Brian was the first to feel it.
A pinch of water slithered through the cracks in the cement
like a serpent in the night. In the process, a lake formed in the corner of the
room and soaked the end of Brian’s sleeping bag.
He peeled two wet socks from his feet and tossed them onto
the dry concrete beside his head. His feet looked like two pale white raisins
and desperately needed some attention. He grabbed a towel and carefully
massaged each toe until they were somewhat dry.
“Gah!” he exclaimed.
It woke Jose, who had been sleeping just beside him.
“That looks awful!” said Jose, “does it hurt?”
“Nah, it’ll be fine once they finish drying out.”
Mr. G., who’d also been awake, was resting peacefully in his
sleeping bag until he heard the two boys talking. He opened his eyes and
glanced towards them.
“What’s going on?”
“We’ve got a water leak,” said Brian.
“Oh?”
Mr. G. struggled to his feet and walked over to investigate.
“I bet it’s coming from the low cistern,” said Mr. G.
Brian nodded, “it always leaks during rainy season.”
“We’d better go out and investigate.”
As they discussed the leak, Mrs. Velasco also rose from a
light sleep. When she saw it was just the men talking, she decided it was time
to get out of bed, too.
“Mr. G., would you like some coffee?”
“No, thanks. I’ll be fine.”
“How about you, Brian?”
“That’d be perfect, Mrs. Velasco.
“How was your
night?”
Brian flashed his wrinkled toes at Mrs. Velasco and she
cringed.
“It looks like you had another sleepless night.”
“They look worse than they are.”
“They look like baby
pigs,” said Jose.
“They’ll be fine in a little while.”
The now normal routine of coffee brewing in the morning and
people blooming to life in the early morning had become commonplace at the
Academy. It was something Mr. Gutierrez truly loved. The leak, however, was
another matter altogether. If the low cistern were leaking, there would be no
choice. Families would have to return to their homes.
Jonny slipped into an old pair of tennis shoes and went
outside to survey the damage. Brian followed. As they did, a group of children
followed, too. They strayed into the roadway to splash and play in the
floodwater.
“It’s probably here by the back.”
“We’re lucky the tsunami didn’t come,” stated Brian.
Jonny nodded, “We’ve still got plenty of things to worry
about. It’s just as I figured. The cistern’s leaking.”
The low cistern had long been the cause of many headaches.
The building owner before Jonny had neglected it completely.
A crack in the upper half of the cistern couldn’t be
repaired with Spackle or mortar. It needed removed and replaced with something
brand new. The only repairs Jonny could make at this point were band-aid fixes
at best.
As Jonny waded through the standing water, he noticed a
stream of raw waste leading along the wall from the comfort room to the Academy
road.
“Everyone get inside!” commanded Mr. G.
“What’s wrong?” asked Rosie.
“Sewage from the comfort room is backing up into the street.
The water’s contaminated.”
Rosie gathered the children and ushered them back into the
classroom. After that was taken care of, she returned to the roadway with Jonny
and Brian.
“What should we do?”
“We’ll just have to fix it.”
Rosie folded her arms across her chest and stared at the
mess.
“How do we fix it?”
“To be honest, there’s not much we can do. I’ll just have to
call for someone to come out and pump the sewage out of the cistern. Can you
keep the children busy for a while?”
“Sure thing, Mr. G.”
Rosie headed inside and got the classroom in order.
“Alright children, it’s time for plan B.”
“What’s plan B?” asked Herve.
“Plan B is…well, plan B is a day of school.”
“But nobody’s here.”
“That may be true, but today is technically still a school
day, so we’ll play math games.”
“Math games?” groaned Joy.
“Yes, math games. Everyone line up in four groups,” said
Rosie, “that includes the parents, too.”
“That includes me?” said Mrs. Velasco.
“That includes everyone.”
“Who will fix the breakfast?”
“Oh, yes, you’re right. You fix breakfast while we play. Do
you need a helper?”
“I’ll just use Juvie.”
“Okay, Juvie’s excused, too. She’s our math whiz anyway.”
