Yanhui and her husband rent this yard from one of Hunter's uncles - 'Si Shu' (Uncle 4), or it might be No 7 uncle. I'm a little confused by the family tree. There are 5 uncles and 2 aunts in total, Hunter's father being the eldest, though he passed away several years ago. No 6 Uncle runs the B&B (and works on the railway lines) and this is No 2 Aunt in the picture. She suffered brain damage (I think at birth, though it's difficult to unravel her life story) and, unable to speak, relies on body language to communicate. She can vocalise feelings through shouts and cries. We've been getting to know her over recent weeks and are finding communication easier and easier, though we've noticed that many villagers ignore her. The dogs, on the other hand, find her passionate shouts and arm-waving somewhat alarming and howling in the canine community normally announces her imminent arrival. She's been visiting nearly every day and leaves with all our empty bottles and cans, though she gives me the bottle tops for my bingo set.
We met No 2 Aunt at the shop yesterday, on our way back from a walk. Her and the two girls had an ice lolly and we walked back to the house together. She has already told us about her past dog bites - a topic close to our hearts at the moment - and graphically recounts tales of being attacked when she was a little girl. Yesterday's story, however, was more upsetting. When she entered the courtyard and sat down, she was distracted by what we call the store room. She told us about someone who was tied up by the wrists and left in that room alone while the family went out to work - it's difficult to know who - either her husband as a little boy, or another relative. Her face and voice were pained as she recounted these memories.
Today's visit, when she brought us 3 home-grown cucumbers, also moved me, though this time Aunt No 2 didn't share the story herself. I came out of the kitchen to find her cradling Baby Annabelle in her arms, gazing at her intently and apparently lost in thought. She was much calmer than usual as she sat Annabelle on the ground and played with her, for over half an hour. Aunt No 6 had already told me that Aunt No 2 had a son, who was raised by No 3 Uncle (in Beijing?). Her son, now in his late twenties, has a little girl. Aunt No 2 is so proud of him (re-enacting the story of her pregnancy, ever increasing size and nursing of the baby) and can talk of him without the pain of other tales.
She loves watching Freda and Edie play and enjoyed blowing bubbles yesterday. Sometimes she's like a young child. At other times it's clear she's a grown women, with a lifetime of experience, trapped in body that isn't always compatible with the social world around her. When she struggles to recount her stories I sense the same frustration in Aunt No 2 that I have felt many times when trying to communicate in China. Perhaps that's why we manage to understand Aunt - we've also had to find creative ways to relate to and understand others when circumstances are less than 'ordinary'.
We met No 2 Aunt at the shop yesterday, on our way back from a walk. Her and the two girls had an ice lolly and we walked back to the house together. She has already told us about her past dog bites - a topic close to our hearts at the moment - and graphically recounts tales of being attacked when she was a little girl. Yesterday's story, however, was more upsetting. When she entered the courtyard and sat down, she was distracted by what we call the store room. She told us about someone who was tied up by the wrists and left in that room alone while the family went out to work - it's difficult to know who - either her husband as a little boy, or another relative. Her face and voice were pained as she recounted these memories.
Today's visit, when she brought us 3 home-grown cucumbers, also moved me, though this time Aunt No 2 didn't share the story herself. I came out of the kitchen to find her cradling Baby Annabelle in her arms, gazing at her intently and apparently lost in thought. She was much calmer than usual as she sat Annabelle on the ground and played with her, for over half an hour. Aunt No 6 had already told me that Aunt No 2 had a son, who was raised by No 3 Uncle (in Beijing?). Her son, now in his late twenties, has a little girl. Aunt No 2 is so proud of him (re-enacting the story of her pregnancy, ever increasing size and nursing of the baby) and can talk of him without the pain of other tales.
She loves watching Freda and Edie play and enjoyed blowing bubbles yesterday. Sometimes she's like a young child. At other times it's clear she's a grown women, with a lifetime of experience, trapped in body that isn't always compatible with the social world around her. When she struggles to recount her stories I sense the same frustration in Aunt No 2 that I have felt many times when trying to communicate in China. Perhaps that's why we manage to understand Aunt - we've also had to find creative ways to relate to and understand others when circumstances are less than 'ordinary'.
No 2 Aunt with Baby Annabelle.
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