DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN

I´m learning to read and write and I like to do it on my own. All help is very welcome

     I came across the letter while I was cleaning the larder. It was inside a china pot, folded four times.

     Handwritten in black ink a letter like this one arrived at vicar´s house once. In harmonious words those lines said that that prayer had already been around the world several times and was written by a fervent believer from Lindosfarne after a revelation. Also it said you should send to others six friends six copies if you wanted to receive blessings and good luck; otherwise, IF YOU BREAKE THE CHAIN  —this capital letters, to me were big letters, scared me a bit— IF YOU BREAK THE CHAIN you might expect misfortunes for a half a year. It warned do not forget the secret word too. And finished saying the whole world will be happier by means that prayer.

     The vicar said that letter was a kind of sacrilege for the church and his parishioners and my lady said “do not throw it to the garbage, you must burn it”. That way the chain was broken.

     When I told my family the letter matter my mother asked me “did you touch the paper?”, “I didn´t”, “better for you. You are not infected by the evil. They do not give you the evil eye” —I remember Beatrice searching for her Bible and praying for my own good—, “but your employer is in danger from now on”.

     My mother had heard this letter story somewhere and she was totally convinced the threat would be carried out. Folks in my county are very superstitious. Folks are very superstitious in Andalusia as well. More in Andalusian villages.

     The Andalusian letter was typed on an old yellowish paper. It could have been written at least thirty years ago. The words were getting running and had some differences with regard to the English one. For example, this letter did say nothing about how many times it had been around the world; nobody knew who wrote it and it came without signature (secret word). The envelope was lost.

(It could be that as the vicar touched the letter and he touched me: it happened what happened.)

Chained prayer

     You should write seven copies for seven friends or acquaintances. You have seven days —a letter per day— to do it.

     “Did you do what the letter said?” —I asked.

     “No, I didn´t” —she answered.

     “Why?”

     “Because at that moment I didn´t know what to do. My children said me that was a nonsense, but I… I didn´t tear it. I put it in that pot which I had almost forgotten. What can we do?”

     “Has there been any misfortune since the letter arrived?”

     “My husband´s death.”

     And she quickly said his cancer was detected a couple of years before, therefore I suggested her return it to the ceramist jug again, where she had been so many years. I think she stayed more calm.

     A red-hot ember in your hands was that piece of paper.

     In any case, Fran, the prayer has had to break many times because around the world is not happiness precisely what is being spread.

     Y. a.

     Mary