Leonora Carrington, ´The DEBUTANTE´, The House of Fear (Virago 1989)
1.
When I was a debutante, I often went to
the zoo. I went so often that I knew the animals better than the girls of my
own age. Indeed it was in order to get away from people that I found myself at
the zoo every day. The animal I got to know best was a young hyena. She knew me
too. She was very intelligent. I taught her French, and she, in return, taught
me her language. In this way we passed many pleasant hours.
My mother was arranging a ball in my honour on the first of May. During this
time I was in a state of great distress for whole nights. I've always detested
balls, especially if they are given in my honour.
2.
On the morning of the First of May 1934, very early, I went to visit the hyena.
"What a bloody nuisance," I
told her, "I’ve got to go to my ball tonight."
"You're very lucky," she said, "I'd love to go. I don't know how
to dance, but at least I could make small talk."
"There'll be a great many different things to eat," I said.
"I've seen truckloads of food delivered to our house."
"And you’re complaining," replied the hyena, disgusted. "Just
think of me, I eat once a day, and you can’t imagine what a heap of bloody
rubbish I’m given."
3.
I had an audacious idea, and I almost laughed. "All you have to do is to
go instead of me!"
"We don't resemble each other enough, otherwise I'd gladly go," said
the hyena rather sadly.
"Listen," I said, "No one sees too well in the evening light. If
you disguise yourself, nobody will notice you in the crowd. Besides, we're
practically the same size. You’re my only friend, I beg you to do this for
me."
She thought this over, and I knew she
really wanted to accept.
"Done," she said all of a sudden.
4.
There weren’t many keepers about, it was so early in the morning. I opened the
cage quickly, and in a few moments we were out in the street. I hailed a taxi;
at home, everybody was still in bed. In my room I brought out the dress I was
to wear that evening. It was a little long, and the hyena found it difficult to
walk in my high-heeled shoes. I found some gloves to hide her hands, which were
too hair to look like mine. By the time the sun was shining into my room, she
was able to make her way around the room several times, walking more or less
upright. We were so busy that my mother almost opened the door to say good
morning before the hyena had hidden under my bed.
5.
"There's a bad smell in your
room," my mother said, opening the window. "You must have a scented
bath before tonight, with my new bath salts."
"Certainly," I said.
She didn't stay long. I think the smell
was too much for her.
"Don't be late for breakfast," she said and left the room.
The greatest difficulty was to find a way of disguising the hyena’s face. We
spent hours and hours looking for a way, but she always rejected my
suggestions. At last she said, "I think I’ve found the answer. Have you
got a maid?"
6.
"Yes," I said, puzzled.
"There you are then. Ring for your maid, and when she comes in we'll
pounce upon her and tear off her face. I'll wear her face tonight instead of
mine."
"It's not practical," I said. "She'll probably die if she hasn’t
got a face. Someone will certainly find the corpse, and we'll be put in
prison."
"I'm hungry enough to eat her," the hyena replied.
"And the bones?"
"As well," she said. "So, it’s on?"
7.
"Only if you promise to kill her before tearing off her face. It'll hurt
too much otherwise."
"All right. It's all the same to me."
Not without a certain amount of nervousness I rang for Mary, my maid. I
certainly wouldn’t have done it if I didn't hate having to go to a ball so
much. When Mary came in I turned to the wall so as not to see. I must admit it
didn’t take long. A brief cry, and it was over. While the hyena was eating, I
looked out the window. A few minutes later she said, "I can't eat any
more. Her two feet are left over still, but if you have a little bag, I'll eat
them later in the day."
8.
"You'll find a bag embroidered with fleurs-de-lis in the cupboard. Empty
out the handkerchiefs you’ll find inside, and take it." She did as I
suggested. Then she said, "Turn round now and look how beautiful I
am."
In front of the mirror, the hyena was admiring herself in Mary's face. She had
nibbled very neatly all around the face so that what was left was exactly what
was needed.
"You’ve certainly done that very
well," I said.
Towards evening, when the hyena was all
dressed up, she declared, "I really feel in tip-top form. I have a feeling
I shall be a great success this evening."
9.
When we had heard the music from downstairs for quite some time, I said to her,
"Go on down now, and remember, don’t stand next to my mother. She’s bound
to realize that it isn’t me. Apart from her, I don’t know anybody. Best of
luck." I kissed her as I left her, but she did smell very strong.
Night fell. Tired by the day’s emotions,
I took a book and sat down by the open window, giving myself up to peace and
quiet. I remember I was reading Gulliver's
Travels by Jonathan Swift.
10.
About an hour later, I noticed the first
signs of trouble. A bat flew in at the window, uttering little cries. I am
terribly afraid of bats. I hid behind a chair, my teeth chattering. I had
hardly gone down on my knees when the sound of beating wings was overcome by a
great noise at my door. My mother entered, pale with rage.
"We’d just sat down at table,"
she said, "when that thing sitting in your place got up and shouted, 'So I
smell a bit strong, what? Well, I don't eat cakes!' Whereupon it tore off its
face and ate it. And with one great bound, disappeared through the
window".
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