Largesse

3. Face the wall

Lola Char entered the house and found 6-year-old Sep facing the wall of their house. He was sobbing heavily so the old woman took pity and approached him.

"Anong nangyari, Apo?"

"Eh kayo din ang promotor e...Nay, face the wall..."

"Ako?"

"Oo...kayo po...kaya pala hirap na hirap akong pagtugmain yung listahan ng mga paninda ko. Sabi ni Sep, pinakuha mo sya ng tatlong orange at dalawang apple..."

"Para yun lang..."

"Nay! Alam na alam nyo naman na masama yun e. Pwede naman kayo magsabi ng maayos. Bakit kailangan pang kumupit at magnakaw?"

"...naibenta ko naman e...eto o..." Lola Char said as she dug into her pocket and put out the money she had.

"Mali pa rin kaya face the wall..."

"Eto na nga e..." Lola Char put the money on the table.

"Face the wall!" Strawberry raised her voice.

"Opo...principal..." Lola Char obeyed Nanay Straw and turned to face the wall. "Eh anak..."

"Shh! No talking!"

"...pwdeng iharap yung electric fan dito? Kawawa naman si Apo o, pinagpapawisan na..."

"Naaay..."

"...face the wall with electric fan...pwede?"

"Hindi!"

Sep slowly turned to look at Nanay and Lola. "Sep! Face the wall, 10minutes...para di mo kami makitang mga mahal mo..."

Sep slowly turned back and quietly sobbed.

Even if she was a little person, Nanay Straw was sterner than Lola Char. She was the disciplinarian while Lola Char was more lenient especially when it came to reprimanding Sep. The lessons Sep learned made him a respectful, disciplined and an overall good guy who is loved by many.

---

It was not only Sep who had to go through Nanay Straw's brand of discipline. Even Lola Char got to experience it.

"...diba ikaw tong may ayaw na ampunin natin si Sep nung bata pa sya?" Lola Char asked when she saw how Strawberry was beginning to take more responsibility over Sep's care.

"...naisip ko kasi, gusto ko rin maranasan magka-anak, magpalaki ng anak...wala naman akong boyfriend o asawa para mabuntis ako tapos dumating itong si Sep sa buhay natin...tinuring ko nalang na parang biyaya ang pagdating nya...baka ito yung paraan ni Lord para maranasan kong magka-anak maski papaano..." Straw said.