Reason to Blame

(Continuation from Of God and Cod)

After Manuel is brought back to the Nova Scotian's house Pepsi begins nurturing Manuel back to health giving him water, brushing his hair, shaving him and clothing him with her fathers warmest pieces. Once Manuel is able to write he begins sending letter to his Mae (Mother). The first letter Manuel sends he tells his mother he is alive and safe under the watch of Pepsi and her father Andrew. He tells his mother that St. John's, he is certain, is where he belongs. He asks for her to understand and forgive him.

Manuel asks for Pepsi to take care of his letters for him and she agrees. Although she wonders who he is writing to and is glad to know that he is writing to his mother.

After writing his letter Manuel hears Andrew call out to Pepsi, calling her ugly girl. Andrew calls her ugly girl and stupid girl a lot. He calls her this because she has a wooden leg. This does not get to Pepsi, she knows that her father is just a drunk who's opinion doesn't mean much. Although Manuel's opinion means everything to Pepsi. Manuel finds Pepsi intriguing-he does not care about her leg. She is fragile and he feels she needs his tending.

Andrew walks in drunk and Pepsi begins taking care of him. Manuel watches from the room across realizing that this is a typical day to Pepsi. Manuel wishes to help Pepsi but she tells him she will manage on her own.

Manuel's next letter talks more about Pepsi and Andrew. Manuel tells his Mae that he feels stronger and that Pepsi and Andrew are taking good care of him.

Manuel now begins to feel strong enough to help out Andrew with some of his chores- like skinning the animals he has caught. In fact Manuel helps Andrew with an easier way to skin the animals than he was previously doing. Pepsi watches as Manuel skins the animals but as he looks toward her she looks away. This playful game makes Manuel want Pepsi even more but Andrew warns Pepsi to stay away from Manuel. He believes that a strong man like Manuel need a strong woman to take care of him. Pepsi explains that she prayed for him, and god intended for him to be with her. Although Pepsi feels Manuel was sent to her by god Andrew feels she does not deserve him.

In Manuel's next letter he begins to plead with his mother to write back to him, to let him know that she has received his letters and knows that he is alive. He finally tells his mother he is beginning to fall for Pepsi. He says that Pepsi makes his dream of staying in St. Johns and beginning a new life more real.

Pepsi and Manuel begin to come closer and closer with each other. Pepsi shares her memories of her mother, who had abandoned her as a child and Manuel gives Pepsi a sign that he is interested in her.

Christmas time begins to come around and Manuel still had not received a letter back from his mother. He writes to her again and again hoping for something in return. Manuel sent out a letter saying how much he misses home and he hopes for the family to have a wonderful Christmas.

More and more Manuel begins to feel that it was fate that he ended up caught by Andrew and found Pepsi. Pepsi shares her story with Manuel of the day they found him. For weeks Pepsi had been praying for two thing: a real leg and a man, a family to take care of. One morning he father came rowing in with a gift for her, Manuel.

It had been two months Manuel had stayed with Andrew and Pepsi. He had not heard from his mother and on Christmas eve in his last attempt to connect with her he wrote for forgiveness. Walking up on Christmas Manuel smelled the stuffed chicken and the rest of the Christmas meal Pepsi got up early to make. Although Pepsi did not know where her father was and asked Manuel to go find him. It turned out that Andrew passed out in the shed. When Manuel brings back Andrew to the house he is still in a poor mood and says he has a gift for Manuel. Andrew grabs Pepsi as she begs him not to embarrass her. Andrew says that he be lives it is time for Manuel to leave for they have taken good care of him and it is time for him to make plans. Before Manuel is able to say anything Andrew stumbles toward the Christmas tree and picks up a gift for Manuel. Manuel unwraps the gift to find all of his letters to his mother. He begins to feel the room spin and a sudden feeling of illness. Pepsi quickly limps off to her room as her father stands there laughing.

Why do you think Pepsi never sent the letters?