Let’s just say that I didn’t have breakfast yesterday… and I didn’t have dinner the night before that. By now, I’d usually be skipping lunch because of a project that cannot be postponed.
But I’m not.
Instead of being occupied with my busy schedule, I’ve been shipped in a far away place with 41 other people. (Thankfully, about ten of those are my close friends.)
We’re all on some sort of school activity called a “recollection”. It’s a yearly thing where students go to some place the school picked out to think about the things that “really matter in life”.
"Hey Princess!" my best friends, Niah and Jane call out.
"Just wait a second." I say while looking through the goods inside a convenient store.
"Hurry up!" Jane shouts. "They’re already calling us in."
"Just grab something and buy it." Niah adds.
"Sorry guys but I’m craving for something." I check out a whole shelf.
"We’re a minute late! You are going to have to crave for whatever it is a little more longer." Jane pulls my arm.
After a short walk (where Jane kept pulling me and saying mean things to me), we reach the pavilion just in time for the afternoon session.
"Everyone, please settle down." the facilitator says. "I would like you to grab a piece of paper and draw the symbol of your relationship with God."
Yeah. I would really like to do that now but my tummy keeps on distracting me.
Crave, crave and crave some more.
Using my very little artistic skills and a pack of crayons, I finish my unique artwork—- of a chocolate-coated donut. I wouldn’t say that it was about God per se…. it was my hungry stomach doing the talking. I couldn’t do any thinking with my tummy grumbling!
"I think everybody’s done. I’m going to pick eight representatives to explain their work." the facilitator interrupts my thoughts.
Oh great. What am I going to say? Well, hi. Excuse me but my mind wondered off while you were giving the instructions. I was hungry then and ta-da. Delicious, huh?
Being extremely lucky, I get picked first.
"Well…" I scratch the back of my neck. "For some odd reason, I’ve been craving for donuts but until now, I haven’t satisfied that craving. That’s all."
Heading back to my seat, I smile. They’ll have to get their own meaning by what I said. And I didn’t even get embarrassed!
A few more people share their drawings before the next activity starts.
"Now, I would like to invite everyone to form a circle and fold their drawings." everyone stands up and takes their places.
Then the facilitator places a can in the middle. “We will burn our drawings as a symbol of lifting up our prayers to God.”
He looks my way. “Please start.” He hands a lighter.
I light my drawing and place it inside the can. Then I go back to my spot. The rest of the class followed.
As I stand there, observing everyone, I feel united which each one of them. I found myself praying for them… even for those that I do not really like. It was a good feeling.
After more burned papers and more people going back to the line, my craving is satisfied little by little.
And looking at the floor, I found my donut. A big one. Made out of 35 doll shoes and 6 sneakers.
YOU ARE READING
Operation Centuria: The First 25
Teen FictionThis is the first thirty stuff of the Operation Centuria series. It is a compilation of short stories by three different authors.
