Broken Strings
Chapter 41

WRIGHT AGONCILLO

“Looks like we’ve reaped a lot today, huh?” Mang Heronimo asked me while adjusting his hat.

“One hundred ark, Mang Geronimo.”

I wiped the sweat dripping down my face.

“Not that bad huh.” The old man touched my shoulder. “Take a rest, son. We harvest until nightfall and tomorrow we will sundry the rice.”

I took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mang Geronimo.”

The old man left and I entered my hut. When I was able to rest, I took off my clothes and went out to bathe in the poso (poso is an old-style water pump). I just took a quick bath so that I don’t get sick.

After I got dressed I went to the nearby store to buy sardines for my food tonight. I paid for it and went home to my hut. I ate and then lay on the pallet.

“Rested as well,” I whispered to myself.

I looked at the bamboo wall and smiled when I saw a photo of my wife and son. Another day passed without them in my side. I miss them so damn much. It’s been a year since I left them and chose to go to an unknown province here in the Visayas to prove to them that I can live without luxury.

I was stunned when the door to my hut slammed shut. I only slept for a few hours. “Wright! Wake up!”

Even though my back hurt I still got up and opened the door. “Pucha, Yulo! It’s still morning.” (Putcha is a Tagalog curse word)

“Today is our fishing day. Have you forgotten?”

“Ah, shit.” I could only say and massage my aching shoulder.

“Come on. We’ll run out late.” He authoritatively said and turned his back on me.

“You look wide awake, a. Who did you eat last night?” Yulo told me when we were in the boat while laughing.

I stared at him. “Stupid. Mang Geronimo and I were busy harvesting grains ’till nightfall, and we will sundry all of it later.”

“Mang Geronimo has a lot of people. You can stop helping them sundry the grain and just rest.”

“I need to earn money,” I said and threw the fishnet into the sea.

“Who are you running to? You’re already in Manila, why do you have come to the province.”

“I’m not running.”

Mang Heronimo taught me how to farm and Yulo taught me how to fish. I met both of them when I got lost in search of a place to live. Mang Heronimo lent me the hut where he used to live. He was capable of life so he was able to build a stone house.

After I went fishing with Yulo and left it in the market, I went to Mang Geronimo. His jeep was about to leave with only sacks of rice that going to be sundry.

“It’s good that you made it, son.” He turned off the engine and got out of the jeep when he saw me.

“I’m sorry. I went fishing with Yulo.” I said in between of my breathes.

“You’re pale. Have you had breakfast, son?” Since his wife could not have children, he treated me as his child. “Come inside and eat first. Grace! Serve Wright breakfast.”

“But Mang Geronimo, we’ll be late for sun-drying the grains.”

He did not listen to my complaint and insisted that I should eat first. After I had breakfast, we got in the jeep and went to a basketball court to hang out. I lifted the heavy sacks from Mang Heronimo’s jeep. The three of us helped to unload the sacks and sundried them.

My body has become accustomed to the itch brought on by the rice. My body is used to the heat of the sun. I have gone through all the hardships in just one year. I go to a store and buy ice water. I heard the accented scream of the two women on the side.

“Hi.” Greetings from one of them to me.

I just picked it up and drank some water.

“Ay! Suplado.” She said with a smile. “Hi, I’m Margarette.”

“Wright.” I have no appetite to say.

“You’re the newcomer here, aren’t you? All the women are talking about you. You’re handsome.”

“Ah.”

“There’s a show later in the plaza, would you like to come with us after you sundried the rice?” It says seductively.

“No, thank you.”

“What a snob! I’m the one approaching you-“

“I have a wife and a child.” After I said that I went back to sun-drying the rice.

I can no longer love any woman other than Melissa. He is the only one and no one can beat her. I love that woman, dearly.

I wiped away my sweat and sat in the shade of an acacia.

“You’re funny, Son. You’re so patient.” I looked at Geronimo.

“It’s necessary. If you don’t persevere, there’s nothing to eat.” I laughed saying.

“Lucky the woman you love.”

I just smiled sparingly at him. We went back to what we are working on because it looked like it was going to rain.

“Looks like someone got lost in the city, ah. They maybe want to ask for directions..” I looked at Mang Geronimo.

He was looking behind me and seemed to reflect who was there.