyes having grown quite dim and his legs uncertain$$ or he was old" he was over si5ty" he was a very stopped and shivered old man with white hair and mustaches coming home rom a secret meeting o conspirators" his mind still resounding with the speeches and his patriot heart still e5ultant as he picked his way up the steps to the ront door and inside into the slumbering darkness o the house" wholly unconscious o the May night! till on his way down the hall! chancing to glance into the sala! he shuddered! he stopped! his blood ran cold$$ or he had seen a ace in the mirror there$$$a ghostly candlelight ace with the eyes closed and the lips moving! a ace that he suddenly elt he had been there be ore though it was a ull minutes be ore the lost memory came lowing! came tiding back! so over looding the actual moment and so swi tly washing away the piled hours and days and months and years that he was le t suddenly young again" he was a gay young buck again! lately came rom Europe" he had been dancing all night" he was very drunk" he s stepped in the doorway" he saw a ace in the dark" he called out+++and the lad standing be ore the mirror = or it was a lad in a night go 4umped with right and almost dropped his candle! but looking around and seeing the old man! laughed out with relie and came running+ );h *randpa! how you rightened me+ Don Badoy had turned very pale+ ).o it was you! you young bandit% (nd what is all this! hey1 -hat are you doing down here at this hour1) )Nothing! *randpa+ , was only+++ , am only +++) )3es! you are the great .e?or only and how delighted , am to make your acquaintance! .e?or ;nly% But i , break this cane on your head you maga wish you were someone else! .ir%) ),t was 4ust oolishness! *randpa+ They told me , would see my wi e+) )-i e1 -hat wi e1) )Mine+ The boys at school said , would see her i , looked in a mirror tonight and said6 Mirror! mirror show to me her whose lover , will be+ Don Badoy cackled rue ully+ 0e took the boy by the hair! pulled him along into the room! sat down on a chair! and drew the boy between his knees+ )Now! put your cane down the loor! son! and let us talk this over+ .o you want your wi e already! hey1 3ou want to see her in advance! hey1 But so you know that these are wicked games and that wicked boys who play them are in danger o seeing horrors1) )-ell! the boys did warn me , might see a witch instead+) )E5actly% ( witch so horrible you may die o witch you! she will torture you! she will eat your heart and drink your blood%) );h! come now *randpa+ This is 78@A+ There are no witches anymore+) );h$ho! my young Boltaire% (nd what i , tell you that , mysel have seen a witch+ )3ou1 -here1 )Cight in this room land right in that mirror!) said the old man! and his play ul voice had turned savage+ )-hen! *randpa1) )Not so long ago+ -hen , was a bit older than you+ ;h! , was a vain ellow and though , was eeling very sick that night and merely wanted to lie down somewhere and die , could not pass that doorway o course without stopping to see in the mirror what , looked like when dying+ But when , poked my head in what should , see in the mirror but+++but+++) )The witch1) )E5actly%) )(nd then she bewitch you! *randpa%) ).he bewitched me and she tortured me+ l .he ate my heart and drank my blood+) said the old man bitterly+ );h! my poor little *randpa% -hy have you never told me% (nd she very horrible1 right+ (nd she will be

)0orrible1 *od! no$$$ she was the most beauti ul creature , have ever seen% 0er eyes were somewhat like yours but her hair was like black waters and her golden shoulders were bare+ My *od! she was enchanting% But , should have known$$$, should have known even then$$$the dark and atal creature she was%) ( silence+ Then6 )-hat a horrid mirror this is! *randpa!) whispered the boy+ )-hat makes you slay that! hey1) )-ell! you saw this witch in it+ (nd Mama once told me that *randma once told her that *randma once saw the devil in this mirror+ -as it o the scare that *randma died1) Don Badoy started+ Dor a moment he had orgotten that she was dead! that she had perished$$$the poor (gueda" that they were at peace at last! the two o them! her tired body at rest" her broken body set ree at last rom the brutal pranks o the earth$$$ rom the trap o a May night" rom the snare o summer" rom the terrible silver nets o the moon+ .he had been a mere heap o white hair and bones in the end6 a whimpering withered consumptive! lashing out with her cruel tongue" her eye like live coals" her ace like ashes+++ Now! nothing$$$ nothing save a name on a stone" save a stone in a graveyard$$$nothing% was le t o the young girl who had lamed so vividly in a mirror one wild May Day midnight! long! long ago+ (nd remembering how she had sobbed so piteously" remembering how she had bitten his hand and led and how he had sung aloud in the dark room and surprised his heart in the instant o alling in love6 such a grie tore up his throat and eyes that he elt ashamed be ore the boy" pushed the boy away" stood up and looked out$$$$ looked out upon the medieval shadows o the oul street where a couple o street$lamps lickered and a last carriage was rattling away upon the cobbles! while the blind black houses muttered hush$hush! their tiled roo s looming like sinister chessboards against a wild sky murky with clouds! save where an evil old moon prowled about in a corner or where a murderous wind whirled! whistling and whining! smelling now o the sea and now o the summer orchards and wa ting unbearable the window" the bowed old man sobbing so bitterly at the window" the tears streaming down his cheeks and the wind in his hair and one hand pressed to his mouth$$$while rom up the street came the clackety$clack o the watchmans boots on the cobbles! and the clang$clang o his lantern against his knee! and the mighty roll o his voice booming through the night6 )*uardia sereno$o$o% ( las doce han dado$o$o%)