I climbed up on top of the bunk bed. I remember seeing a red craft knife and carefully avoiding it. Later when I climbed back down, I remember seeing the blood on my shirt and wondering what it was because nothing hurt me. Mum saw it and asked what it was and was obviously worried, but I couldn’t feel anything! I was wearing my itchy Esmeralda shirt with the purple sleeves. I wouldn’t let them put the… what was it? Betadine? or something like that, I cannot remember, that’s what it sounded like to me… I can never forget the green bottle. I didn’t like it one bit. The cut was under my left arm, near the armpit. I didn’t want to let them put it on the cut, so mum got impatient with me, I think, and said if they couldn’t do it, then I had to do it on myself, and I tried, but I was afraid that it would hurt. I can’t remember who put it on in the end, but some days later (or was it only the next morning?) when I woke up someone had already applied the medicine, and while I was sitting on the steps, mum told me it was Ninang Tin and asked if I’d said thank you…I remember watching Matilda at Ninang Tin’s. I don’t think I’ve watched that movie since, but it’s quite stuck in my mind. I remember certain parts very very well, like when she first began to experiment with the door, and in the classroom, and the signing of the adoption papers, and when she was shut in the closet… Things like that. Anyway… I remember the room. With the big door that was bolted at night, the coffee table in the middle, chairs all around, and there was a rug, wasn’t there? The dining room had that china cabinet? You could see the TV from the stairs.
I remember going to work with, was it Ate Annrhee or Ate Mariel? One of them. I remember sitting in front of a computer with a black screen and mustard-colored letters. I remember riding outside in a tractor? and it was really hot and Ate got down to get something, and that night we helped her take the rice grains out one by one and we put them in a pile on the table.
I remember being on top of a bunk bed, and seeing Kuya Biboy through the screen door. He came in. That’s all I remember.
I remember one day I woke up and mom and Tita Nene were there. I was wearing my white camisole with the pink bow on the front? Yena has it now. I had several of them. Anyway, I saw Kuya Biboy through the window; he was going to get pandesal. I wanted to go, too. So Tita Nene called him back through the window, and so he came back for me and brought me along. But once I was across the street, I wanted to go back to mommy. So Kuya took me back. The end. LOL.
I remember walking along dusty paths, and picking the plants with big leaves and red stems. We used to make them into necklaces, and once we got home, someone would put a toothpick through the ends so that it would hold around our necks.
Pao and I would sneak to the ref and get the cookies and cream chocolates that were on the top shelf of the door. We used to have a lot of those.
I remember Kuya Jhun (still called him Tito at the time, of course) used to scare me by making the fangs. I hated those fangs, but I was so bent on trying to figure out what they were. I didn’t like them. 9 years later I finally did hahaha. I vaguely remember seeing Kuya GBong around every now and then…
I remember being in a small blue car, the kind that has pedals? Well, these petals were metal, and I was pedaling. Then, I can’t remember how it started, but Kuya Biboy started pushing the car really fast and I didn’t have the sense to put my feet up, so the metal pedals grazed my toe, and all the skin was taken off of my big toe. Kuya carried me over to mommy and everyone made a fuss over me. I remember being in a shady spot, with plenty of green all around, and this place had cement pillars holding up I-don’t-know-what and the picnic tables… The hated green bottle came eventually.
I was in the back of a car with Ate Annrhee and Kuya Dom. Kuya was asking me if I knew who he was, and Ate was asking if I could say his name. I remained stubbornly silent:P
Pao and I were getting dressed. We were wearing matching dresses. We had white shoes. I was so proud of my shoes, and I remember wondering if they were mine to keep. I did not understand at the time that I was just borrowing them! LOL. It was because they were like mum and dad’s shoes, only white, and they had gold buckles. I loved them. I think I was kind of jealous of Pao’s shoes because her heels were higher! LOL! I vaguely remmeber the party, it was dark and we were sitting at tables, and Pao and I had to go up and give Ate Farina a rose. We went home early, I think.
I remember watching Power Rangers with Ate Isay and Nika. Ate Isay had a blue jumper and Nika and I had matching pink ones. I wanted blue… *grin* I didn’t like the pink. We used to play with the umbrella, some power princess thingy… And Ate Isay and I used to listen to Spice Girls at night, we used to go up the spiral staircase and we’d turn out the light, but we’d put the music on and be jumping on the bed!
Pao and I used to “cook” leaves outside. I remember crouching down and “cooking” while Pao went and got more leaves. At the time, Pao still like being called “Ate.” My clearest memories of Kebino were of him wearing a white sando and having hair like Migi’s hair now, and always carrying a baby bottle of Coke with him everywhere. He was what, 3? 4? soemthing like that… he was annoying. But he’s a great kid now:-)
It was Paco’s first birthday party. It was at Jolly Bee’s? Whatever. They had a special tape for birthday parties, but mum announced to everyone that I wanted to teach them my own song that I’d learned at pre-school, and I think I was kind of embarrased, but I did it… the one that goes “Come on everybody, put your hands to clap, cuz now it’s time for Paco’s birthday rap. We might sing it right, we might sing it wrong, but here we go with the birthday song! Happy birthday to you… (yeah everyone knows that part)” I remember the gifts, going up and saying “for Paco” into the mike and handing the present. I did my own little variation, saying something like my dear little brother Paco or something like that, and I remember the one kid, I cannot remember who! went up and said first “Poka” and then either “Poko” or Paka” before finally saying “Paco.” I was very indignant. Ate Isay and I were off to the side watching very carefully.
I was sitting under the windows where the piano now stands. I felt something on my foot, and when Tita Nene looked at it, she said a bumblebee had stung it. I don’t think it started hurting until they put something on it. And mommy and Tita Nene told me to always wear my shoes from then on. Tita Nene put the shoes on me. They were blue denim with Mickey Mouse on them. I loved those shoes.
Mum and dad had gone somewhere. They left me at someone’s house. I was getting restless. They told me mum and dad would be home soon. I must’ve fallen asleep. When I woke up, I was in another house. I was on a blanket spread on the floor, next to Pao. Lying down, at my head was a bed, and at my feet was a window. I remember going up to the window and looking out. It was dark outside… but I think there was one street light? I knew how to open and close doors quietly, so I left the room. I looked around and I vaguely remember some kind of plant in the corner? I went down the stairs. I saw daddy’s shoes on the carpet. That was somewhat comforting. But I didn’t know where daddy was. I went all over the first floor… I opened a couple doors here and there but I was scared. I went back upstairs… I think I was afraid to open the doors there. I went back to the room and looked out the window again. I remember just standing there looking around the room. I was afraid. So I think I either stood or sat back down on the blanket where I’d been sleeping and cried softly until Ninang Tin woke me up and took me to mom and dad, madaling araw na yun so daddy was already taking his morning shower. I remember the room. The curtains were colorful. There was a cabinet near the door. The bed was in the corner directly across from the door. I can’t remember anything else about it.
Ate Ina dragged me underwater once at the pool lol…
