the church was cavernous like any other.
inside was gloomy and disturbingly quiet. he had been sweeping its marble floors since dawn and now it was breakfast time, yet he still has just came up to cleaning one-third of the spacious church.
"noel, come let's eat!" it was the head sacristan's voice from near the altar.
he sweeped the dust one last time into a pan and shook its contents to a trash bin before answering the call.
* * *
during summer after finishing grade school, noel worked harder. he should. nobody can help him. his aunt cannot support him through high school. both institution in the town were private thus, moderately expensive.
he wondered how many years
will he save to come up with enough amount. the world was heavy on his shoulders as he went about his job.
the lack of warmth and energy rubbed off on some of his customers. some did not get their extra change. others offered prayers and words of encouragement. then, a lady parishioner told him to go see their priest on monday.
it turned out that the parish needed an extra hand - an altarboy/messenger, who will assist the head sacristan.
the priest was head of the board of regents, who approve full-scholars. noel was the second to be granted. benito, the head sacristan was the first.
when the lady parishioner led him before the priest for the interview, noel was shaking with fear of rejection and excitement. he did not know which.
* * *
he carried only a bagful of personal property balanced in bamboo cane when he tearfully said goodbye to his aunt. she gave him her late husband's bow and arrow, because it has no use for her and it pained the remembrance of him.
"we will still see each other if you hear Sunday Mass, tia!," he said reassuringly. but in his heart, he knew she cannot because years of hard toil caught up with her and she has weakened since then.
"...and i will visit you once in a while!" she only managed a limp smile.
she gave him one last hug. then, pushed her gently.
"off you go, little one.! or this farewell will last until evening!"
noel cannot speak as tears flowed. she was the only relative known to him. he turned away and walked off with a heavy heart.
* * *
there were lulls in noel's work, specially during tuesdays or thursdays. or now when the priest attended a religious function in Manila.
he practiced archery in the open area at the back of the church. he fashioned the target out of intertwining coconut coir, which he learned from grade school. he coiled it concentrically until it came up to about 2 meters in diameter and mounted it on full-sized un-used plywood. he made additional arrows from bamboo of the tinikan variety, and created its tailfin from duck feathers.
archery was his mind-conditioning, a form of mental release.
it was his passion.
