In the late afternoon, when the sun hid behind the clouds, I looked through the window and saw the group of children outside Aling Taleng’s house, reaching for the window to watch television. I wondered what the women were doing at that time. One of the smaller children was standing on one of the potted plants, stretching his head to get a good view from the high window. I thought, he could be in great trouble if Aling Taleng would catch him.
I found out then that I have lost my interest in Rintintin and the Lone Ranger, and joining the crowding group of children watching television from outside the window. I was more contented watching them instead. There were a few people walking on the street. But the sari-sari store across the street was packed with the usual familiar faces. It was nothing new, they always make something out of any nonsense conversation. There were a few men joining them, but the men are more behaved, unlike the women who were always swaying their hands and making funny faces everytime they talked. There was a man smoking on the side. He looked particularly suspicious. He seemed to be waiting for something, like he was waiting for someone. He would look at my direction, but avoided me when I looked at him. I ignored him and withdrew myself from the window.
I had longed to run through the vast green fields of San Martin. I remembered my father used to take me down the river to catch some fresh water eel, with the size, bigger and longer in length than my own little arms when I was a little boy. The time when mother had to stay home and watch Rafael in his crib when he was still a baby, I thought, perhaps when I go home, it would be my turn to take my brother for some catch. I remembered my father used to go out, early in the night, with a bamboo torch to catch some rice frogs after the harvesting season. Perhaps, I thought, I could do the same with Rafael when I go home. I love the taste of those creatures when seasoned and fried. My mother don’t like it so much, even if it was just as good as chicken meat, and sometimes, even better.
I had made up my mind about paying my father a visit. I was thinking about getting the right opportunity when, I heard a honking sound outside, the sound of a vehicle halting. When I turned towards the window, I saw Albert coming through the gate in a hurrying stride. There was a PU waiting outside the gate. I got up and went out to meet him. He was wearing an obviously new yellow shirt, bearing the letters USA in bold, with stars and stripes printed on the front, tucked neatly under a new pair of pants, over a new pair of fancy and heavy looking rubber shoes. He looked so excited when he came to meet me at the doorstep. His hair was wet and combed in place, he looked like he has just taken a bath. He was carrying something on one hand.
"Leon! Leon!"
"’Bert! Wow, look at you!"
"Yes. Here, this is for you."
"What’s this?"
He handed me a white shirt. It has the same print as the one he was wearing, only it was white.
"My mother has arrived. It’s a shirt, from America, just like mine, only it’s white. Do you like it?"
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Go put it on. You come with us. The PU is waiting. My mother is waiting inside the PU. It will take us to the Mountain View Hotel. My mother is staying there. You come with us. I will ask mother to take us tomorrow to Super. Wow! Super! Don’t you want to go to Super?"
For a while I was thinking if I wanted to go with them. I wanted to stay. The idea of going to Super, to him, sounds interesting enough. He was giggling and all of a sudden he was behaving like a restless little boy. I never imagined him becoming so excited about going to Super. I looked at the PU but I didn’t get a clear view of his mother. All I saw were silhouettes of her on the back seat, and the driver on the front. I had lost my fascination about Supper. I didn’t want to go.
"I can’t."
"Why?"
"I think your mother wants to spent the time with you alone. Didn’t you take Lolo with you?"
"He’s at home. He doesn’t want to go with us. It’s alright, Leon. My mother won’t mind having you. She’s even interested to meet you. Let’s go!"
"I can’t, still. I’m waiting for my boarders. Besides, I haven’t enough rest yet."
"Oh. Okay then. So, you just come to the house in the morning, okay?"
"I will."
"So, I have to go now. The PU is waiting."
"Thanks for the shirt."
"Wala yan. That’s nothing. That’s my early gift," he said, pointing at the shirt in my hand, as he took a step back and walked away.
I watched him walking towards the gate. Right then, something occurred to me, and I had to call him again.
"’Bert!"
He stopped as he was reaching for the door of the car, and turned my way when he heard me calling.
"What?"
His eyes squinted, as if the sun was out and he was looking from afar. For a moment there, I remained watching him. He was waiting for me to speak. For a while I was searching for words, and I had to take a deep breath and sighed. I was caught between reluctance and regard. I smiled at him.
