Dia for Maria

Dia for Maria

Ratona was a cat named Mouse. She was small and gray, and had a tiny squeaky meow. She liked to sit in a hole in the shed wall.

Ratona lived for a long time. Eight months ago, she died. I'm not sad anymore, but I think about her often. One day, Mamá was setting up Tia Teresa's ofrenda, a special altar, for Day of the Dead. Teresa passed away when I was a baby. “ Mamá, can we celebrate pets? " I asked.

“ This is mostly for family, though I suppose Ratona was part of ours, " Mamá said. “ We can celebrate her the day before, " I suggested.

Later, Mamá and I went to the market in Puebla. We got paper banners, sugar skulls, and marigolds.

On October 31, my friends came over. Adriana brought her dog, Sal, or Salt. She had a photo of Sal's sister, Pimienta, or Pepper, who died last summer. Gloria had a picture of Raúl the rooster, a pet she had lost. We set up the banners, marigolds, and photos where Ratona used to sit.