Letters For Tessie

Letter 1

Dear Tessie,

I write to you now because, for all you know, I am complaining about something. I know I complain a lot, not only wasting my own time but others if ever I decide to tell them. But, I only tell them to one person: you. Since you always give me an open ear and just listen away to whatever I tell you. Anyway, I’ll get straight to the point.

I think it was around the month of May when my dad and I had a talk. We were on our way home after doing some grocery shopping. I was hoping it would be something about how my grades were around the C’s when I’m a B+ student, but it was about something else.

“Ty, I… I’m thinking of getting married.” He said with a straight face as his eyes were constantly on the road.

“...” I kept my mouth shut. I felt no urge to reply to his statement earlier.

“What are your thoughts about it?” he now tries asking.

“Congratulations?”

“Seriously, aren’t you affected by it at all? Are you okay with it?”

“I am. Now just avert those eyes back on the road before you get us both killed.” I replied.

In all honestly, I was still in shock when I first heard it from him. It was not something you’d have an answer right away. I needed time to think about it, like a lot of time. But alas, time is on the other side of things whenever I need it the most.

A few weeks from now, school starts. And for the remainder of my days before that, I have been mentally preparing myself for the day I go back. But with the news my dad just said now, it’s somehow similar to how the Americans dropped an atomic bomb on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It hit both my months’ worth of mental preparation and placed an uneasiness in my heart.

Arriving home not long after, I helped my dad carry the grocery bags containing the goods we have bought for our house. We also bought a few for our small yet running grocery store. I’ll be honest here, I don’t help out that much in the entertaining of the customers, but I can do the grunt work like carrying grocery bags.

“Why don’t you check up on your grandmother? I’ll go settle these things on the shelves.” My dad said, holding with him the last of the grocery bags.

“Okay.” I was about to in when he points out the bags that were for our daily use.

Taking the two bags with each hand, I hold out the door in front of me and called out, “Grandma! We’re back.” I could hear no response, she probably was doing something.

Passing through the dining room first and leaving the bags there, I tried calling out to her again, “Grandma!” still getting the same result. Passing by the small doorway connecting both the dining and living room, I found her there watching a late night drama series.

“Grandma, we’re back.” I said gently tapping her from her shoulders.

“O-oh, Tyler… good morning.”

“It’s already dark, grandma.”

“I-is that so? Oh my.” She chuckles lightly turning off the television.

“Have you eaten already?”

“Not yet.” She slowly stands up with me closely watching her as she makes her way to the dining room.

“Where is your dad?” she asks, looking around.

“He’s in the store, tending to the groceries.” I help her get seated on her seat, offering her the treat we bought her earlier.

“Here you go: spaghetti.”

“Spaghetti? Is someone’s birthday today?” she asks enthusiastically.

“No, but since it’s your favorite, it’s a special occasion I guess.”

“Really? What occasion is it?”

“It’s—“ I soon remember what my dad told me, ending up with me biting my lip hard trying not to slip it out my mouth. If she found out about it, it might as well come from my dad. I’m not the one getting married, after all.

“It’s nothing, grandma. Eat up and I’ll just help dad.” I quietly left her still biting my lip afterwards. I soon wonder if how she will take it when she hears it from him. It’s not exactly horrible news, but it isn’t a bright one either. That’s what I think, at least.

Opening up the back door of our store, I soon see him sorting out some cans and a few ready-to-cook noodles on the shelves.

“I’ll help out.” I said to him unpacking a box of noodles, not directly looking at him in the eye.

“Is this about an increase on your allowance?” he grins as he looks at me sternly.

“Dad.” I look back, “Just let me help.”

“Okay, I was hoping you’d lighten up a little.” He replied while tagging the cans with prices.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been quiet ever since I told you ‘that’. I can tell.”

“It’s not the only thing that fills my mind nowadays.” I answered, unpacking another box full of noodles.

“What are you thinking about right now?”

“Girls.”

“Girls? That’s… strange.” He replies pausing awkwardly and looking at me differently.

“You were thinking about me being gay, aren’t you?”

“Of course not. If you were, you’d be redder and bloodier than a ripe tomato.”

“I’m not, okay? End of discussion.” We both fell quiet for a while, focusing on the task that we were doing.

“So… who’s the girl?”

“Dad.” I said with a firm tone.

“I’m just asking if there’s a particular girl.”

“No, I’m just thinking.”

“Okay… though I hope it’s not perverted or anything.”

“Dad. Not another word on the matter.” I look at him with my eyebrows almost touching each other, and he replies acting to zip his mouth shut.

After helping out, I went up to bed, feeling tired for some reason. I didn’t bother changing my clothes or even brushing my teeth. Well, I didn’t have a sap of motivation of doing so. My dad’s getting married again and to a woman I have not even seen or met once. What kind of woman was she? Was she beautiful? Was she a loud or a modest person? Can she cook and do household chores?

I’ve watched a lot of films before where this kind of scenario happens, but one particular film comes to my mind: Cinderella. I soon thought if I’ll end up being a household keep like her whenever my dad was not around with me. I don’t do that much housework but I know how to them, I’m just too lazy to do them.

For my part, I am sorry that this letter was all about my rants, though I am still in a legal age to do so, being only 18 when my dad told me about it. It’s actually kind of funny since, it hasn’t been a year since you left to some faraway place I haven’t heard of. Though writing you this letter made some things lift off my mind.

I’m afraid I must end this letter for now, seeing that I don’t have any more to tell you for the moment. If I do continue with another letter for you, let’s just pray that it won’t be about me ranting again.

Love, Tyler