"What is it, Leon?"
"Think about it, ‘Bert!"
He shrugged his shoulders as he made his way to the front seat. He seemed to avoid what I said. He new exactly what I was trying to tell him, but it was as if he never cared at all. When the PU started to move away, he stuck out his head and waved at me.
"See you in the morning, Leon!"
"See you in the morning." I said softly, to myself.
He was not able to hear me. I made no effort to be heard. I nodded my head, smiling at him as the PU sped away. I watched them disappear and went back inside the house.
Time ticked and it was getting dark. When I looked through the window, the lights in the houses are slowly growing visible. The streetlight outside the house had started to flicker. It was showing signs of wearing out. It had been there long enough and I had seen flickering streetlights that had busted after some following nights. Some remained turning on and off, like a huge bulb of flashing Christmas lights that adorned the houses during the Christmas season. Still there was no sign of Boyet or Julian, coming.
A while passed, and Aling Taleng went out of their gate. When she saw me watching through the window, she called out to me for supper. I hesitated for a while, but she snapped and said I should better come to their house so that she doesn’t have to bring the food over to my house. She asked me to turn on the light in the living room. She was wondering why I was spending the whole time in the dark when I could have turned on the lights. I could not tell her that I had forgotten about it. I went out and followed her.
When I entered the house, she led me to the dining table. She asked me to sit down while she left to prepare the food. The table was not yet ready. Aling Maring was setting the plates in silence. I offered help but she insisted I sit down and wait. After the preparation, the ladies sat down next to each other on the opposite side of the table. There was a moment of solemn silence when Aling Taleng led us to prayer. I heard the letter crumpled in my pocket. After the prayer, I waited for her to initiate the talk. I expected it to be a no ordinary dinner. I have cleared both ears, in case she was in the right mood for a sermon. I thought I would just let it enter in one ear and let it out through the other.
"What happened to your forehead, Leon?" Aling Maring started.
I didn’t know that she had a voice, and she could talk. I was about to answer her when Aling Taleng interrupted.
"Fist fighting. Haaay… The problem with you young people. You don’t know the kind of trouble you are getting yourselves into. I wouldn’t wonder if one day you would all get yourselves in jail. I haven’t seen you in days! Where have you been?"
"I -"
"Haaay, naku! You are no different from those three young people in your house. Last night, I got up to go to the toilet and I saw through the window in the kitchen that Julian. Sneaking like a thief, late in the evening. Don’t you know the meaning of curfew? Don’t you children know that it’s dangerous to be out during the late hours of the night? And you! You, Leon. Where have you been all this time? It was what, last week since I last saw you."
"I was -"
"Don’t you know how many times I had been to that house of yours, only to find no one? Yesterday, I caught up with Mira. She told me, you have not gone home for two, three nights? Haaay... So how's that face of yours? It’s good you had it cleaned up. Where did you get the bandage for that?"
"Mira -"
"Those three. They have not gone home yet, have they? Haaay…"
I never bothered answering any more of her questions. She never bothered to listen anyway. I was wondering if she noticed the car that took Mira away. I had wanted to ask her, but I opted not to. I just concentrated with my food. I could not afford to lose my appetite. One thing I know, nothing that she said registered in my head. But she was not over yet. I was beginning to think that she’s getting her appetite from talking too much. I have always wondered how Aling Maring survived this lady.
"See? It’s almost curfew hours and they have not gone home yet. Purisima! Haaay… So Leon, hijo, do you have any plans for your birthday?"
I almost dropped the spoon I was holding when I heard what she said. Nothing could be more surprising than forgetting your birthday and having the wrong person reminding you of that special day in your life. All of a sudden, I figured why Albert gave me the shirt and had to call it a gift, instead of pasalubong. I had forgotten about my birthday.
"What’s that look? Isn’t tomorrow your birthday?"
"Opo. Yes.
"You have something in mind?"
"Nothing."
"What?"
Her voice raised in surprise. Her eyes opened wide. What does she expect me to say? I even forgot that it was going to be my birthday. She was looking at me in horror, as if I was something scary.
"Ohm, maybe I will just go to church and light a candle, po."
