Over The Rainbow (COMPLETED)

Connections

February 2024, Faulkerson Residence:

"Mama! The laptop is broken." Thirdy yells from the playroom.

M who is at the other room, changing Seb into some fresh clothes after his bath, hears their eldest call.

"Yes, honey. I just need you to wait a little while I put some clothes on your baby brother." She then turns to Seb and smiles as she puts on his T-shirt. "Hey, little buddy. We'll just put on these shorts now and we're done, right?"

Their youngest son lets out a delighted squeal as he reaches up to touch his Mom's face.

Charm then charges into the nursery, waving her iPad. "Mama... Mama... the iPad's bwoken too."

"How can it be broken? It was fine ten minutes ago. Okay. Wait, sweetheart, let me just put Seb into his playpen and stream his favorite video so I can see what's going on with your iPad and Kuya's laptop." M says as she takes the remote control to the Smart TV in the nursery.

She scans for Seb's favorite show, Handy Manny but it won't play. Thirdy then marches into the room. 

"Mama, look the dinosaur video I needed for my project won't play either." He frowns.

"And I can't pway my Doya game." Charm pouts.

"Alright. I know what's going on. I know why you boys can't see your videos and Charm can not play Dora."

"Why, Mama? What's happening?" Thirdy asks.

"Well, honey, I think we don't have internet connection. The WiFi's not working."

"No internet? How did that happen?" Thirdy says, genuinely concerned.

"I think the internet company needs to get some maintenance done. So, we won't have WiFi for a day."

"One day?! Awe you kidding me?!" Charm pouts and crosses her arms over her chest.

"No, young lady. I'm not kidding and you also can not take that tone on me. Do you understand?" M gently reprimands her little girl. She figured Charm probably got that from one of the cartoons she loved watching.

"Hello, Faulkersons!" R beams from the doorway with a paper bag in either one of his hands. "Wait. What's happening? Bakit nakakunot lahat ng noo niyo, Love?" He asks his wife.

"The internet's out, Love." M answers.

R gasps exaggeratedly. "Oh no! That is terrible! What will we do without internet!" R exclaims.

M giggles at her husband's deliberate over reaction as R places the bags he was carrying on the table and sits down as Thirdy and Charm flock around him. He gathers them in his arms and sits down them on his lap. Maine joins them with Seb in her arms.

R chuckles as he stares at his children's frowning faces. "You know, kids, there was a time when your Mama and I were both young when we didn't always have internet in our homes. Did you always have internet, Love?" He asks M.

"As far as I remember, Yes but not this fast and not all the time and we're not always connected to it through our phones. I remember people talked more personally without gadgets stuck in front of our faces."

"That's true, Love. Life was also more laidback and less hectic."

"Laidback and less hectic means slow right, Papa?" Thirdy says.

"Tsk... Tsk... These kids and their gadgets... Well, yes, buddy but it also means we are more connected with our culture and traditions and family." R explains.

"But we are connected, Papa. We chat and email and viber all the time." Thirdy argues.

"You know, Kuya. Nothing beats a personal connection. When we talk to each other face to face or write to someone special using your own handwriting. It makes the person you reach out to feel more loved and cared for. We should never let those go no matter how advanced we go with modern technology, we should always keep our connection to the old ways and values because that is what led us to where we are now." M smiles and reaches out to hold R's hand.

"That's why Mama and I still write each other letters all the time, why we always have talks like these and why we go out on many adventures big and small together as a family whenever we can." R says, squeezing M's hand then kissing it.

"I see but what can you do when you didn't have internet, Papa?" Thirdy asks.

"A lot of things, we sing, we play outside, we read." R answers.

"I know!" M beams. "I know what to do. Let's do all that. Let's play some games with Charm, entertain Seb with some songs and help Kuya with his project by reading books in the library."

R looks at M and smiles. "That's a great idea, Love. Ang galing mo talaga. So, what do we do first?"

"Eat. My tummy is noisy." Charm say as she rubs her grumbling belly.

"Charm, you're always hungry." Thirdy says.

Charm then opens one of the bags R brought and sniffs.
"I smell donuts and my tummy is louder now." Their little girl complains.

M giggles and takes out the box of donuts. "Oh, my poor sweetheart. Okay. Some snacks first and then we'll all go to the library. How's that?" M asks with a smile.

"Sounds like a plan." Thirdy grins.

"Sounds wike I want chocowate." Charm whines again still rubbing her rumbling tummy.

R laughs. "Okay, sweetheart, you get the chocolate."

"But... Drink lots of water afterwards, okay? And brush your teeth." M says.

"Yes, Mama. I wuv you." Charm smiles with her chocolate stained teeth.

"I love you too, sweetheart. I love you all so much." M smiles contentedly as she looks at her family. "And that's a connection that will never fail." 💛