A Teacher's Diary

Annulment: A Poem

July 22, 2014

Tuesday

In my dreams, an old man was trying to get under my pants. There, I was in a deep sleep. Probably, I was too exhausted. The man was uttering words. The only thing I understood from him was, "You'll experience crossing my bridge."

Mom is back. She woke me up telling me not to lock my door's room because she can't find her key... I feel sleepy that I can't even ask her how's her trip. She left home. Being back to her old self, her normal life. Selling newspapers and managing our small Sari-sari store.

***

I asked my Grade 4 pupils yesterday to write a poem using the Five Senses Pattern. I was amused when I saw Roshan Uy's work. When I asked her what was her inspiration, she said it's the television show 'The Legal Wife' lead by Angel Locsin and Jericho Rosales.

ANNULMENTS

by: Roshan Uy

Annulments are red.

They sound like shouting people.

They taste like bitter gourd.

And smell like strong perfumes.

They look like fighting gorillas.

They make you feel useless.

****

Good thing ate Ghen texted me, "Hi. Tita phrul wag kna lang muna mgtutor today bka mahirapan ka sumakay.. thanks." Donna and I stayed late in school to be able to finish our script for the Buwan ng Wika. I was able to finally send it to T. Ninfa. Kuya Bernie, together with someone from maintainance were in the faculty looking for T. Josie and waited for her reply. Ms. Del also arrived and gave my salary from our Summer Teaching. Donna received hers as well since we're both still in school.

Donna and I ate our dinner at Jollibee. She ordered Palabok with chicken fir each of us. She paid for my meal because she received her salary for tutoring Gwen. Aw. I'm touched. We shared our thoughts while eating. We both wanted our Batangas Team Building to be cancelled this coming Saturday because we both have reasons. We also agreed that as a teacher, we feel restricted. Nakakasakal minsan.

We talked about the symptoms of growing old. When most of your friends giving birth to a baby. Most of them are getting married. Some, splitting up. She also mentioned about her heartbreak last year with her almost four year relationship to some guy. I didn't ask any further details  so she would no longer relive the memories. We talked about our colleagues, T. Kristoff, T. Maya, T. Andie to name a few. Our seminar last Saturday. Our dreams.

I like Donna's company. I remember when I did an ocular visit to the school before I decided to sign the contract. I didn't dare go inside since I don't know anybody from there.

I saw her in the street corner wearing an IMC shirt but I hesitated to talk to her because she was serious waiting for a ride. I wonder what might have happened if I did talk to her.

Will everything be different from today?