"Maybe? Haaay, Dios mio! Bueno, you will go to church tomorrow and I will be going with you. Now you don’t worry. I will be collecting the rent from your boarders tomorrow and I will cook your favorite pancit and ispagheti for you."
"You don’t have to, Aling Taleng. I’m really not used to celebrating my birthday. My mother would never prepare for my birthday. I have gotten used to it."
"Haaay, that mother of yours! No, no, no! It’s alright. I will take care of everything."
"Eh, Thank you po."
"Now you hurry your food. It’s getting late."
After we ate, I found my ears filled with unnecessary air again. I offered help with the dishes but Aling Taleng insisted that I go home since it was already curfew hours.
When I got to the house, nobody was there yet. I turned out the lights and laid myself on the long chair. I did not lock the front door, in case they would arrive and I had already fallen asleep.
I was about to close my eyes when, I heard the sound of sirens breaking into the quiet evening. So I got up again and locked the door. I thought, I would rather wait till they arrive. As I lay myself back on the chair, I listened to the sound getting louder and louder. It didn’t scare me anymore. I had gotten used to it. I had learned to pray. Then I wished I knew if they were coming home or not. I was thinking about Mira.
After a while, the sirens faded. I heard the gate squeaked and the sound of somebody coming. Then I heard somebody knocking on the door. I knew that they had arrived. Quickly I got up and groped towards the door.
"Leon."
"Boyet. Where’s Julian?"
"Is he not here yet? Where’s Mira?"
Boyet made his way in. I closed the door after him. I could not clearly see him. It was a little dark and I was like talking to a speaking shadow. He was panting and he rested on the chair next to the door. Julian was not with him, but that was the least of my concerns. I had wanted to tell him about what happened to Mira.
"I have been waiting for you. There’s something I have to tell you."
"What is it?"
"About Mira."
"Sssh… Wait! Somebody’s coming. That must be Julian."
I heard the gate squeaked. Somebody was coming. Soon I heard running footsteps. Boyet must have suspected this, for he quickly got up on his feet. I moved to the door when I heard it pushed. Soon I heard a louder series of knockings, like the one who was knocking was in a great hurry. Thinking it was Julian, I unhooked the lock and opened the door. Boyet tried to stop me but he was too late. Somebody forced the door open before I could fully open it myself. It bumped me and I was thrown to the floor. Boyet rushed his way to the direction of the kitchen but a voice stopped him. I knew then that it was not Julian. A shadow of a man with a gun, aimed at him, came to view.
"Freeze! Police ito! Don’t move!"
Boyet raised his open hands and a light coming from the flashlight that the man was holding revealed his back. He stood in surrender with the gun steadily aimed at him. Another man came to get him. He pulled down Boyet’s hands behind his back, giving it the handcuffs. I struggled to get up. I was at the foot of the stairs, next to the door, beside the man with the gun. When he found me moving, he aimed the flashlight and the gun at me. The light struck me, but I had seen the gun, and my hands, holding on to the steps, slipped back on the floor. Another man appeared and grabbed me up.
I started to tremble in shock. By this time, the other man has successfully handcuffed Boyet and was holding him in the arm. I was given the handcuffs myself. There were four of them, and the last one was ordered to search the rooms. The man, who grabbed me, pulled my hands behind me and secured the handcuffs. Each of them were holding a flashlight, and the light moved from the different corners of the room with the wave of their hands
The man who aimed a gun at me pulled me away from the one who handcuffed me. He was then told to join the search. It took them a while to search the entire house while I waited in fear. I looked at Boyet, but his head was intentionally turned away from me. The man, who arrested him, asked him who else was in the house. But he refused to answer. He forced him to speak, hitting him in the head, but Boyet would just sway his head with the blow. The man holding me remained in silence. He was eagerly waiting for what the two men might find in the rooms. I could not look at him for fear that he might just think of doing the very same thing that the other man did to Boyet.
After they have searched the rooms, the two other men went down, each carrying something with them.
"Did you find him?" The man behind me, asked.
"No. We’ve searched all the rooms. But we’ve found some important evidences here."
"Good. We might need that at the barracks. Get these two to the car."
