January 27, 2009

 

TRIP TO NAVOTAS.

 

My main task today was to go to Navotas and visit my grandmother. I was supposed to aid her in saying the customary goodbye prayer for Mother Mary and Sto. Nino. (It’s a tradition in the family to let the Mother and Nino stay in our house for one to two weeks every year before the start and until after New Year) since she isn’t really feeling well.

 

At exactly five thirty in the evening, I set off. It takes two rides on jeepneys, half a kilometer walk, more than fifty bumps on my shoulders (for trying to avoid colliding with people in Divisoria) and an optional ride on a pedicab to reach my grandmother’s house.

 

It’s almost dark when I took the second jeepney. I was the first passenger so basically, I didn’t notice that it is too small compared to the size of a normal jeepney. I sat at the first space that I could sit on, farthest from the driver and nearest to the jumping area. The top of my head occasionally bumped with the jeepney’s roof so I have to slouch forward to keep my head on.

 

I was daydreaming and looking out at nowhere when suddenly a huge man shadowed the entrance and sat beside me. I looked around and realize that the jeepney was indeed too small even for just the two of us. I squinted at him as people started to climb up and find their seats. What I saw made me burst out a laugh. He was so huge (reminds me of a grizzly bear I saw on TV) that he was hunkered down, his position was so painful. That was the first time that I silently thanked God for making me small. I painfully glanced at the others, they are all the same as grizzly bear (huge guy) , I guess I was the only one who was fortunate to look like a dwarf. I can’t stop giggling at the thought and was too ashamed so I looked out away from them. I bit my lip really hard and tried to concentrate on other thoughts.

 

Then my eyes landed on a man in front of me. He seems asleep as his head dangled here and there. It even occasionally bumped into the metal railing (ouch!). I wondered if he was silently laughing at me for behaving like a crazy person because I had noticed that the corner of his lips seemed to twitch and suppressed a smile. At Agora I called for the driver to stop the jeepney. Instead of taking a pedicab, I decided to walk.

 

Then somebody called me “Miss,…”

 

It was the sleeping guy at the jeepney. He asked my name and introduce himself “I’m Francis” he said. At first, I was hesitant to talk to him. I weighed the situation. We were in a market, full of busy people  but I know that if something happens and I begin to shout, people will come to rescue me. I talked to him. He seemed friendly and wanted to get my number (he asked two times). Thank God I can still remember my Grandma’s lectures about this kind of stuff, of course I politely refused to give him my number. As we walked on, I found out that we were neighbors—well not me, but basically my grandmother’s neighbor. So even if I wanted to shake him off, I did not have a choice but to walk home with him.

 

At last I reached my Grandma’s house. I bid him goodnight… he seemed reluctant to go but I smiled and hinted that it was time to go.

 

He’s kinda cute though! Oh’ well, so long story for a trip to an old woman’s house…The only benefit that I got for today’s trip: It lifted my spirit for a change. These past few months I was bored and still bored. At least God made me laugh today (even if I seemed to look crazy..!!)