"Cheechurrr! Cheechurrr NEEEEEKS!" Three year old Menggay called Niko's attention.
"Yes, Menggay? Are you finished with your work?"
"Nako-colol pa ako...na-d-drawing pa si Awwwjaaay..."
"Oh. Finish your work first."
"Bakit kaw natitingin dyan sa awwchayd? Ano nakikita mo sa awwwchayd?"
"Huh?"
"Diba sa story, natitingin yun bata sa window nun house nun Lolo en Lola nya...tapos, sabi mo, do-draw kami ng nakikita namin sa awwwchayd nan window nan house namin...ikaw, anon na-si-see mo sa awwwchayd nan windowww mo?"
"Ah...I see another building. How about you?"
"I drawed yun darden namin..."
"Oh...what do you see in your garden?"
"Hmm...dadami hamaman en minsan may baperpay kase sabi ni Awwwjaaay, nambisit yun baperpay sa mga faaawer sa darden..."
"That's right. The butterflies like to drink the nectar of the flowers. What do you like doing in the garden?"
"Nampe-play kami ni Awwwjaaay sa garden...."
"Is Rj your brother?"
"Hindiiii....bespren kami..."
Niko nods. Like the other kids in the 'conference' Rj was alone in his little frame. Menggay had her own frame, too.
"...pero di kami maka-paaay tudeder now kasi may baaarus...sabi ni Nanay, kelangan, steh-at-hom lang ako en steh-at-hom din si Awwwjaaay....paay kami sa haws namin pero minsan nankikita ko sya sa selpon pag nan-uusap si Nanay en si Tita Mommy..."
"Ah, that's good."
---
"Teacher Nyx?" Five year old Rj spoke after Menggay quieted down and resumed coloring.
"Yes?"
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Ah..."
"Maybe she's like Raunzel...that's why you're always looking at the window..."
"Rapunzel?"
"Yes, in Tangled...Rapunzel is in a tower and she can't go out. She only looks out her window. Like us, we can't go out because we're on quarantine"
