The well-sculpted heels of a pair of fine Italian leather
shoes clopped across the bamboo floorboards of Arvind Lee’s study.
“Where in the hell could that infernal woman be now?’
Eiselle’s latest escapade had once again gone unannounced.
She had not called. She had not texted. However, the lack of communication
between Arvind and Eiselle had existed since the day she took his last name.
He’d made calls to her family and friends – at least the
ones he knew how to contact – but nobody had seen or heard from her all day. It
was no time to deal with Eiselle’s antics. He truly had better things to do.
He pointed the remote at the television and snapped the
power button. The television came to life with MindaNews.
“This is Frank Vendiola with tonight’s news. Jeanie Abordo
has an update on the tidal surge, but first we turn our attention to the
increased tensions over a recent Mosque bombing in North Cotabato. A group of
militant Catholic students has not claimed responsibility, but has vocalized
support for the action. For more, we take you to Mya Amores, who is on location
in North Cotabato.”
“Thanks, Francis. I’m here at St. Mary’s Cathedral on the
campus of San Diego University, which sits directly across the avenue from the
Al-Rahmi Mosque. Although the mosque is not part of the university, several Muslim
students do attend this mosque.
According to a spokesperson from the group, the recent
bombing was a reaction to excessive demands from Islamic separatists. The
separatists are requesting that Mindanao secede from the Philippines and become
its own sovereign republic. ”
“Mya,” interrupted Francis, “has there been any response
from the University?”
“As of now, San Diego University officials have not
responded to our requests for an interview. However, the public affairs office
has issued a statement that reads as follows:
“San Diego University is saddened by the recent bombing at
the Al-Rahmi Mosque in North Cotabato and mourns the losses of all the affected
families. We are dismayed at the actions of the militant group, but stress that
San Diego University does not sponsor nor does it condone such activity. Any
student or group connected with such activity will immediately be expulsed from
the SDU family.”
Mya cleared her throat, “there have been protests from both
sides and as of now, there is no clear path to resolution.”
“Disturbing news Mya, but hope persists. Thanks for the
report.”
“Thanks, Francis.”
“Now, we turn to Jeanie Abordo at the weather center in
Davao.”
“Thanks Francis! Hey-lo, Mindanao! It’s Jeanie Abordo with a
tidal surge update from the MindaNews weather center in Davao. Seismologists in
Jakarta have reported sub-oceanic quakes off the eastern shore of Sulawesi. The
Filipino Weather Service has issued a tsunami watch for all coastal areas.
Please be safe and take all necessary precautions. Now, we head over to the
news desk with Francis Vendiola.”
Arvind Lee shut off the television and decided it was time
to return to his work. No woman was worth this much toil, he thought. No woman,
indeed.
While Arvind Lee boiled inside, Mr. Gutierrez maintained a
sense of Zen, commanding his troops with unearthly calm.
“Mr. Rudie, can you watch the Academy for an hour or two?”
“Yes sir, what’s going on?”
“I’m going to pick up some supplies from the house before
nightfall. I expect some of these families will return to the Academy. Rosie,
can you come with me?”
“Sure thing, Mr. G.”
“What about me?” pouted Joy.
“Not this time, doodlebug.”
“But you promised.”
Rosie looked at Joy’s little round face. Dirt scuffed her
cheeks and chin. She looked like a street urchin. Rosie could not help but give
in to her charms.
“Can she join us, Mr. G.?”
Jonny nodded.
“Okay, you’re right. Since I promised, you can come along
with us.”
“Yippee!”
Joy skipped enthusiastically to Mr. G’s truck, spraying
water from the tips of her flip-flops as she went. Mr. G. ducked out of the
way. Soon, Rosie joined in, kicking up water with her duck boots.
“Hey! Don’t you dare get me wet!”
Rosie flicked a boot tip at Jonny. A stripe of muddy water
drew a diagonal line across his shirt.”
“Now you’re in for it!”
The girls shrieked as Mr. G. scooped a handful of water in
his hands and chased them through the parking lot. When he dumped the water on
Rosie, she retaliated with Joy at her side. Before it was all over, Mr. G. was
on the losing end of the battle. He called a truce and the girls loaded
themselves into his truck.
Rosie plucked Joy into her arms and plopped the tiny girll
on her lap.
“Look at you!” said Mr. G. “All covered in goose bumps. You
can’t possibly be cold.”
“But I am, Mr. G. Can we turn on the heater?’
“I don’t think it would be any trouble.”
