Book of Memoirs

A Can of Sardines

5:40 early in the morning when I am done taking a bath and preparing my uniform for school suddenly my brother approached me.

“I bought you something” he said.

“What is it? I curiously asked him.

“Check it out. It’s on the table” he replied and led himself to the bathroom.

I smiled and reminisced the old times when I saw that white cellophane with a can of sardines on the table…

One night of summer days, our eatery beside our house was brightening up by the fluorescents and the rest sides of the street were dimmed and shadowy. The flowers and plants outside the gate seemed blacked and unappreciated. Yet the weather that time never played water and the air was still refreshing!

Different groups of people, who dine; who drink; who choose a meal; who watch a movie; who chat and who eat silently and my papa was sitting and acting a frontier like most hotels have (hahaha). I also helped my papa. I cleaned the tables, I served the costumers, I washed plates, and I listed what they ate and the handler of in-flow and out-flow cash. (All-around ang drama ke walay katabang ^_^)

“Ki Mae, you eat first. It’s already 6:00pm” my papa said.

“Why? We’ll not eat together?” I asked him.

“No, because no one will watch the diners” he replied while counting the bills.

“Ahhh…okay” I replied.

When I am done with my supper it brought me into blithe when I saw many plates on the lavatory being piled up. It means many people patronized my parents’ business.  I washed my plates together with those dishes used by the costumers.  My papa still not hungry since I didn’t see him eats. He didn’t even bother himself opening the casseroles with different delightful foods.

“Pa, you don’t want to eat? I asked him and wiped my hands to dry it.

“My appetite didn’t visit me yet” he uttered.

“Where is your mama? He continued.

“At the house, probably, sleeping…” I guessed.

“Did she eat her supper?” he asked.

“I don’t know pa…” I answered.

“Tell her what she wants for supper. Come back here and put it on tray. Then bring it at home” he said.

“Huh… demanding…” I murmured.

“Okay!” Then I continued.

The costumers were settled. So it was not so busy. Leaving him for minutes didn’t bother me.

I walked towards the house; I saw our huge door made of shiny varnished wood of mahogany. It has no doorknob on the outside and we only used grip inside to lock and unlock the door.

“Ma! Open the door! I yelled and knocked the door several times.

“Please open the door” I calmly said.

“Open the door…” I am losing my temper.

I kept knocking and calling but nothing answers me. I am irritated and my voice doubled calling to open the door.  After minutes of repeated actions, finally, the door unlocked and slowly opened by the hungry canine filled with wrath. His face seemed exasperated and wanted to eat human flesh. By the way that’s him, my brother.