May

The Mexican Revolution didn’t directly influence my family until this month. Rosalio, a worker on our farm, came to inform us of the Rebels’ arrival. No one ever had any good news to share about the Rebels. I had heard that upon entering homes, they ruined or stole everything they could find and raped all of the women. I instructed Tita and Chencha to hide in the cellar, so that they would remain safe. I cleaned my shotgun and kept it in my petticoats. Rosalio and Guadalupe, two workers who were at my ranch at the time, stood by my side at the entrance of my house.
When the Rebels arrived, I told them that they could take as much as they needed from the corn crib and the stable. I was very stern, hoping that they would understand that I was very serious about the matter. After the men looked around the ranch and found very little, a sergeant announced that he was going to look inside my house. This I most certainly would not allow. I removed my shotgun from my petticoat. With my finger placed firmly on the trigger, ready to shoot, I told them again that no one was to enter my house. I shot the two chickens that the sergeant carried as he made another attempt to come into my house. I warned the captain, telling him that I was capable and prepared to kill him. They respectfully backed away and continued to look around the rest of the ranch.
The captain inquired about my three daughters, and he seemed very upset after I told him that Gertrudis died, unaware that Gertrudis was alive. I am still unsure whether that statement is the truth or a lie. Although Gertrudis may physically be alive, in my eyes, she is dead. Gertrudis can never undo her actions, and I will never forgive her.
Felipe came to tell us that Roberto had died because of the food he has been eating. After hearing this news, Tita became wild and aggressive. She screamed at me, telling me that Roberto’s death was my fault. Disgusted by her rude and bold words, I struck her face with a wooden spoon. Tita then took off and climbed up to the dovecote. Tita brought with her the pigeon and a bucket of worms, the only things she had left to relieve her pain. I removed the ladder, forcing her to stay up in the dovecote all night.
In the morning, when Chencha climbed to the dovecote to bring Tita down, Tita refused. I sent Felipe to get Dr. Brown, who spent hours up in the dovecote with Tita. He reported that she was naked, her nose was broken, and she was covered entirely in pigeon droppings. When he finally managed to bring her down, they drove off in Dr. Brown’s carriage to bring Tita to an asylum.