Rosie bundled Joy in a blanket and placed the little girl
upon her lap. The traffic was light and that made for a very short trip. Even
so, everyone was warm and toasty by the time the truck arrived at the house.
Rosie reluctantly took Joy off her lap and set her down in the front seat.
“You stay right here.”
“Okey-dokey.”
A lake of water extended over the patio and into the map
room. The rising water was as high as Rosie’s knees. Still, water flowed freely
into the map room. Rosie waded across the room until her toe smacked the sump
pump submerged below the water level.
“Are you alright?” asked Jonny.
Rosie nodded, “Be careful, Mr. G. and take my hand.”
She helped him up the first three steps. The climb from that
point was easygoing.
“What are we looking for?” she asked.
“I want to grab some fresh batteries and another First Aid
kit. Don’t forget to grab the weather radio.”
By the time they gathered all the essentials and returned to
the truck, the windows were steamed over. Joy cleared a spot with her hands and
pressed her face to the window. Rosie quickly opened the door, only to be
greeted by a gush of hot air.
“Oh my gosh, Joy! That’s much too hot.”
“But I was cold.”
“Alright, but that’s enough of that.”
Rosie reached across the seat and turned off the heater.
Then, she lifted Joy from the seat and took her place. Rosie repositioned Joy
on her lap until she was comfortable.
“Rosie?”
“Yes, doodlebug?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Can’t it wait until
we return to the Academy?”
“I don’t think so. Listen to my tummy.”
Joy wriggled her body around until the amino acids in her
stomach grumbled. She then nodded affirmatively to Rosie, as if that was the
only cue everyone needed to fulfill Joy’s wishes.
“It’s not fair to the other students.”
“I promise, I won’t tell.”
Mr. G. chuckled, “I guess it won’t hurt if Rosie makes each
of us a cheese sandwich.”
“I love cheese sammiches!”
Rosie hurried upstairs and crafted three sandwiches. Soon
afterwards, Joy appeared at the top of the stairs.
“What are you doing here?”
“Mr. G. told me to come get you. There’s a Tsunami in the
Celebes Sea!”
“Here, take this” said Rosie, “I only had time to make this
one sandwich. You go ahead and eat it.”
Rosie snatched the packet of processed American cheese and
followed Joy downstairs.
“I heard there’s a tsunami warning?”
. Jonny nodded, “I just checked the weather radio and
there’s a tidal surge on the way.”
“We already know about that.”
“We’re getting aftershocks, too.”
Rosie turned the crank and the radio whirred to life. Then,
she finished crafting sandwiches while balancing Joy and the weather radio in
her lap.
“Hey-lo Mindanao! It’s Jeanie Abordo from the MindaNews
weather center in Davao. Tremors along the western Philippine plate have
created a tidal surge emanating from Sulawesi. This surge, in connection with
previous surges from Indonesia, could create waves as large as 20 meters in
height. Everyone along the southwestern coast of Mindanao, from Sarangani Bay
all the way to Malabang are advised to evacuate as soon as possible. To repeat,
the Filipino Weather Service has issued evac. warnings for the entire
southwestern quarter of Mindanao.
“C’mon girls, it’s time we get back to the Academy.”
“What about my mommy and daddy?”
“Don’t worry; we’ll take care of them, too.”
Just about the same time, Eiselle and Lorna emerged from the
little red sports car as it arrived in the Lee Estate turnaround.
“Finally,” sighed Eiselle, “we have electricity.”
Lorna simply nodded. Eiselle led the way up the steps and
through the front door. The car keys jangled noisily as Eiselle tossed them
onto the entry table.
“Hello?” she called out. Arvind poked his head around the
corner. Eiselle sauntered through the foyer, meeting him in the dining room.
“Where have you been?” he asked.
“I just went for a little escapade, baby. There was no power
in the house.”
Eiselle nonchalantly stretched upward to give Arvind a kiss
on the cheek. It was light and flirty as she lifted a heel behind her body to
make the connection. It was also dismissive of any wrongdoing on her part.
Arvind immediately returned to his study as Eiselle motioned to Lorna. The
girls headed upstairs to the guest bedroom.
“He seems mad.”
“Don’t pay him any attention. He has his world and I have
mine. Right now, you’re the center of my universe, dear.”
Eiselle! Eiselle!” Arvind called from the bottom of the
staircase, “I’m headed to Alabel to pick up my mother.”
She ignored him.
“Eiselle! I’m going to Alabel!”