Juvie bowed her head and blushed. She had won several
provincial competitions and her only math peer was Dalisay Rana.
“Let’s form three teams and line up at the chalkboard. I’ll
come up with a problem and whoever solves it first gets to sit down. All teams
play until one team gets all its players seated.”
“Can I just sit down until it’s my turn?” asked Mrs.
Jaramillo.
“That’d be fine.”
“I have shin splints,” said Mrs. Rana, “Is it okay if I
could I sit and wait, too?”
“Of course.”
Joy raised her hand high in the air.
“Yes, Joy?”
“I can’t stand for long periods of time. I’d like to sit and
wait, too.”
Rosie posited her hands on her hips and stared at Joy.
“Adults can sit. Students can stand.”
Joy wrinkled her lips.
“Joy!” interrupted Mrs. Jaramillo, “You have two healthy
legs. You’ll be just fine standing and waiting like the rest of the children.”
“Alright,” groaned Joy. She leaned on one hip and placed her
hands just as Rosie did.
Rosie ignored Joy’s antics and simply motioned for players
to take their places so the games could begin. Meanwhile, Mrs. Velasco and
Juvie began cooking. They began by opening cans of Spam and cutting it into
slices for frying.
“Marian?” Mrs. Rana called out to Mrs. Velasco, “Can I speak
to you for just one second?”
“Of course.”
Mrs. Rana got up and crossed the room and everyone’s eyes
were upon her. She whispered into Mrs. Velasco’s ear.
“Yes, but we had Spam last night,” said Mrs. Velasco.
Mrs. Rana whispered softly. Again, it was inaudible to the
rest of the class.
“Oh! I’m so very sorry!” exclaimed Mrs. Velasco, “Maybe we
can fry up some eggs instead. Would that work?”
Mrs. Rana nodded, “I could help if you like.”
“I would like that very much.”
Mrs. Rana joined Mrs. Velasco and Juvie at the cooking
table. She watched over the rice cooker and the wok as she helped with the
cooking, She added a dash of cheese and a splash of hot sauce as she made her
own special version of scrambled eggs.
Of course, it wasn’t long until these delicious smells
filled the classroom. It also wasn’t long until the three ladies began filling
paper plates.
Rosie sat on her sleeping bag while Joy and Dalisay joined
her. Rosie cut a thin slice and began to eat it. She held it against the roof
of her mouth with her tongue, savoring every bit of that grilled pork taste.
Again, Rosie was amazed at how fantastic these simple
pleasures could be. Maybe that was because her father never cooked other than
burgers and steak on the grill. For anything else, it involved a trip to the
local restaurant.
Rosie let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong?” asked Mrs. Velasco.
“Not a thing,” said Rosie, “it’s quite a happy sigh.”
While Rosie enjoyed breakfast in the crowded classroom, Mrs.
Eiselle was busy giving Marco as much as he could handle in the otherwise
pleasant surroundings of the back veranda at the Lee Estate.
“We have to make up for lost time. The backyard is a mess.”
“Mrs. Lee, I can’t do anything about the backyard.”
“What do you mean you can’t do anything about it? You have
the finest tools that money can buy.”
“There isn’t any equipment that can dry a field, especially
when it is still pouring down rain. That’s the Lord’s work.”
“Pish-tosh! How do you think they dry sports fields? There
has to be a way.”
Marco shook his head and left Eiselle alone on the veranda.
“Come back here! I’m not finished with you.”
“Well, I’m finished with you.”
Marco waved his hand dismissively at Eiselle without even
turning about. He lowered his head and disappeared into the banana grove. There
was real work waiting to be done.
Mrs. Eiselle stood on the veranda, staring at the banana
grove for a moment before snatched the cellphone from her dress pocket.
“Arvind Lee!” she shouted into the reciever.
“Dialing…Arvind Lee.”
Eiselle stared at the cellphone screen as she waited for a
connection. Finally, she received a pre-recorded message.
“The phone you are trying to call is either off or out of
the area. Please try again later.”