The men handed him the evidences that the other was talking about. These are piles of paper which, I supposed were the list or some important documents that Boyet or whoever was keeping.
I was no more surprised. I started out afraid, but suspicion was ceasing my fears. I had gone past confusion. There was something going on all along. Something I do not know. But it was happening all the time, and this was nothing new. They took us to the patrol car. It was parked some five houses up, away from the house, too far for us to have seen from where the house was located. I thought, they were too clever. As we passed by a light post, I noticed that one of the men were the very same man that I saw outside the sari-sari store in the afternoon when I was looking through the window. As we walked the way going to the car, I took notice of the eerie darkness of the surrounding houses. It was of no more use to be screaming for help. There was no one around, or none that I’ve seen. All I hear were barking dogs. The street had gone to sleep, but I could not help getting the feeling that we were being watched upon by the prying eyes that lurks in the night.
It was the stack of papers that they discovered in one of the rooms that made them decide to take us to the barracks. They placed us at the back seat of the car, an owner type jeep. We were facing each other, I and Boyet, our hands locked, handcuffed on the steel bars of the frame of the vehicle, maybe so that we couldn’t think of jumping off on the way. One of the men was driving the vehicle, while the man who ordered for our arrest was sitting next to him at the front seat. The other two did not join us. They were ordered to stay and wait till the other one would arrive.
The other one. I presume it was Julian they were referring to. I had the feeling that all the while, they had been watching the house, and they knew too well the people living with me, except I. All throughout the entire trip to the barracks, there was never a single exchange of words. Boyet tried to avoid looking at me.
They were pushing us, going inside the small building among the taller ones, inside the premises of the barracks. The sign outside, in bold letters, reads, HEADQUARTERS. It was the station of all metro police stations, where the bigger fish are brought in. I was walking behind Boyet. Each of us had our own escort. I was still a little afraid, but have managed to collect myself and remained calm.
For the second time in a week, I was arrested. I have somehow gotten used to the feeling. With all that I had been through, I have accepted the fact that it was all a part of the natural process of the hard reality. I remained meek in surrender. I have gone past expectations. I could not even think about hoping. I have grown tired of rationalizing. It was so frustrating to see some bad things always getting in the way. The cold night had back dropped the hazy view of my father’s house with a dimming hope of finding my way home. The cold rush of air seeped through my bones and clouded my wailing heart and the longing for the girl who left as quickly as she came to me. My longing was holding me back from the dilemma that I was faced with. My courage had swathed me, even when I had given up on myself.
The man was standing on the doorway, and he moved on the side as we made our way in. I remembered him as clearly as I remembered the face that I grew up with, looking at it in everyday that I woke up. From one of the desks facing the entrance, she got up from fixing herself. She was about to leave, and was on her way out. She was surprised to see me, but she did not say a word. I think she was not expecting me, but that she was happy that I was arrested was a possibility that I could not deny, but have managed to disregard. I no longer dwell on the things that went on in her mind at that moment. I looked at her, straight in the eyes, but like staring at a blank wall, without despise, without a hint of a plead for help. I walked past her, standing frozen before her desk, as they lead us to the cell. I did not look back. I was expecting no more from her. I was expecting no more from my life.
They locked us in prison. I saw her talking to one of the men who arrested us before she left with the man who was standing on the doorway. I saw him kissed her in the cheek and wrapped his hands around her shoulder before they finally left.
One of the men was talking to us with heavy words, he was pacing the whole stretch of the iron bars. But I could no longer hear him. I couldn’t even hear myself. Everything and everyone around me seemed to have faded into moving shadows, their voices, vanishing before my ears. I have turned numb from where I was standing at that moment.
With the remaining moment that was spared for us to be with each other, we talked in whispers. We talked like we were still in the house, like nobody was around, Boyet and I. Boyet, like before, had remained elusive with his words. He extracted everything that he wanted to know from me, without much to say and so much for me to think about. Like always, he asked me questions like he already knew the answers but had to hear it coming from me.
"You were talking about Mira."
"Yes."
"What about her?"
"Some men went to the house and took her away."
"The police?"
