Lydia Puma, A Fourteen Year Old Girl from Cusco, Peru: Her Voice
Translator's note: Lydia sells ceramics on the streets in Cusco, Peru. She writes poetry and songs in Quechua, and sings them herself. She told this story today, April 29, 1997.
Sunday, I spilled water on the TV, a $30.00 black and white. My mother
kicked me out.The last three nights Lisdy and I slept in an abandoned house.
I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday. Yesterday I had a piece of
bread, some salchipapas (chopped hot dog with fried potatoes)and a cup of
mate. The day before I didn't eat. I haven't been to school this week, I'm
too dirty. I would like to tell you about my life.
When I was seven I started working. I went to Q'enko (a carved out rock,
main tourist attraction near Cusco) between 7:00 AM and noon and explained
to tourists about the temple, and sold cloth woven wool bracelets. The
tourists gave me tips. From 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM I went to school. I had to
support my father and my mother because they were both alcoholics. They sold
everything in the house, blankets, furniture, cooking pots,clothing,
everything to buy alcohol.
When I was twelve my father died of alcohol poisoning, from drinking wood
alcohol. He choked and blood gushed out of his mouth and nose. They accused
me of killing him because I tried to wipe the blood off with a sponge.
After my father died, my mother sent me to a seņora in Lima. I was still very
much a child. Twelve years old. I worked in her house and her restaurant,
peeling vegtables,
cooking, washing dishes, cleaning up after everyone. I woke up at 6:00 AM,
worked, went to 'accelerated' school at 3:00 PM, came back to work at 5:00
PM and went to sleep at Midnight. I never went out on Sundays. I was paid
S/22.00 ($8.00) per month. The seņora didn't buy me clothing, but her son
did. The seņora never hit me, but she screamed all the time, and her
daughters hit me. I worked for ten monthes and quit. I had to leave my
school papers behind with the seņora because she refused to give them to me.
I came back to Cusco with the money that I saved. I had some money left
over and bought myself a blouse, and some shoes for my mother.
My mother leaves in the morning to drink. She drinks caņazo (pure cane
alcohol) mixed with water. She falls down and I have to help her back home
after I sell ceramics. She falls down and sleeps on the floor. If I haven't
sold anything, there is no food. She insults me, especially if I haven't
sold anything or brought any money for food. She calls me names and kicks me
out of the house.
The house is one room adobe without windows and a dirt floor. The only
furniture is an old bedframe. My brother sleeps on it. I sleep with my
mother on the floor. We have two blankets. I hate being in my house, it is
too silent.
What I like best is to go to school, and to sing my songs in Quechua. Right
now I have problems. I missed two days because I am sleeping in an abandoned house. I
don't have anything to eat aand I'm dizzy. The doctor says I need pills for
anemia. I don't have my papers from last year because the seņora kept them.
I would like to call Simon Bolivar School in Lima to see if they have the
papers. I need $15.00 for the tuition, my uniform, which I bought three
years ago, is way to small, I don't have any text books. I have only one
pair of socks, one blouse, two tee shirts and a sweater so it is hard to
keep my clothes clean.
I earn about S/7.00 ($US3.00) a week selling ceramics. I'd rather sell
scarves and sweaters because I could earn more money. The municipal police
steal my ceramics from my basket, so do my 'friends'. All the money I earn
goes for food for my mother and I. I don't buy her alcohol. I hate drinking.
I hate parties. But I went to a discotec the night before last. I didn't
like it. I left after a half an hour. I want to support my mother until she
dies, don't ask me why because I don't know.
I want to finish school. I want to become a tourist guide, like it was when
I was a little girl at Q'enqo. I want someone to help me.