The Stories the Water Left Behind
The Stories the Water Left Behind is Joseph Baiza-Vigil's debut novel. It blends a realistic setting with magical realism to tell a story that could only happen in New Orleans. Below is an excerpt from the novel:
I never got to show you.”
“Show me?”
Cassius took a dry swallow. “I want to try.”
Diego couldn’t think of a response. All he could do was ask, “Will you be okay?”
Cassius licked his lips. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll be fine. I just want to see what’s still there.” Without saying more, he got up from the table and walked toward the bathroom, leaving Diego with no choice but to grab his pad and follow him.
By the time Diego entered the bathroom, Cassius had turned on the water in the tub. “Cassius, do you really think this—”
“Hush!” Cassius said without turning his head, as if he were chastising a troublesome child.
Diego looked around. The bathroom was small and wood paneled. This was nothing like all the renovated cottages that were all over the city now. It paneling was dark with age. Diego guessed that the beige walls were once a brighter white. Tucked in the corner was a long, freestanding tub with a rail around the top, from which hung a white plastic shower curtain.
Without waiting for the tub to fill up or taking off any of his clothes, Cassius stepped into it. He sat down, his large frame filling it. “Best if you don’t talk. I have to concentrate now for it to happen. It doesn’t just come like it used to.”
Not knowing what else to do, Diego closed the bathroom door and sat down on the toilet, pen and pad in hand. This was by far the most unique interview he’d ever done. He didn’t know if anyone would believe it if he told them about it.
Cassius stuck his fingers in the rising water as if he could dig into it. He closed his eyes, and his forearms flexed as he made small, slow movements with his fingers. Drops of sweat began forming on his forehead. He shook his head and muttered to himself.
Diego felt a sudden sense of urgency, as if they were running out of time.
Suddenly, Cassius sat up straight. He began breathing more quickly. Diego wanted to ask if it had happened, but he didn’t want to be shushed again. “It’s coming. I can see it but just barely.” His breathing was deep and steady now. “It’s a woman. Not old, not young. She looks … happy. No, not happy but peaceful. She’s got her eyes closed, and it looks like she’s listening.” He moved his fingers again as if stirring up the images. “Maybe she’s listening to a song, but she doesn’t have any headphones on or anything. She’s sitting. I can see that now. She’s sitting on an old sofa, yellow and beat up. The water’s already in her house. Her feet are in it. But she’s not going to move.”
“Are you sure you’ve never seen this woman”?
“I don’t know any of the people I’ve seen,” he almost yelled. Diego looked taken aback and decided to leave Cassius to it. “I can see it, but it’s hazy, like it’s not all the way there.”
Cassius’s eyes remained close, but his brows were sharply slanted, giving away his furious concentration.
A thud on the bathroom door made his eyes fly open and Diego drop his pad. Diego turned and saw Helmine holding the door open with her small body. She had a sad, worried look as she watched Cassius stand up in the tub. The water ran off his clothes, which now clung to him.
She turned her gaze to Diego, and her expression changed from one second to the next. Her jaw tightened, her mouth straightened, and her eyes narrowed into angry slits. She stepped forward into the bathroom and without looking away from Diego, asked, “You okay, Cassius”?
“Yeah. Fine, Helmine.”
“Good. Go dry off.” Her tone was flat end even, as if refusal were never an option.
As Cassius walked toward the door, still dripping, she didn’t move. He made his way around her.
She stepped toward Diego, who was still sitting on the toilet. Her demeanor made her seem taller. “No need for you to follow. You can make your way out.”
“Your brother wanted to talk with me. He invited me to speak with him.”
She looked at the legal pad still on the floor, then back up at Diego. “So you’re just writing stuff down about the man who sits in water and see things, huh?” Diego didn’t reply. “What exactly are you doing with Cassius”?
He replied slowly, “I live here in New Orleans, too. When I met your brother that night at Althea’s, when you saw us, he told me about what he’s been seeing. I haven’t hunted him down or made him tell me anything he didn’t want to.” He picked up the legal pad.
Helmine held her stare for a moment before visibly crumpling and putting her hand over her eyes. She whispered to herself, “Damn.” She looked back to make sure Cassius wasn’t behind her, then turned back to Diego. “Whoever you are or whatever you’re doing, you’re not helping him by encouraging him. What did he tell you? That he sees things? People?”
Diego nodded.
“Yeah, he told me that, too. I just hope he’s not telling anyone else, but it seems like he is.” She looked at the notepad. “Look, I don’t owe you any favors, but I’m going to be straight with you. My brother isn’t right, and he hasn’t been. Cassius can get by just fine, but he’s always had wild ideas, and he’s already had one breakdown. But that was over ten years ago, and he’s managed to be okay since then for the most part. He even got through the storm without breaking down, thank God.
But now that he thinks he’s seeing things, he’s falling apart again, just like that time. He’s drinking, he’s not sleeping much, and it’s just getting worse.”
“Do you believe him”?
The question seemed to disarm her. Her face softened a bit, and after a moment, she replied. I don’t know what to believe anymore. And I really don’t think that it matters.”
“Maybe what he sees isn’t what’s making him come apart.”
“Then what is?” Diego opened his mouth to answer, but Helmine preempted him: “Dammit. Bring yourself to the kitchen.”