A Boy’s Dream

Once there was a boy, Alberto, who lived on a farm at the foot of a
mountain. He was kind, handsome, intelligent and deeply pious. He loved pets,
sports and music. One day, he looked up at the tall mountain and talked with God.

“Lord, will you give me what I want when I become a man?”

“What do you want?”

“I want a big house with a wide porch across the front and a small
garden at the back. For a wife, I want a tall, beautiful and kind woman. I want her
with long black hair and deep brown eyes. She must play the guitar and sing in a
clear high voice. I want three strong sons to play with. When they grow up, one
will be an electrical engineer, the other a great architect and the youngest a
gifted composer. And me, I want to be an adventurer; I want to cross the seas,
climb mountains and rescue people.”

“That sounds like a nice dream.”

“Will you make my dreams come true?”

“I want you to be happy.”

Alberto was satisfied. He knew his dreams will come true because the
Lord wants him to be happy.

Alberto hurt himself in a basketball game. He had to use crutches all

his life. He studied marketing and started on a supply store. He married a
beautiful short girl with short almost mannish hair. She has deep dark eyes, long
lashes and thick eyebrows. She could neither play the guitar nor sing. But Anita
prepared delicious meals seasoned with rare Chinese spices and painted
magnificent pictures of sceneries. He had three beautiful daughters; the youngest
who had polio when she was a baby was the loveliest. She was on a wheelchair,
played the guitar and sang lovely haunting songs. They lived in a tall apartment
that overlooked the blue ocean and the city’s twinkling lights.
 Then Alberto remembered his dream and felt very sad.

“I am very sad,” he said to his best friend.

“Why?”

“I dreamed of marrying a tall beautiful woman with long black hair who
would play the guitar and sing for me. My wife can’t play the guitar or sing. Her
hair is short and she’s not tall.”

“Your wife is beautiful and kind. She paints pictures and prepares
delicious meals.” But Alberto would not listen.

“I am very sad” Alberto said to Anita.

“Why?”

“I dreamed of living in a big house with a porch and a garden. Instead,

I live in an apartment on the fifth floor.”

“Our apartment is comfortable. We come and see the sea from the
window. We have a comfortable life and three beautiful children.” But Alberto
would not listen. He talked with God.

“Remember the dream I told you, Lord, when I was a boy?”

“It was a lovely dream!”

“Why did you not make my dreams come true? Why did you not give me
what I want?”

“But I thought you are going to give me what I want!” said the Lord.

“Lord, what do you want me to give you?”

“I wanted you to be happy with what I give you.”

 The Will To Do

Oscar fingered the twenty-peso bill in his pocket. It

was not easy for him to save twenty pesos from his weekly pay.
He had to skip snacks, cigarettes and even avoided riding
pedicabs. But he had to save that twenty pesos.

He waited in line to buy the lotto card. He drew heavy

lines on some numbers. He takes care of these numbers. He
always places his bet on them. If there is one thing Oscar
wanted very much, it is to see places; far-away places. His
dream will only come true if…

“Oh, God! Please let me win. Forty million pesos. That is

more than enough to see the world.”

Lost in his daydream of having forty million pesos,

Oscar bumped against an old man on a wheel chair. He looked at
the old man. He was alone. He seemed to have a hard time
negotiating the distance to the street corner.

“Here, let me help you.”

The old man looked at Oscar intently. He did not thank

him.
 “You were in such a hurry. You almost threw me out of
my chair. Why did you help me now?”

Oscar smiled sheepishly.

“I had just made my bet in the lotto. I prayed hard

God will let me win. Helping you might be the break I need.”

“Are you telling me your kindness will please God and

let you win the lotto?”

“That’s it! That is why I rushed over to help you.”

“Why are you so desperate to win the lotto?”

“I want to go places. I want to see the world.”

“Why rely on the lotto and miracle, young man? God

gave you the means of seeking the world. And I don’t have
them.”

With this, the old man made a sharp turn and wheeled
himself away. Oscar was bewildered. What means does he have
to see the world? He craned his neck to look at the old man. He
had no legs. Oscar followed the wheelchair till it disappeared
from view. He lost his enthusiasm in betting. He walked
aimlessly on the whole length of Rizal Avenue. Something caught
his eyes.
 The Story of Kidlat

In the beginning, Kidlat lived on earth with the people.

Kidlat was a tall muscular man whose muscles gave off sparks
when he worked hard. His muscles gave off dangerous sparks
too when he was angry. And the sparks could kill people! Kidlat
used his power to have his own way. He lashed out his dangerous
sparks to those he did not like. He used them also to those who
did not obey his orders. People became afraid of him and many
hated him.

Kidlat had killed so many people. The chiefs of the

villages met. They talked about the terror Kidlat has sown
among the people. They agreed Kidlat must not live on earth
with people. The chiefs told Kidlat of their decision.

“Let me stay on earth!” begged Kidlat. “I will change my

ways.”

