Monday, November 03, 2008 Lizada: Halloween By Rene Lizada Papa's Table
I KNOW some monsters. And if you get to see and hear them you would be surprised. They do not have grotesque faces or crooked noses. They do not have red sinister eyes that peer in the darkness. They have no scaly skin or hunched bodies. Their voices do not squeak nor do they have blood curling laughter.
They do not have brooms to whisk them across the darkness. They do not have fangs like vampires. They do not smell. No horns, no tail. They walk in the light and are not afraid of crosses. Some of them even like "bawang." Their bodies are whole. They do not live in haunted houses. They do not change into hideous creatures when the full moon appears.
In fact if you get to meet them you would never know their true identities. But do not be deceived because despite the absence of the physical requirements of monsters, they are in fact exactly that. You see evil is not necessarily ugly or hideous. Some of the monsters I know are in fact very good looking, impeccably mannered, they dress well, some are even innocent in appearance. Others can really talk well. Some come from really good schools while others even work for religious organizations. Some carry rosaries and pray fervently every day.
They do not have grotesque faces but they are double or even triple faced. You cannot trust them because while they smile when they are with you, you better watch your back. These people will simply betray you when you are not looking. Without batting an eyelash they will pounce on you like rabid salivating creatures. They can do so many things to you. They will renege on their word, spread lies, make up stories and just twist the truth.
Red sinister eyes? No. They have beautiful eyes. They can stare at you without batting an eyelash when they lie to you, when they rob you blind and when they gossip to you. With them the eyes are not "windows of the soul." They are more of windows of deceit.
They do not smell. In fact some of them smell really good. They try to camouflage the stink by wearing the most expensive perfume or use bath cologne. In fact they smell nice and cool but I guess one cannot really hide the stink when one stinks. But they try. Sometimes they think they can get away with it. But people can smell through them.
Their voices are not squeaky or shrill; in fact they speak rather well. Their voices are well modulated and they speak in perfect grammar together with the appropriate gestures. They have a wide vocabulary and some can even write well. No, communicating is not their problem. Communicating the truth is.
They have fangs and horns and tails but they do not show right away. Their fangs, horns and tails are hidden in their expensive clothes and teeth. They brush their teeth everyday and gargle and rinse and floss but the fangs always come out somehow.
As for the horns and tail, it is the same story. They try to hide them with signature clothes. They try to keep them out of sight with their pricey haircuts and perm. But like the teeth, the horns and tail manage to slip through. But the darn thing is you really have to be very sensitive to be able to see those horns and tails because they hide them so well.
These monsters are not afraid of crosses. In fact some of them think they are the saviors of the world. They think they are the centers of the universe and that all should bow to them. Pay homage to them and tremble at their feet when they pass. They have become their own gods. And all of us mortals should remember that without them, we are nothing.
They do not live in haunted houses. They live in empty houses and the silence is their only companion. The ghosts of the past are their friends. When they lie down to sleep an overwhelming loneliness engulfs their hearts and souls as the loneliness swallows them. Holding them captured, holding them forever.
They do not become werewolves during the full moon. To them the moon is not a necessity anymore for they have become monsters a long time ago. They do not need the moon anymore to change. The "moon" in truth is in their hearts already.
Oh yes I know monsters. They live in all of us. But evil is a choice. We become monsters because we choose to.