Eiselle punched the button on the touch screen and snarled
in anger.
“Mother pucker!”
“You need to calm down,” said Lorna, “you’re gonna give
yourself an ache.”
“I’m perfeckly pine,” said Eiselle.
“You don’t sound fine.”
As was the usual case whenever she was angry, Eiselle’s
voice slipped further and further into its rural speech patterns – Fs nd Ts
disappeared completely, only to be replaced by Ps and Ks.
“I’m fine, I tell you, perfeckly pfine.”
Eiselle marched through the house and up to the guest
bedroom. She packed a handful of items into her purse and headed for the front
door.
“Where are you headed?”
“I’ve got party plans to fix.”
“You don’t still think you’re having the cotillion, do you?”
“Now that the tidal surge is gone, there’s no reason why we
can’t have a grand party. Everyone just has to do their job.”
Eiselle and Lorna sped into Gensan, in order to start on the
unfinished projects. Eiselle not only needed decorations for the interior, but
tents, awnings, and floor decks for the exterior. However, as she made the
rounds, she only ran into bad news.
“Ma’am,” said the event planner, “I don’t know of anyone who
can plan a party this late.”
“I don’t know why it’s such a problem for you people. I know
exactly what I want.”
The event planner flipped through his schedule. Copious
notes filled the pages and Post-its were clipped into place all along the edges
of each page.
“Most event planners fill their schedules months in advance.
Don’t you see how busy I am?”
“If you need money, I have money.”
“It’s not about money, Mrs. Lee, I just don’t have the time
or resources to plan your party.”
“Isn’t there anything you’re able to do?”
“I do have a number of this guy working out of Alabel. I’m
sure he might be able to help.”
“Ugh! Alabel! I cannot imagine what kind of work he does.”
“He does very fine work.”
“Mmm-hmm, sure.”
Eiselle snatched the note from the event planners hands.
Without so much as a thank you, she was out the door.
“What are you going to do now?” said Lorna.
“I guess I’m stuck with Alabel.”
“Isn’t Arvind there visiting his mom?”
“I’m not sure where he is. Would you care to join me?”
“Well, you know I’m always up for a road trip.”
“That’s good to hear,” said Eiselle, “it’s never fun doing
things alone.”
“You can say that again.”
“It’s never fun doing things alone.”
Eiselle’s spirits brightened slightly as she laughed and
joked with Lorna. She punched the number on the note into her cell phone and
transmitted it to her car’s speakerphone.
“Albay parties to go.”
“Hello, is this the manager?”
“No, but I can help?”
‘Can you?” she asked dubiously.
“yes, of course I can, ma’am.”
“Alright, I’m having a party in the Sarangani Highlands on
the Saturday night after next.”
“Okay, how big is this party?”
“It’s nothing big. I’m expecting one-hundred people or so.”
“One-hundred?”
“Yes, nothing big.”
“Ma’am, that’s a pretty big party, but maybe we can help.
Unfortunately, the manager’s out of town on an errand.”
“It’s always something. When will she back?”
“Just after lunch.”
“Perfect,” said Eiselle, “I’ll be there soon.”
The sky was clearing, both figuratively and literally.
Eiselle clicked off the speakerphone and stopped at the side of the road. She
pressed a button on the console and the roof went topless. She rolled down the
windows and punched the accelerator. Lorna’s long, black hair flipped around
her face. Eiselle grabbed a hair band from around the stick shift and handed it
to Lorna.
“Here, baby,” Eiselle shouted over the whipping wind, “take
this and fix your hair into a pony tail.”
As it was, the sunshine of Gensan was a false omen. Heading
east, the cloud cover grew and the little red German sports car caught up to
the rains that hung over lower Sarangani. Slivers of rain spat on her face and
arms, but before long it grew to a full-fledged downpour. Not only were the
leather seats and console getting wet, but the girls were also getting soaked.
“Oh, come on!” groaned Eiselle.