“So much damage had been done, Kidlat. The people are
so afraid of you. Most of them hate you. You have to leave,”
explained the Big Chief.
 But soon a terrible Aswang came to the village. He
carried away pregnant women and infants. The wife of the Big
Chief was carried away. The chiefs talked of their new problem.
They had only one thing in mind. If only Kidlat were here!

Kidlat heard their problem. He came down to the

chiefs. He volunteered to kill Aswang.

“I will kill Aswang for you. But in return, you must let
me live with you!”

The chiefs could not do anything. They accepted

Kidlat’s offer. In no time, the enemy was killed. And Kidlat lived
on earth again. He did not change much. He is still dangerous.
But the people learned to avoid him. They became so sensitive
to his presence. They knew when he would give off his
dangerous sparks. They scamper to safety.
 Why the Carabao has Split Hoofs

Once, Carabao and Turtle met on a way to the meadow.

Turtle was very happy. He had long hoped to bestfriend
Carabao. He felt a big fellow like Carabao would help him if he
got into trouble.

He said to carabao. “Let us live together. Let us hunt

food together! We will be happy in our friendship.”

“You slow foot! How dare you make this proposal. Live
with the ants and worms. But not with a powerful animal like
me.”

“So, you do not want me for a friend. Who told you that
you are powerful? I bet you could bot even win a race with me.”

Carabao snorted and walked away. Turtle followed and

nagged.

“You can not even race against me. You are a coward I
will tell all the animals what a big coward you are.”
 “Don’t you do that! You want a race? A race you shall
have! When do you want it?”

“I will give you three days to prepare. The race would

be long. It would cover seven hills.”

Turtle took to his confidence his most trusted friends.

He gave instructions to his friends.

The day of the race came. At a given signal, Carabao

and Turtle ran. The two runners lost sight of each other. When
Carabao reached the second hill, Turtle was waving his arms at
him.

“I am here long time.”

And at every hill, Carabao found Turtle relaxed and

much ahead of him. When Carabao reached the seventh hill, he
saw Turtle foolishly smiling. Carabao was so angry. He kicked
Turtle hard. And carabao broke his hoof at the force of the
blow. Turtle was not hurt. His shell was strong.
 The School’s Bullies
The first thing I learned when I enrolled in Cecilio Apostol Elementary
School was to avoid the school bullies. These were Frankie, 10 years old, and his
brother Dennis, age 8. They had failed second grade twice and attended classes in
a building next to mine. Though my mother was a teacher in the school, I was
warned not to tell her anything about Frankie and Dennis. Or else I would be
abused when her back was turned. Nothing serious happened until I was in the
third grade and the brothers were in the fourth.

I was riding my bike around the school ground when I heard a shout
behind me. “Get out of my way, teacher’s pet!” I slowed down but Dennis lifted the
back of my bike and flipped it into a ditch. I landed head first and my bike landed
on me. My nose bled. My face was bruised black and blue, and I had a giant knot on
my forehead. I rode my bike home as fast as I could. I washed away the mud and
blood from my arms and face, but my forehead remained swollen. I lied to my
mother, but she caught me.

“What happened to your face, Allan? How did you get that knot on your
forehead?”

“Bicycle accident. I fell into a ditch at the back of the school.”

“Who? Frankie or Dennis?” She looked straight into my eyes.

“No! Mother don’t tell the principal. The more they would beat me!”

“Those children have to be stopped! They can not go on bullying

anybody in the school!”
 I was not able to go to school for a week. The butterflies in my
stomach turned into nausea and vomiting. I developed rashes and fever.

“You know what I did today?” my mother told me. “I looked into the
records of Frankie and Dennis. Their father is dead. Their mother works in
Olongapo but never sends money for the boys. Their grandmother, his father’s
mother is raising those boys alone. She is a laundrywoman. When the boys were
young, their mother used to beat them. The boys never knew what it is to be
loved. All they know is they have to fight for everything they get.”

I looked into my mother’s eyes. What does all these news mean? Will
she transfer me to La Consolacion School or Notre Dame?

“Allan, for the past four days, Frankie and Dennis helped me clean the
guidance room. I gave them some money for things they like to eat. I promised
them they will see our benefit movie on Saturday. With you!”

“No! Don’t you leave me alone in the dark movie house with those
bullies!”

“Allan, those boys need love and attention and some real friends. Why
don’t you give it?”

“Why me? Why you and I? Why not the others?”

“Because you and I can do it.”

Saturday morning, mother and I picked Frankie and Dennis from their
one room house at the back of the bus terminal across the school. I was surprised
to see them. They were wearing old but clean clothes, their faces scrubbed clean,
and their hair combed. When Dennis saw me in the car, he lowered his eyes and
fidgeted.

“Allan, I’m sorry I threw you and your bicycle in the ditch. That will not
happen, never again.”
 “Forget it. Come on and get into the car. We must not be late for the
first showing.”