WARRIORS (MVManalo)

Paula

What will the future for this community and the world? Though, I'm no saint nor superhero, I don't intend to be one who will clean up messes of so called leaders and superiors in our organization or nations in our time. I just want to do my job as the head in charge and plant seeds for our food this coming summer season. Haaah.....that commander made sure we don't have enough food for the coming months. What could have gone wrong if I refused him? Maybe nothing but I don't know him and I'm new to this city, which made me think to explore and get to know the people in Favela, the sooner the better, Sister Beatrice said to herself and breathed hard while trying to wake up since it's still five in the morning, and the cocks are already crowing for the coming morning. And it's my day 7 here in St. Clare's Community in Brazil. One week, huh! Haa.....I guess we have to make the next a better and fruitful one!

Someone knocks on her door and called her out for prayer. Sister Beatrice, Beca, can I come in?

Ahh....Sister Paula, is that you? I'll be out in a minute, so...., I added but the girl insisted on talking.

Okay, hang on!, I cried opening my door.

Hi, good morning!, Sister Paula said and walked passed me, entering my room without permission.

Paula, you know that we aren't allowed to..., I said,

To come inside each sisters room but I can and I always do it!, Hihi!. Hmm, nice, simple and not at all shabby. Aha, this is your family, how cute!, Paula said and smiled looking at my family's photo.

Yes and please be careful with that. What can I do for you, Sister Paula?, I continued trying to remain calm and composed.

I just want to get to know you. Plus that commander, sure liked you. He never acted that way before when we were at the front gates. He was indeed new but he got surprised when he saw you, Paula added now sitting on top of my bed.

Silly, why would he be shocked to see me? Anyway, I don't know him and if I see him again I would try to ask if we were friends in the past. You'll be the first one to know and I will make sure of that!, I said smiling.

Beca, he is dangerous and he has ordered that girls be taken captive for sex slavery and drugs. We have been trying to control this and almost stopped these civil militants but we can't seem to do it...ah..., Paula said and bit her tongue. Ah you weren't supposed to know that...

You are some sort of vigilantes or mercenaries of the church, I bet!. Huh, what? You are?, I cried very curious now.

Ah, nope, just plain old sisters who love playing with knives and guns, and ninja stuff! Okay gotta go, sister Teresa might be needing me in the kitchen. Oh, we'll be having pancakes for breakfast. Get your tummy ready, for you'll have a time of your life with sister's pan-ala-brazila cakes! Hihi!, Siater Paula laughed and disappeared in my room quickly enough that I didn't know how she did that.

Hmm...anyway, what is she talking about just now? Commander Fonci, knows me, from where? Fonci, I do know someone that goes by the name Ricardo Fonci back in Puerto Rico and he is a business tycoon there. Mom and dad have several friends in the government and his family owns the largest plants for medicinal herbs. I know he got married young and had a child but got divorced after a year. I went to a community after that and so on. I never heard of him, maybe for ten years now. I was twenty six then and knowing him back when we were teen agers puts a smile on my face. He is fun and passionate. He loves music and paintings that his dad would always buy him stuff whenever the old man travels around the globe as the ambassador for the U.N.

I think I had a crush on him because he is cute and strong. He told me one time that he liked me and wanted me as his girl but his dad arranged him to get married to a business partner and they tied the knot in Puerto Rico. I was sad since I lost him not because he got married but because he was my best friend. I missed him too and until now Is still kept the photos and the letters he wrote me or doodled artistically for the last ten years or so. We were like nine when we met in Manila. How wonderful and painful at the same time, knowing that he survived the civil war in the Latin Americas and now here to lead the Canudos. He must have that passion for being a leader and that's what I loved about him, always.

Haaa.. if you are indeed Commander Fonsi then I need to have an audience with you! Ricardo, I think we need to talk after all!, I said to myself while showering.

Sisters Teresa and Jona are cooking the pancakes and Sisters Paula, another who I don't really remember where I met her came in to prepare the plates and the table. I was just coming down from the second floor when they saw me and asked to join them at the table.

Sister Beca this Sister Chelsea, that is Sister Fern who is mixing our fruit juices and Sister Dana cleaning our utensils before plating them. Then, the others, Sisters Mina and Zelda who are coming any minute now are the our farming sisters who milk oour cows and goats, plant our seeds and sow them along with our men and women farming community of Favela. We are eight in here all and all. And you are the newest recruit for our team, so welcome!, Sister Paula explained and smiled at me while Sisters Mina and Zelda just walked in from the kitchen back door carrying pails of milk I suppose which are steaming hot, probably fresh from our cows or goats in the farm located at the side of the community building.

Our orphanage is not far from the main building and the parking space. The farm with horses and different types of animals we care for can be heard from the distance and it feels weird but pleasant in the ears.

The Favela folks help in maintaining the cleanliness and security of the animals in the farm that the sisters never get stressed out in caring for them as well as the children we feed and take full responsibility for. The volunteer workers mostly women, young and old help in teaching and fending for the little ones 24/7.