Saturday, October 03, 2020

On my father’s shoulders

© Joselito Briones

In the Philippines we start celebrating Christmas in September, as soon as we get a respite from summer heat.
It usually ends early January.

One Christmas season, I must have been 5 or 6, my father took me to work - a bus depot that he managed.  In the waiting room, right next to the glittery Christmas tree was a poster of “Jaws”, that summer’s ubiquitous image. 

There was a buzz in the air., “Mrs. is here.”, everyone whispered.  “Mrs.” was always just “Mrs.”.  She was the boss, owner of the company.  My father must have been busy attending to work.  When eventually he caught wind of her presence, he grabbed and lifted me to his shoulders and we ran and looked for Mrs.  The idea was to see if she was giving Christmas presents.  She was gone by the time we got to her office.

Whenever I’m reminded of that day though, I realize it wasn’t the missed “papasko” that I think about.  It was that my father never  picked me up  before then, at least not that I remember. I remember that it was nice being on his shoulders. I remember it was awkward because even at that young age I was tall and spindly.

I remember feeling special.
 
We went back to his office and he sat me on his desk He told me to keep my hands open and onto them he dumped all the coins from his pockets.

Happy days.
 

XXX

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

i can use my right hand again...

© Joselito Briones
or so i dreamt.  

I woke up middle of the night without the usual heaviness on my right arm. i slowly moved my fingers. They’re here alright, although i couldn’t tell where my right hand was.  moving some more confirmed that my right hand was resting flat on my belly.  my right hand was moving freely again.

fearing the disappointment of finding out that this was just a dream, i forced myself awake, once in a while moving my hand to make sure that i can still do it.  after a couple of hours i fell asleep again.  I woke up again and found my right hand very stiff again.


XXX

Sunday, September 27, 2020

glorious morning


this is the morning glory vine that charles planted at t  window by my side of the bed. it’s already got two flowers since he planted it a month ago.  pretty eh?


xxx

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