A Fountain For Carmela

A Fountain for Carmela.... In the village of Santa Maria, high in the mountains lived a little girl named Carmela. It has always been the tradition of the women to carry water from the well no matter how far and bring it home. This was done sometimes twice a day. It was another beautiful morning as the Sun began to rise. Outside the front door, brightly colored Parrots were singing sweet songs as Carmela’s mother, Esperanza, prepared the morning meal of tortilla’s, black beans and sweet coffee. Carmela so enjoyed sitting next to her mother by the cooking fire. This was her time, alone with her mother, learning how to tend the fire and grind the maze that she loved the most. As her Mother dipped her ladle into the water jug, it was plain to see that it was almost empty. Carmela looked into the jug and asked…. "Mama, can I carry the water today?" Little Carmela asked, she was so happy to be old enough to do such a thing. Her mother had taught her how to balance the jug on top of her head just right, so as not to spill even drop on their many trips to the well. But the well was half a day’s walk down the mountain and back and she had never gone all by herself. It was a hard task for sure but her familia needed water for cooking and cleaning.