Lead

I heard my cellphone beep after class dismissal; I read a message from my sister, Dream. She was telling me dramatic stories about her allowance, wanting to borrow money from me. She is also in Davao, but we are not living in the same house for my school is far from hers. She had insisted on studying here in Davao, even if she had not take nor pass any entrance examinations here. My parents were absolutely against it, but with my help, she ended up getting what she wanted.

Dream, my sister is only a year younger than me, and because of that we were always in competition. My parents would always give us the same amount of allowance, the same brand of clothes, and even an equal share of household chores for the sake of treating us fairly. However, back when I was five, I really felt that life was unfair.

Forgiveness in Denmark

 

“Thank you for your help, perhaps this amount will make you understand how precious is my grandson,” Mr. Rimas said as he handed me a check.

There is something on his lap, hidden by his other hand. I tried to ignore it, so I smiled and nodded as a sign of thanks. He looked at the clouds outside the window the plane, seemed to be very excited to see the grandson he had never seen for five years.

Dama of His Nights

 

She wakes me, then she vanishes.

But the scent of a thousand other flowers

seems to harmonize to annoy me

as it lingers in the four walls of this room.

 

My Mynah

 

by: Easter Sunshine Catedral, Kelly Marie Conlon, Hiyasmin Gabriela Espejo, Alpha Khristine Fortun

 

CAST

Gabriel Angelus, 15, a sacristan

TIME

Dawn, nearing time for mass

(Around four-thirty in the morning)

PLACE

A dark and silent room in the seminary

 

(Gabriel walks into the room, dressed in a sacristan’s traditional white garb. He seats himself in a winged armchair. A black bird sits in a rusting metal cage.)

(Music emanates from the room but the source of such is unknown.)

(Open Curtains. Music stops abruptly.)

 

Gabriel: Lot. I call my bird that. It hithers and takes shelter in the darkness of this humble abode. Stupid bird, you think I can’t see you?

First Aid

Blood stained on their clothes.

They are lying on the field,

under the burning rays of sun at noon.

Check for unresponsiveness,

put the victims in the shade,

use the improvised stretchers,

cover the wound with clean dressing.

Rescuing them, using whatever we learned.

The mock accident seemed to be true.

Guitar Lessons

The guitar’s broken.

Parent’s gift for her birthday,

shorter hair by then.

She’s thrilled but changed, stopped playing

And now her hair is longer.