"No. I don’t think so. There was this rich-looking man. I heard her calling him, daddy. He was with two other men. I think they were his bodyguards. I heard her referred to them as bodyguards."
"This rich-looking man."
"Yes. He was like, in his late forties. He has a nice car. They drove her away with the car."
"He’s an assemblyman."
"Her father is an assemblyman?"
"He’s not the father."
"She calls him daddy. They took away all her belongings. Mira went away with them."
"Her father is long dead."
"Who is he then? Why did she call him, daddy?"
"You wouldn’t want to know."
I couldn’t argue with him. All the while, while we were talking, we were not looking at each other. I was crouching beside him in a corner, our heads leaning against the wall. Moments passed and I could no longer feel him sitting next to me.
After some time, they took him out of prison and lead him inside a secluded room. I watched him go. I was without a thought of anything. A while passed and I had fallen to sleep.
It was three o’clock in the morning when I glanced at the clock that hanged on the wall outside the cell. I was awakened by the commotion of Julian’s arrival. The two men who remained after we were arrested had successfully trapped him at last. I never got the chance to talk to him. They took him into the secluded room and brought out Boyet. He was all bruised up and his face was bleeding. He could no longer stand on his own. There were two men carrying him from the room. They did not put him back to the cell with me. They took him out and I do not know what they did to him. I have not seen him since then.
He was badly beaten and his face was deformed. The skin around his yes had turned dark and swelling, and his lips were ripped. But these things could no longer create enough torture in my mind. My fear was burning out. I have become void of my own spirit. I was as good as dead. I was too weary I had fallen asleep.
In the morning I found my release. She intervened. She waited for me to pass by her desk. She led me out of the building. When we were out in the street, she gave me a quick embrace, the way she did before she abandoned me, and told me never to get into trouble again, and never come back. There are words in my mind that I wanted to say to her, but she turned away and ran back inside the building.
I was walking on the street. The sun was high when I searched for it in the sky. But the sun was just a sun, there was nothing more that it meant inside my head. It was glaring hot, but my skin was too numb to feel it burning me. Everything around me was just a view. It has lost its meaning. I could stare at the faces of the strangers that I come across with on the way, and not be afraid. The street was just a street, and I walked the way to wherever it might have lead me, without having to think about the road to persecution. I looked at the things around me, without perceiving. I see but I was not looking. I hear but I was not listening. For a moment I never cared about sanity. I ran as fast as I could. I was running with a smile on my face, but with tears welling in my eyes, and I don’t know why. In ran until my feet hurts, even when my aching heart was fast catching up with my hurting feet, and I don’t understand why.
I passed by the park and strolled along. I sat down one of the empty benches, and once again, struggled to awaken myself, to sink into the things around me. The plaza was especially quiet that day. There were less people and more wind, swaying with the branches, and dancing with the falling leaves of the surrounding trees. I saw birds chasing in their flight, crossing the view. I see lovers resting under the shade, the echoing laughter of children, running in different directions. I see cigarette vendors, roaming around with their trade, and some food vendors, chatting next to their stalls. I saw the flowers scattered in bloom, and I was not able to escape their gentle fragrance. It seemed to me like, time had stood still, and I was happy that I was able to take a deep breathe of unblemished air, and the world stood by me on my fifteenth birthday.
I spent lost hours at the plaza. I left at the stroke of noon. I decided to go back to the house. Something occurred to me that I have to get to the house at the soonest. I walked in haste. On my way, I passed by Tony Boy’s place. From the street outside, I saw nobody. I did not hear the sound of the sewing machine like I always do. I did not see the mother when I looked through the window. The house was empty.
As I was nearing the house, I come across one of the neighbors. She approached me with a sorry look in her face. She was the mother of Ricky, the one who was never heard of since his arrest. Without any hesitations, she broke to me the news. My house was burned. She never waited for me to react, to feel the shock. She was good at handling these things herself. She’s had her share of shocking stories herself. She went on telling me everything she knew. She said she was witness to Mira’s abduction, and how it doesn’t seemed to her like she was abducted at all. She noticed how, hours before, a mysterious looking man was walking back and forth on the street in front of our house, like he was spying on somebody. She told me that she had suspected about something not good was going to happen, and she asked for forgiveness for everything that she knew but was too afraid to tell me. She said the first time she saw the faces of the three boarders, she already knew that they were no ordinary teenagers, and how she was sure that they were a part of some rebel factions. She knew everything too well from the experience she had with her son.