She swerved off the roadway, only to clunk into the rocky
berm. Gravel spat off her tires and marred the pristine candy apple red finish
on the side panels of her BMW. Still, Eiselle was lucky that the Jeepney
driving behind her didn’t smash into her trunk.
“Be careful!” said Lorna as she braced herself against the
car’s interior. The Jeepney driver slowed to give Eiselle a piece of his mind,
too.
“Watch it, lady!”
“You watch it, mister mother pucker!”
Eiselle gave him the one-finger salute. Several passengers
returned the favor as the Jeepney sped by. Eiselle took two deep breaths as she
pushed the button for the retractable roof. It whirred into place and Eiselle
secured it tight. With another stomp on the accelerator, Eiselle sent the car
racing into traffic. Gravel spit from her tires, and she was back on her way
again.
Just up the road, Rosie and company were still dealing with
problems all their own. The constant downpour of rain didn’t help, either.
“Rosie, I’d like you and Brian to drive these people back to
their homes and investigate the situation for me. I’ll stay here and wait for
the honey dipper to come and clean out the low cistern.”
“Okay, Mr. G. Is there anything else?”
“Just be careful.”
Rosie and Brian went inside and looked over the four
remaining families.
“Alright, everyone, settle down for a moment. I have an
announcement. As some of you may already know, Mr. G. is having an issue with
the comfort room. He has called in a waste removal service to take care of
that. In the meantime, he wants Brian and me to take you back to your homes
until he can get it fixed. Who wants to go first?”
“I’ve got my truck,” said Mr. Rana, “but that only fits
three. Two of my family will have to go separately.”
“We can take Dalisay and Mariposa,” suggested Rosie. The two
girls nodded affirmatively.
“We can go, if that’s okay with everyone else,” offered Mrs.
Velasco. Both she and Rosie glanced around the room to see if anyone objected.
Nobody did.
“So it is,” said Rosie, “let’s get loaded right away.”
Juvie and her mother picked up their things while Rosie and
Brian helped load Juvie’s Aunt and Uncle into the minivan. Their load was
light, but Uncle Hari was infirm. They carried him, folding chair and all,
outside to the minivan. Then, they lifted him up to the sliding door and eased
him into one of the seats. Mrs. Velasco buckled him in.
“Are you alright, Hari?”
Hari nodded slightly as he head drooped towards his chin.
His face was wrinkled and brown, his lips ashy and gray. He’d literally been
standing on his last leg for almost a decade. Diabetes had taken care of him
one joint at a time until it ate up his right leg past the knee. His prosthetic
was old and tired, a charitable donation that had been custom-fitted, but it
never worked quite right. Still, it was far better than nothing at all.
“If everyone’s ready,” Brian called to his passengers,
“let’s get this show on the road.”
The minivan rumbled over the potholes and ruts, jostling
everyone around like a sack of potatoes on the back of a farm truck.
“Hold on tight,” said Brian. He steered towards the edge of
the road, where vegetation was thickest. Meanwhile, Mrs. Velasco held onto
Uncle Hari’s head, trying to keep it from banging against the interior, but t
was no use. As the wheels popped from root-to-root, everyone skipped off their
seats. It was all anyone could do not to get hurt.
“Everyone get ready, I’m going to cut across the road.”
The minivan cut across the ruts much the same way a boat
would cross another boat’s wake. It skipped wildly over each bump. No single
wheel cleared a rut in tandem with another. It was even bumpier than before.
“Oh! Oh! Oh!” exclaimed Uncle Hari.
“Hold on, Uncle Hari!” shouted Brian, “I’m getting her to
the other side!”
Indeed, he made it to the other side with everyone intact.
However, he had barely gone a kilometer. At this pace, it’d be nightfall before
they even got to the entrance to the barrio. Brian reached down and turned off
the engine.
“What’s wrong?” asked Rosie.
“The wheels on this van are too narrow and definitely too
slick. I’m putting everyone in harm’s way.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going back to tell Mr. G. that Academy road is no
longer passable.”
“Alright, but what about us?”
