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Friday, May 20, 2005
Helpless and alone
By Rene Lizada
Papa's Table
SEVERAL weeks ago my wife and I planned a great weekend together. The reason was that we were going to be alone for the first time in years. Migoy is in Manila and Eps and Gabo were attending a Youth Encounter. So we were going to be alone.
Our first plan was to go this resort. But when we found out how much it would cost, we balked and looked for another place. We thought of going to this other place but again we hesitated. Then we said, why don't we just have dinner then go and have coffee and watch people pass by. We agreed to that. And so we decided that we were going to have our date on a Saturday evening.
Friday night we slept and when we woke up and that was where our problems began. For some reason, our household help just packed her bags and fled. She left a note saying that she was lonely and alone. That was why she left? She was alone and lonely? I was in more terrible shape! I was alone and hungry.
But I could not grumble. I had to fix breakfast. And so my wife and I got our wish, we were truly alone. Just the two of us, two hungry people abandoned by the household help. We looked around for food and then suddenly our dogs barked. They were hungry too. But humans first! So I fried garlic rice and Chona prepared sausages. I think. I cannot remember anymore because aside from being hungry we were getting irritated because of the incessant barking of the dogs.
The good thing was I discovered that my garlic rice was not too bad. So Chona and I were having breakfast while the dogs were going wild. Aside from that, the house all was well. The wind was blowing and there were blue skies.
After breakfast, I washed the plates and utensils. You may not believe this but I like washing dishes. There is something soothing and cleansing about it. (The writer Agatha Christie was once asked where how she gets ideas for her books. She replied by washing dishes. I can understand that.) So there I was thinking about life and its colors while doing the dishes. Behind me was Chona who was not thinking about life but of dog food. She was actually preparing it.
She then ordered (because that is the really the word) me to feed the dogs. So I stepped out into the sun and took the dog plates while cursing the maid who had fled.
Fifi the Spitz was probably famished as he was licking in anticipation. I had to restrain him because he was jumping all around. Finally I was able to lay the plate and in a flash the dog gulped everything.
Next stop, Skittles, our Labrador.
When I got to her, she was actually prancing. She was barking aloud and waiting and prancing. And I was cursing the maid. I gave the food but Skittles would not eat. She just looked at the dog food that cost a fortune. I would have eaten it if only not to waste it but I was reserving it for a snack. Skittles just looked at me with her eyes. I had an idea. I got water and she just licked it down. I had to get her another because she was really thirsty. She looked at the food and with her nose nudged the food away. Then I heard Chona. "Maligo ka na," second order for the day.
Before that, I had to call the office to arrange for someone to watch the house. When they arrived, Chona was running late and we had to hie off. As we left, the dogs started barking once more. The serenity of the car was never more welcome. But honestly, if I had seen that household help in the street I would have been like Fifi, Chona would have to restrain me.
So our plans went awry. So our plans went pffft because our household help was alone and lonely. These were my thoughts as I sat in the peace and quiet of my office. For some strange reason, I did not want to go home because I would then be ordered to feed the dogs once more. So I prayed that the day would stretch longer than usual so I would not have to go home. But the day eventually ended and my wife and I had to go home. When we did, the "bantay" of the day had to go home and we were off to fend for ourselves.
We locked all the doors and peered into the darkness. The sound of silence was palpable. But not for long because the dogs started barking again. They were hungry again. So Chona goes to the kitchen and makes the dog food. Then she barks at me and tells me to feed the dogs. So I roll over and go out into the darkness. The dogs sense me and they start yelping. I cannot count how many times I shouted "shut up" but I had to guess it would be close to a million. I almost jump from my skin when the doorbell shrieks. It is the guard. The dogs bark again.
After the feeding, I go back inside and I see what is almost like comet like image, my wife cooking. It is comet like because we only see comets every hundred years. And when my wife cooks, the heavens roar and the skies tremble in celebration. I do not remember what we ate, we just ate. Then I washed the dishes again and started to ask, "ano ba talaga ang meaning ng life!!" Chona was inside the room. I checked all the doors, double checked them and gave last minute instructions to the guard. Then I plopped into bed and began reading.
This was actually fun. Peace and quiet, no noise, no disturbance, just my Chona and myself. I was about to fall asleep when I realized, we would have to cook breakfast the following day, then I would have to wash the dishes and then feed the dogs and then....
As of this writing, we have a new set of help. And that is what we are going to talk about next article.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 20, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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