At last, she held me by the elbow, look at me in the eyes and immediately, she left. She knew exactly what was going on inside me. Her gesture of sympathy was shown as quickly before it would eventually fall into pity. She bent her head and walked away.
Standing before the sampaguita plant outside the gate, I struggled in pain at the sight of the two darkened posts that remained standing. It was all that remained of the house. Everything had fallen on the ground. There were a few structures that were still smoking to ashes. To my sight, it was the view of hell.
A weary kariton boy was rolling his empty cart and halted behind me. He asked me if there were still enough good in it to collect. I told him he was a little too late, but gave him the permission to go and check the place for himself and find out for himself.
As he was going in, I turned away and left. I did not stay long because there were a number of neighbors looking at me from the sari-sari store across the street, and I don’t want them to see the tears that were forming in my eyes.
As I was walking away, I saw Aling Taleng, standing outside their gate. She approached me before I could even reach her.
"I am sorry, Leon, but I cannot provide for you anymore. I don’t have enough money and I was not able to collect their dues."
I did not say a word nor afford to look at her, because I was afraid that my tears would fall. I do not want her to see me crying. I was contented that what I have expected had finally happened, when the time would come that I will be ending up with nothing. It has finally happened and I know that it was the end of it with her.
She told me that I should better be telling my mother about everything that had happened, and that, she might be of help. She went on telling me about how my mother should never turn away from her responsibility on me, but her words was too much for me to bear. I turned away without saying goodbye, and left. I did not look back because my tears finally fell, and I had to wipe it off with my own bare hands.
Having given up on some things, I went to see Albert. But my friend had left. When I went to their house, the first things that I have noticed were the closed doors and windows. I went inside still. When I reached their doorstep, there was a letter I found, inserted on the door. It had the keys to the house in it.
Dear Leon,
I had been thinking about what you have told me. I have finally decided to go with my mother to America. We took the only plane to Olazabal. We will be staying there for two days before finally flying to America. Lolo decided to stay. We took him to the home for the elderly along A. Bonifacio. I hope you could visit him one of these days. It’s just near your place. I waited for you in the morning but you did not arrive. I was not able to drop by your house because my mother wanted to leave immediately. Please extend my goodbye to Victor. I have attached here the house key. Thank you for everything, Leon. I am hoping to see you when I come back. God bless us all. Happy Birthday Leon.
Albert
There was nothing left for me to do. I took the letter and the key, and placed it in my pocket. I left the house and everything in it. It was past noon and I feel I have nowhere to go. As I was walking, I remembered my father’s letter in my other pocket. Then, I thought of finally going home, but I do not have the money. I knew I had to deny myself of my pride and go see my mother. A confrontation with my mother to ask for help is the most dreaded of all the things that I don’t want to do. But I was left with no other choice, and I was too desperate to be too reluctant.
When I reached the barracks, I asked one of the guards at the gate if I could speak with her. I gave him her name and mine, and he told me to wait while he left to inform her about me. I waited for a longer while but she didn’t come out. I had to ask the very same guard again for the second time, for him to call her, and he did.
When she finally came out, she pulled me away with her, crossing the street, so that the guards would not hear what we had to say to each other. She looked so upset and she seemed like she just escaped from her desk. She obviously doesn’t want to see me.
"What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to stop following me?"
I did not say a word. I reached for my father’s letter in my pocket and gave it to her, hoping she would understand my need. But she refused it and pushed away my hand. All the while she had been turning to her side to see if somebody was watching.
"I don’t need that! Go away!"
"Nay, I want to go home to San Martin."
"Then why do you have to be bothering me? Why don’t you go home to your father?"
"But I don’t have the money."
"I don’t have money. Go away."
There was nothing more that I could think of doing. She had sent me away twice like a stray dog. She didn’t even remember that it was my birthday. I had to tell her what I know.
"I know where you live. I will keep on going to your house until you give me money."
“You have been following me!"