Eiselle turned on the in-house stereo system, drowning out
her newlywed husband. He responded with a slam of the front door.
Meanwhile, Jonny Gutierrez stood at the top of the stoop and
looked out toward the Academy road. An area that was already under a deluge
could easily expect another couple meters of water, even this far from the
shore. Anyone closer to the shore would obviously fare much worse.
“Rosie, I need you to stay here and watch over the kids.
Brian, it’s your turn. I need you to go into Baluntay with me to help evacuate
people from the village. I’ll take the minivan and you take the motorbike.”
“I can only carry one passenger at a time with the bike.”
“It’s easier to get in and out. You can use the bike to
speed through the villages and pluck people from the far reaches.”
“Of course,” nodded Brian, “I’ll lead the way.”
“I have to get the map. I’ll meet you there.”
“Don’t forget my mommy and daddy,” said Joy.
“You bet, doodlebug.”
Jonny rolled his hands under the curve of Joy’s chin,
rubbing it as he would a puppy dog’s face. One of her brightest smiles turned
slowly to a fretful scowl.
“Don’t worry, dearest Joy; I’ll get your parents. I have it
all under control.”
He jumped into the minivan and headed down Academy road. Joy
watched it the whole way until it disappeared over the hill.
Brian had already run into a large group of cyclists on the
dirt pad outside the village. Cyclists revved their engines, but nobody was
going anywhere.
“You know there’s a tsunami watch, right?”
They all nodded.
“What’s everyone waiting for?”
“We’re not waiting for anything,” said one, “We’re fine
right here.”
“It’s the same old stuff,” said another.
“What if you’re wrong? What if there’s a twenty-meter swell
like they’ve forecasted? You can’t outrun that. Just head on up to the Academy
and if you’re right, I’ll buy you a beer. If I’m right, you don’t owe me
anything.”
“Alright,” said the one, “you’re on. I could use a free
beer.”
As the one motorcyclist took the lead, the majority of the
riders followed him up Academy road. Some still stayed behind, but most rode
into the village. Brian could only hope they were helping to move their
families out of harm’s way. Brian followed them
The muddy ruts through the village made the going rough as
Brian look for anyone left behind. However, he did know that his host family
was still gathered in their beachside shanty.
Pigs oinked noisily as he arrived outside the Serencio
house. He parked his bike at the gate and went inside.
“Mrs. Serencio? Mr. Serencio?”
Maria was the first to emerge.
“We’re just eating, Brian. Do you care to join us?”
“I came about the tsunami warning.”
“Oh, that. My father wants to stick it out here.”
“You can’t stay here. We’re expecting twenty meter waves.”
“We don’t get twenty meter waves here in Sarangani. That’s
why you never see anyone surfing at the beach.
Maria turned to her father, who hobbled out on a cane.
“Why are you down here, Brian? Is this about the tidal
surge? There’s too much to move. We’re fine right here with all our things.”
“What do you mean? You’re willing to endanger your wife and
children?”
“No, not really, but I have twenty pigs. What do you want me
to do about them?”
“We can evacuate them, too, if that’s what it takes.”
“How are you going to move twenty pigs?”
“I can move forty pigs if I have enough rope and a lot of
patience.”
“You know we got the rope.”
Mr. Serencio pointed out to the tool shed just next to the
piggery. Brian began by fitting the pigs with rope collars and tethering them
together. Then, he opened the gate.
A boisterous herd of hogs barreled through the gate doors.
Brian held on as the burly hogs led the way.
“Herve! Can you help?”
Herve Serencio, who was barely eleven, ran over to help. Mr.
Serencio joined in, lightening Brian’s load.
“Let’s cut this down to a manageable size.”
Mr. Serencio divided the pigs into groups of four. The three
men drove the pigs to the motorcycle pad. As motorcycle engines buzzed, the
pigs circled around the dirt pad, trampling anything in their way. Mr. Serencio
stopped at the edge of the road and tied his pigs to a low branch on a nearby
santol tree. Brian and Herve did the same.
“What’s this?” asked Jonny.
“Mr. Serencio wouldn’t leave unless he took all his pigs,
too.”
Jonny nodded, “You go find Mr. and Mrs. Jaramillo and I’ll
take care of Mr. Serencio’s hogs.”
It was divide-and-conquer as the men parted ways and took on
their separate tasks. Jonny filled Brian’s minivan to capacity. Then, Maria
Serencio hopped on the back of Brian’s cycle and they sped up Academy Road.
