Chapter 4 Summary

Bendicion Alvarado, the General's mother, knows that she is dying, and tries to tell the General the family secrets, such as how a drunken bum made her pregnant with the General in the back of a bar. However, the General is not really interested. Everyone in the nation knows that Bendicion Alvarado, the General's mother is dying, despite lying reports to the contrary. After telling the General to take care of her birds, the next morning B. Alvarado is dead. The body is taken to the convent of the Sisters of Charity, where nine bishops sing for the late B. Alvarado. The General thinks back to the Federalist war, when his mother followed him around and preserved him from being trampled by mules. B. Alvarado follows the General when he occupies the Presidential Palace. Her body is displayed with a photo, which she...