Then one day, when she was three years old, Sprite found an old coin in the yard. She took it to Zia. “What is this Mommy?” she asked.
“That’s an old coin, Sprite! We’re lucky you found it. I used to collect these as well as bugs, nuts and twigs, and old pieces of a picture. I’ll show you where you can put it.” Zia led her to the dresser that was standing in the hallway, and Sprite carefully placed her coin inside. “If we already have something you find,” Zia told Sprite, “Give it to Daddy. He’ll be able to sell it and we’ll earn some money!” Sprite skipped off to tell the other children what she had learned, and from then on they would comb the yard, looking for anything interesting.
It was during this time that Carola was born, and Zia again was not able to work as she was caring for her fourth child. When Carola was 6 years old, Gregino and Zia decided to try one last time for another child, since Zia was getting old. They were very lucky, and had twins! Red haired boys, Gepono and Bou, were born when Bingozo was twelve. Soon after that, around when Bingozo was preparing for collage, Gregino got an email. The professional society had noticed him, and was giving him a promotion! The whole family celebrated at this good news. Gregino was now an accomplished lyricist, and was receiving $165 daily.
One by one the children grew up and left for college, and finally the house was quiet once more. Zia began wondering who she should give the house to. Should she give it to Bingozo, who was their first child, or serious little Friana, or witty little Sprite, or helpful Carola, or to one of the twins, Bou or Gepono? Zia couldn’t decide. And when she asked Gregino about it, he shrugged it off.
“We’re not dead yet,” he said, “And we still need this house to live in! We can think about it more when we know we’re nearing the end of our lives.”