When they arrived at the Academy, most everyone was gathered
around the weather radio, listening intently.
“What’s the latest?”
“More of the same,” said Rosie, “but now they’re forecasting
an eight-meter swell.”
“How long do they think it’ll be until the wave hits the
coast?”
“Four hours, maybe five at most.”
“Turn it off give it a rest,” said Mr. G., “we can check on
it later.”
“Brian?” said Mr. Serencio.
“I know, I’m getting to it, Mr. Serencio.”
He motioned to Rosie.
“Yeah, Brian?”
“You want to go on a hike?”
“A hike? In this weather?”
“We’re gettuing the rest of Mr. Serencio’s pig.”
“Go on,” said Mr. G., “and take four or five people with
you.”
Brian drove the small group back to the dirt pad outside the
village where the remaining pigs waited. Brian split the harnesses into groups
of two and three and handed them to the kids.
“Rosie, take the minivan back to the Academy while I take
care of these hogs for Mr. Serencio.”
“Where are we going to put them?”
Brian shrugged, “We’ll find a place.”
Brian led his gang of pig rustlers up Academy Road while
Rosie returned in the minivan. The pigs trampled through the mud, getting
everyone dirty in the process. Still, they managed to climb the long slope to
Our Lady Lupita. As he neared the Academy, Brian looked to the clearing sky.
“At least that’s a good sign,” he thought.
Mr. Gutierrez stood in the middle of the road, looking at
the herd of pigs. Then, he turned toward the cluster behind the Academy. It was
quite a lot of extra mouths to feed.
“Where do you want us to put then?” said Brian to Mr.
Gutierrez.
“I guess we’ll just put them with the rest so they’ll be out
of the way.”
Pigs were paired off and tied to a row of palm trees behind
the Academy. Then, Brian returned inside.
“Let’s take attendance,” said Mr. G. as he unfolded his map.
“Abate, Joseph and Anthony; Jaramillo, Jose and Joy; Rana…
Has anyone seen Dalisay or her family?”
Mr. G. glanced around the room. Dalisay, Mariposa, and their
parents were absent.
“Brian, would you like to head back to the village?”
“Sure thing, Mr. G.”
“Can I go, too?” pleaded Joy.
“I think I have enough room for one more.”
Joy hopped into the passenger seat and buckled herself in
tight, tugging on the shoulder belt for good measure. Brian checked his
shoulder belt, too. Then, he winked to his co-pilot.
“…and we’re off!”
“We’re off!” repeated Joy. She flung her arms into the air
as if she was on a roller coaster. Of course, Brian was no racecar driver, so
it was an antic for her to hold both hands high. For Brian, slow and steady
always won the race.
In the short time since he’d made his last trip down Academy
Road, the road had gotten far worse. The minivan’s wheels were no match for
ruts and potholes crafted by Jeepneys, rough-riding motorcycles, and a dozen
wild pigs. Brian drove down the middle of the road, avoiding what he could.
“Hold on tight, doodlebug, it’s about to get bumpy.”
She braced herself as the minivan lurched from rut-to-rut.
Finally, though, they made it to the dirt pad. The Rana house was just over the
hill.
“We’ll walk the rest of the way,” said Brian. Joy hopped out
and followed him down the muddy path, skipping over the dry spots and splashing
directly in each puddle.
“C’mon, Joy. Your mother is going to kill me.”
“No she won’t,” said Joy, “maybe she’ll make a fuss, but she
won’t kill you.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” chuckled Brian.
Skip-splash-skip-skip-splash. By the time they arrived at
the Rana house, Brian and Joy’s legs were covered in mud.
“Dalisay! Oh Dalisay!” chirped Joy, “Where are you?”
“Joy? Is that you?”
“Yes, Mrs. Rana, it’s me. Where’s Dalisay?”
“She’s at the furniture store with her father. They’re
prepping for the surge.”
“I should’ve known,” said Brian.
“I’m sure they’re still there. There’s a lot to do whenever
there’s a flood.”
“Why don’t you come to the Academy with us?”
“I have things to do, too, but maybe in a bit.”
“The surge will be here soon. This is no place to wait out a
storm.”
“Oh, you’re probably right.”
Mrs. Rana joined Joy and Brian and headed back up Academy
Road. Even though the road was rough, Brian had come prepared. Each time he got
stuck, he got out and spread kitty litter behind each wheel. Slowly, but
surely, the minivan made it back to Our Lady Lupita.