“Just wait here. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Brian hopped out of the van and marched back up Academy
road. As Jonny spotted his silhouette break over the hill, he hobbled out onto
the roadway and waited for his return.
“The road’s no good?” asked Jonny.
“The road’s no good,” said Brian.
“How far did you get?”
“Maybe a kilometer or so.”
“You think it’s stuck?”
Brian shrugged.
Jonny pushed the palm of his hand back and forth over his
forehead as he thought it over. He looked back at the classroom.
“Everyone inside is either too little or too old to help.”
“Maybe not;. Let’s give it a try anyway.”
“Alright, grab a heavy chain and some tools while I figure
out who to take.”
Brian loaded the chain, a few shovels, and several bags of
kitty litter in the truck bed. Meanwhile, Jonny handpicked volunteers from the
class.
“Me and my girls will be happy to help,” offered Mr. Rana.
“We probably need boys,” said Jonny.
“I can do whatever a boy can,” said Dalisay.
“They do all the moving at the furniture store,” said Mr.
Rana.
“Alright, get in the back of my truck. Rosie, and Herve, we
could use the two of you, too.”
They loaded into the back of Mr. G’s. truck and Brian carefully
backed into the roadway. Gears grinded as Brian put the old truck into first
gear. The fly belt whirred as it slowly slipped into place. Away they went,
returning down Academy road.
“Hallo!” Brian called out to the Velascos. The Velascos
waved back.
“Hey-lo!” called Juvie.
She hopped out of the minivan and greeted Brian, Rosie, and
the rest. Mrs. Velasco leaned out her window.
“What have we got here?”
“A battalion of helpers,” said Brian as he grabbed a bag of
kitty litter from the truck and poured it behind each wheel, “We’re going to
help push the minivan out of this mess.”
“You need me to help?”
“If you’d like. If not, you can just sit tight.”
“I’ll help,” said Mrs. Velasco.
“Rosie, you want to drive?”
“I’d rather push.”
“Who then?”
“You should be the one,” said Rosie.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Brian hopped in the driver’s seat and rolled down the
window. Meanwhile, everyone else gathered behind the minivan, ready to push it
loose.
“Everybody be careful. There’s a chance the minivan will
rock backwards.”
The wheels climbed out of the rut slowly as Brian slowly
revved the minivan’s engine. With a sudden push, the minivan escaped the dirt
and mud. The people behind the minivan, however, slipped and slid and landed on
their hands and knees. Most were covered in mud.
“Ugh!” groaned Rosie. Her bright orange and yellow rain
jacket was now covered in thick black-brown mud.
“It’ll wash out,” said Brian, “now get in the truck and
let’s get back to the Academy.”
Rosie’s muddy exterior hardened like a tortoise shell and
when she returned to the Academy, Joy pleasured in peeling it off in big dirty
clumps. When Joy was finished, Rosie collected all the dirt and took it
outside.
Mr. Rana used a coil of rope to secure the load onto his
flatbed truck. Meanwhile, Jonny and Brian stood in the roadway observing the
oily mudflow. Rosie dumped her handfuls of dirt into the culvert at the other
side of the road and joined them.
“Same old problem?” asked Rosie.
Jonny nodded, II just don’t know what to do.”
“I’ve got an idea,” interrupted Mr. Rana, “why don’t we move
everyone to the furniture store for now?”
“That seems like a lot of trouble. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want the extra
company.”
Jonny nodded.
“So, let’s get this caravan rolling.”
They filled the minivan, the truck, and the flat bed to
capacity and rode out to the highway, where it seemed untouched by the problems
down in the barrio.
Unfortunately, Eiselle and Lorna were headed that way just
to find the only wedding planner within a short drive from the Lee Estate.
When they arrived at the address, the only thing they found
was a short row of three small kiosk-sized stores. They were barely enough to
hold anything more than a pair of desks, a cashier stand, and a small bench.
“This is it?” scoffed Eiselle.
“Give it a try. It’s all you got.”