"Just give me money for my fare and I promise you will never see me again."
She halted for a moment and took a deep breath, turned to her opposite sides and shrugged her shoulders before she spoke.
"Okay, okay. You wait here while I go get some money."
She left in a hurry, while I obediently remained on the spot where she left me. From where I stood, I could see the entire stretch of the barracks. The guards at the gate were looking as if wondering who I was and what I am to her.
She never came back. The same guard I had talked to, waved at me to come to him. He gave me five pesos. It was enough, I thought. I thanked the guard and left.
I thought of seeing Victor, but on my way I have thought of visiting the old man at the institution for the elderly. After crossing a few streets, I finally found the place. I no longer bothered him. Standing outside the gate of the institution, I saw him at the garden, surrounded by old men and women his age. They were enjoying the time, listening to him talk. Though I could not hear him, he seemed to e enjoying all the attention, and I trust that he has found his place. After spending some time watching them as their newfound storyteller entertained them, I had proven to myself that we no longer deserved him.
Though I was not expecting Victor, I proceeded immediately to their house. I caught up with one of her sisters. She was happy to see me. She told me that Victor was invited to a birthday party by a neighbor, and that, if I could wait, she would go and tell him that I came. I asked her if she did not report to work. She told me about the incident at the candle factory and how her older brothers lost their jobs. She told me that one of the brothers succeeded Victor’s job at the restaurant, and that Victor was not working anymore. I asked her where her mother was, and she told me that she was at the birthday party too. Then she asked me again if I could wait, but I said I couldn’t, because I feared that I might miss the last trip to Toledo, and I know it would e another long walk going to San Martin.
I handed her Albert’s letter to give it to Victor, together with the key to the house. I asked her to tell Victor that I had gone home to San Martin. When she saw the key, she asked me what it was for. I took the time to explain it to her. I told her that Victor knows the address. I told her that the rest was in the letter and that if would be better if Victor would be the one to explain all that she need to know about the key.
The sister was never happier when she heard what I said. I told her to take good care of the house when they decide to move. I have tried to avoid looking at her in the face. She never stopped thanking me, and was tearful when I left. Her uncontained smile was treating me like a god, and it was hard to imagine how hopeless my life had become, because in her face I saw that she was looking at me like I was a gift from heaven.
I took the shortcut along the riverbank. I had to stop and stood by the river to exhale my soul. I took a last view at the smoggy river, to cast away the sorrows of the life that had been. I marveled at the boy, whose life, at one time, saw the light, swimming along the flowing waters of the river of the sun. I allowed my eyes to shed tears, and let it fall into the river. The tears of a victor on the day he completed his fifteen long years of his life had blended well with the dark moving waters of the river that bore his laughter and innocence.
Standing by at the station, waiting for the jeep to arrive for the three o’clock last trip to Toledo, I could hear the news from the radio that an old man was carrying with him along with some baggage, sitting on the bench, next to a little boy who was hiding behind his back. He was waiting for the same jeep of the same trip as I was going.
The commentator on the radio was talking about the growing number of rebels, flourishing in the mountains and how they have been into recruiting the helpless sons and daughters of the lowly farmers, and how they would kill them or their families if they refused to join. He was talking about a woman who knew nothing about governance and how he could not imagine her, solving the problem of the growing insurgencies of the countryside when she was only made to run to avenge the death of her husband.
The child was looking at me, revealing only his head, down to his eyes, hiding behind the old man, who was concentrated on the radio. When I saw him, I gave him a smile, and he quickly withdrew himself, hiding his head behind the old man. I remained smiling and waited for him to stick out his head and I would catch him looking at me again. I gave the little boy all my attention, because the last thing that I heard from the radio about the woman was something that I did not understand. But the old man scolded the little boy and told him to behave himself. Feeling ashamed at what the old man did to him, the little boy hid himself away from me and never looked at me again.
I walked away from them and prepared myself for the trip. With empty hands and the wound in my forehead, I had forgotten everything that happened. The jeep came into view. I took a last look at the entire stretch of the skies of Zaragoza. There was nothing more that I saw, but the clouds that covered the afternoon sun and the clouds that looked the same from the opposite horizons.