- Slow and steady
wins the race. –
“Brian?” said a familiar little voice. It was Joy.
“Yes?”
“Can we go to the highway and look for Dalisay?”
“We’re safer here at the Academy. I’m sure Dalisay will be
fine. She has her father to look after her.”
Joy exhaled fully and furrowed her brow. Brian put his hand
over her skull, seemingly palming it like a basketball. He twisted her head back
and forth, loosening the little girl’s anguish.
“Quit worrying, they’ll be just fine.”
Time passed slowly in the overcrowded Academy. Even with the
addition of a dozen or so motorcyclists, everyone seemed to take it in stride.
There were also the pigs outside, but the smell wasn’t the worst of it. Neither
was the noise. In fact, it was the lack of noise that was most unnerving. The
low rumbles of the hogs were quiet and pensive, as if they knew there was a
great wave rising over the sea. Worse yet, all anyone could do was sit and
wait.
Out on the national road, Mr. Rana and his daughters worked
at a feverish pace, literally tying up loose ends.
“Dalisay,” ordered Mr. Rana, “here’s a ball of twine. You
and your sister know the routine. Stack these tables and chairs neatly and bind
everything together with twine.”
“Okay, daddy.”
The girls went to work, moving furniture to the center of
the building and knotting tiny pieces of string around each leg, joining one
piece of furniture to the next. When they were finished, a colossal heap of
furniture sat in the center of the floor. Mr. Rana double-checked the girls’
work, securing loose spots and making sure the load wouldn’t shift under the
strains of a flood.
“Come help me,” he said, “Let’s get the rest of this stuff
to the truck. We only have a couple hours before the surge hits the coast.”
They loaded the last of the file cabinets onto Mr. Rana’s
truck and secured the load much in the same way as they did with the furniture,
lots of rope tying everything together.
“Let’s go get your mother and head for the highlands.”
Mr. Rana peered to the southwest as he drove to the Academy.
There was hardly a cloud in the bright blue sky. He’d seen it before. Tidal
waves and rainy days hardly ever went hand-in-hand. To be sure, he tuned in to
MindaNews.
“Hey-lo Mindanao and good evening one and all! It’s Jeanie
Abordo from the MindaNews weather center here in Davao. Earlier reports of
sub-oceanic tremors near Sulawesi have not produced any tidal effect. For all
that good news, there is still a low-pressure system hovering over the Celebes
Sea. It will bring 5-10 more centimeters of rain through the night. Rest
assured, if there are any changes in the tide, you will be the first to know
with MindaNews.”
Mr. Rana breathed a sigh of relief as he turned onto Academy
Road. He was surprised, however, when he saw the great gathering of things
outside Our Lady Lupita. If he’d been a believer in the apocalypse, this surely
would’ve been the first sign.
“Mr. Rana!” greeted Jonny, “how are things at the store.”
“Like a bride all dressed up and no place to go.”
“What do you mean?”
“You didn’t hear? They lifted the tsunami warning. All we’re
expecting is more rain. Do you have room for three more?”
“Of course we do. Come in, come in.”
The crowd at the Academy thinned as soon as news of the
broken tidal wave filtered through the room. Those left behind were the usual
suspects: the Jaramillos, the Velsascos, and the Serencios. Oddly, the Mr. Rana
and his family stayed behind, too.
“If anyone needs them,” offered Mr. Rana, “I’ve got some
sleeping bags and blankets on the truck.”
A line formed at the back of Mr. Rana’s truck as he
unfastened the tarp and off-loaded everything he could.
“Brian, take this guitar inside with you.”
‘But I can’t play guitar.”
“I can,” interrupted Rosie.
“Then you can take it,” said Mr. Rana, “it’ll fill up the
hours.”
Rosie led the families in sing-alongs as Mrs. Serencio fixed
a makeshift Pineapple SPAM stir-fry dinner.
“It’s really good,” said Rosie.
“Thank you, dear.”
“No, I mean it. It’s really, really good.”
“Mmmm mmmm mmmm really really good,” said Joy as she licked
her lips.
Rosie had eaten SPAM more times than
she cared to count. However, Mrs. Serencio’s stir-fry was surprisingly good. Maybe
it was because Rosie was hungry., but everyone cleared his or her plate. Maybe
it could’ve been that everyone else was hungry, too and happy to eat well for
once.
After dinner, night closed in and so did another steady
rain. The blankets and sleeping bags made for a restful sleep, and just like
the hearty meal, that was a great comfort, too.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment