Strings Of Life
Written by 15-year old Cristela Mejica on Feb 2016 for play/video purposes
A requirement on English subject
Grade 9-Carnelian, LNC
FLASHBACK
Setting: Ragsac Residence. One afternoon.
Audrey: Kuya... I miss Mama. Where is Mama?
John: She will go home soon. She just visited our grandparents. She rode a cruise ship to get there.
Audrey: A ship? Have you ever ridden one before?
John: No. Someday, we will.
(A loud knock from the gate interrupted their converstion)
John: (looks outside curiously) What's that? Wait there, Audrey. (heads outside) (saw a delivery man) Yes, Sir? Can I help you?
Man: Are there any Antonio Ragsac here?
John: He is my father. Why?
Man: There is a letter for him. (hands over the letter) Just sign here. (gives a paper)
John: (signed the paper and accepted the letter) Thank you. (heads back inside)
John: Father! There is a letter for you! (looks at the address) It's from Mom! (giddy and excited)
Mang Tony: (stops at fixing appliances) What? (annoyed) (John gives the letter)
(Luis, Jane, Audrey and Josh came into the scene. All are expectant about the letter.)
Luis: It's from Mom? I want to read it, too!
(Mang Tony reads the later. A little while, his eyebrows furrowed. He was glaring.)
John: (curiously) What does it say, Father?
Mang Tony: (crumpled the paper) She's gone. She won't come back anymore.
John: What? No. She said she will come back―
Mang Tony: (shouts angrily) I said she won't come back! She got into an accident. She's dead! You hear me? Your mother is dead.
(They were all shocked. They started crying for their loss. John quickly wiped his tears. He needed to be strong for his siblings.)
Mang Tony started to go home late because he was always drunk. Sometimes, he would punch John or Josh when he's pissed. He always scolds them and threatens them. But mostly, he doesn't care at all about them.
2 YEARS LATER
Setting: Across Earth street; very hot sunny afternoon
John Mac: Special turon! Banana que! (shouting across Earth Street)
(People rushed to John to buy foods)
Fat woman: How much is this?
John: Only ten pesos, Ma'am.
Fat woman: I'll take 2 banana que and one turon. (He gave her order and they exchanged bills. He suddenly stopped when he remembered something)