Bells jangled as Eiselle pushed open the door. A little old
man hobbled out to greet her and Lorna. As Eiselle glanced around, it was
pretty much as she imagined. Pictures and decorations adorned one wall. A
plastic mock-up of a wedding cake and a wedding dress sat next to the counter.
The rest of the interior looked more like a Laundromat than a wedding planner’s
store.
An old man got up from his desk behind the counter and
greeted the girls.
“You must be the one I was talking to on the phone. How do
ya do?”
“Yes, I’m Mrs. Eiselle Lee. And you are?”
“I’m Miss Jane’s assistant, Henry.”
He held out a hand. Eiselle grasped it by the fingertips and
gave a light shake.
“What can you do for me, Henry?”
“Come here to the back and have a sit down. We have plenty
of options for your party.”
Henry held open the tiny half-door and led the girls into
the back half of the shop. He pulled a small folding chair from the wall,
opening it and holding it for Lorna as he offered her a seat. Eiselle shot him
a glance, as if she’d been scorned by his inattention to her. Still, Henry
managed to run over to Eiselle’s chair and hold it for her, too.
“Maybe, ma’am, I should be asking what I can do for you.”
“Yes, I am hosting a cotillion next weekend and since there
might be rain, I need tents and wooden flooring for a group of one-hundred.”
“One-hundred?” said Henry with a sigh, “That sure is a lot
of people. Where are you having it?”
“It’s a little affair, really. I’m holding it up in
Sarangani Highlands at the Lee Estate. Have you heard of it?”
“Sarangani Highlands? Of course I’ve heard of it.”
“No, I mean the Lee Estate. I’m Eiselle Lee. You must have
heard of it.”
Old Henry rubbed his chin for a moment as the idea of the Lee
Estate rolled around in his mind.
“Can’t say that I have.”
Eiselle paused there for a moment to give the assistant
party planner a once over. His face was furrowed with deep wrinkles; obviously
the marks of a man who’d worked in the rice terraces or on the banana
plantations most his life. His fingers were dark and gnarled. They, too, had
seen better days.
“It’s the large banana plantation overlooking Sarangani,”
insisted Eiselle.
Henry just shook his head, “What is it you need?”
“When did you say the party planner returning to the shop?”
“She usually doesn’t stop in. I usually send her an email on
this computer here.”
“Can you send her an email now?”
“Why for, ma’am? We haven’t yet agreed to plan your party.”
“Your company could certainly use the money from my party.
It will be big. You could afford to get a better office.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Henry, “Let me email Miss
Jane right now.”
Henry’s knobby little pointer fingers tapped on the keyboard
one keystroke at a time. Eiselle clenched her teeth as she sat there, waiting
for Henry. Eiselle found his slow pace almost too much to bear. Henry paused
for a brief second before dropping a single finger on the return button.
“…and ‘send’!” he announced proudly.
“”How long will it be until she responds?”
“Could be a minute or it could be an hour.”
“Is there anyway I could just get Miss Jane’s direct number?”
Henry shook his head, “not until I have a talk with her.”
“Well, I have plenty of important things to do,” spat
Eiselle, “Here is my business card. Will you contact me when you hear from her?”
“Yes, ma;am.”
Eiselle shot up from her chair and strode out of the tiny
shop, her heels clicking out a rhythm the whole way out. As she pushed on the
front door, the bells jangled again, but almost angrily as the door flipped
open and let Eiselle and Lorna out.
“Why do you always have to be like that?” asked Lorna.
“Like what?”
“Like you are,” said Lorna, “you know you get more bees with
honey than vinegar.”
“I’m not trying to catch bees. I’m trying to host a
cotillion. I don’t have time to waste on these things.”
The little red German sports car spun its wheels as Eiselle
sped out of the parking lot and back onto the highway. She turned the air
conditioner to high and lit a cigarette. Two white hot flumes of smoke came out
of both nostrils as she exhaled forcefully. Lorna quietly sat beside Eiselle,
thinking it was much better to say nothing at all.
With Eiselle behind the steering wheel, there was no telling
where Lorna would end up next.
.
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