John of God, The Water-Carrier
The story begins with a young boy rescuing a small girl from an earthquake which struck the village. The boy’s name is Juan de Dios and the girl’s name is Dolores. Juan de Dios decides to devote his life to take care of the girl and marry her when she’s of age. He becomes a water-carrier in his village.
After a while, Juan’s father decides to send him to the City of Mexico to make more money and become a man. Juan spends his years in Mexico working vigorously and supporting his family and Dolores. He also refuses to adjust to the modernization, especially the water systems in the buildings insisting that the only correct way to carry water is on the man’s back.
There comes a time when Juan realizes that he wants to go back to his village and finally marry his Dolores. He makes sure that his brother Tiburcio takes his position in the city. They meet and Tiburcio tells him that Dolores came with him as well. Tiburcio immediately starts to work on Juan’s position while Juan goes to find Dolores. Juan and Dolores meet, and he discovers that Dolores is actually in love with Tiburcio and wants to marry him. Feeling betrayed and angry he drags her to where Tiburcio stayed.
After working all day, Tiburcio got muscle cramps and is unable to move his body complaining about pain. Juan and Dolores believe that it’s an evil force possessing him because of Juan’s curses.
Juan de Dios carries his brother on his back all the way to a shrine to cure him of the demon that possessed him. After walking the long steps Juan’s knees give out, and he falls while his brother miraculously regains strength, as if suddenly cured. Juan gives Dolores and Tiburcio his blessings to live together, and he decides to stay at the shrine, crippled and carrying water, thus becoming John of God.
The Gold Vanity Set
Petra is a striking young girl who grows up to marry a brute Manuelo who beats her and spends most of his time drinking. Their village is visited by an American woman one day, who insists on taking a photo of Petra. Petra refuses, but she uses the opportunity when the woman is not there to take her gold vanity set.
Petra is curious about her newfound treasure and starts applying the powder and rouge, excited about her appearance in the mirror. She goes to Manuelo to show her rosy-cheeked self and Manuelo is so struck by her appearance that he promises to never misuse her again. His promise is followed by a sudden thunder which solidifies the promise.
The American woman is, meanwhile, searching for the thief of her vanity set. She is told that it’s most likely Petra who stole it. After visiting her and her husband, Petra confesses but refuses to give back the vanity set. She tells the woman that the vanity is a blessing which stopped her husband from mistreating her and that she can’t give it back.
Petra guides the American woman to a chapel where she left the gold vanity set by a saint sculpture which touches the woman’s heart and makes her decide to let Petra keep it for the sake of her protection.
The Education of Popo
Popo, or Prospero, is a cherished Mexican Governor’s son who is housing a few American guests in his home. One of the guests is a young woman called Alicia and Popo is immediately stricken by her, who evokes his masculine passion. They go on walks together and Popo confesses his feelings for Alicia.
Alicia is, unbeknownst to Popo, a divorced woman, which clashes with the strict beliefs of Mexicans on the idea of marriage. She keeps him in the blind about this until her ex-husband Edward joins the governor’s party. They dance for the entirety of the night together which brings deep anguish to Popo.
The next day, Popo is nowhere to be found. Alicia believes that he’s hiding in the garden where he confessed to her and where they hugged and asks Edward to accompany her in the search. Alicia finds Popo alive and well and after returning to Edward relates to him what happened. Popo was very angry and dignified, giving her fault for his ruined image of women, calling her names unfit for a lady, and even trying to preach to her after she tells him that she’s a divorcee.
Alicia is very amused by the young boy’s outburst and tells Edward that he should be grateful to her for the education she gave him prior to his moving to the States for college. She suggests to Edward that they should try to reconcile.
