Bless Me, Ultima

Bless Me, Ultima Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

The story begins in the town of Guadalupe, New Mexico, where Antonio Marez age six, lives with his two older sisters', Deborah and Theresa and his mother Maria and father Gabriel. He has three other siblings, all brothers, but they are away fighting the Japanese and Germans in the II World War. The story is first person narrated by Antonio.

Even though Antonio Marez was born in Las Pasturas, his mother, the daughter of a farmer, could only see the benefits of moving her large family into a town. Antonio's father, Gabriel had been a vaquero (cowboy) all his life, and worked and lived in the llano (plains). It would take great sacrifice to leave there. They would have to sell all of their cattle and Gabriel would have to take a highway job. It would hurt his pride to leave, and he would see less of his compadres (friends), but right after Antonio was born, at his mother's urgings, their family moved to Guadalupe, New Mexico, where he could be schooled and have more opportunities.

Antonio begins his recollections in his home, at the top of the stairs, near the cubicle where he sleeps. There he is able to see directly down the stairs and into the kitchen. He would witness many things from his secret place. He was awake the night when he saw his friend Jason's father, came with the terrible news that the sheriff had been murdered. Other times, before the war, Antonio had heard and seen his father and brothers argue.

On the summer night when his mother and father, quietly talked in the kitchen about "Ultima," he had been listening at the top of the stairs. "Ultima la Grande" (one who is old and wise), the very same curandera that had delivered him from his mother's womb on the plains, was coming to live with their family. She was a curandera (one who cures others using herbs and magical powers). He was only six years old but he was wise for his years. He had told mother about his dreams, his "visions, and she told him they were from God and that he would grow up to be a priest in the Catholic religion. Antonio stopped telling mother of his dreams because the idea repelled him. His parents had made the decision that night, to have the aging Ultima, come live out her life with them. It is the way of their "people" to care for the sick and aged. She was to use Eugene's room, the youngest of the three older brothers, who was overseas fighting the war.

On the day of Ultima's arrival, the whole family shares the excitement. Antonio intuitively knows that she will play a big part in his future. That night as Antonio drifts off to sleep he hears the soft hoot of an owl and knows it is "Ultima's owl," and is a sign of protection. He is certain of this! The common belief is, that an owl this close to home is really a witch in disguise, but as Antonio falls off to sleep he has a vivid dream that the owl is good.