[ COACH ] Fall
[ SONG | ARTIST ] Ringing The Bells For Jimmy | Johnny Cash
[ WATTPAD WORD COUNT ] 1,409 words
My deepest sleep was disturbed by the sudden ringing of the church bells.
Oh my! I thought, quickly getting up. I need to work for the misa de gallo! I raised my wrist, squinting as I checked the time. My eyebrows met when I found out it was still midnight!
"Wrong timing again, Manang Fe,"I muttered, touching my forehead with my palm.
Manang Fe must've forgotten the time. She mostly rang the bell at midnight. Well, I understand her. She's already old and she maybe wrongly read the time.
I stood and reached for my cassock, hung in the cabinet. I walked out the convent and made my way to the belfry where the bells were still ringing.
As I made it to the top, my eyes popped open in surprise.
It wasn't Manang Fe. It was the little girl, maybe five or six. The same girl who hugged and left light kisses on my cheek whenever we meet.
"Why are you ringing the bells this early, my dear?" I shouted through the clings and clangs of the huge bells, palms flat on my ears.
The sounds were very loud, but she didn't seem to mind. She would've continued it if I didn't took the bells' ropes from her.
"No, Father! Don't! I'm just ringing the bells for Jim!"she pleaded, grabbing the rope from my hand and pulling it up and down again, "Please Father, let me ring the bells for Jim."
"Who's Jim? Why are you ringing the bells for him?"
The glistening drops on the corners of her eyes started to glide down to the corners of her mouth. She bit her lips and let go of the ropes.
"He's my brother, Father,"she said in a low voice as more tears streamed down her face. She bowed her head quickly and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands, "I'm so sorry for crying, Father."
Even though I didn't know yet the reason why she's crying, I almost heard my heart screaming. Her cries made my eye teary. It was contagious.
I wiped her cheeks and said, "Why are you crying, then?"My eyebrows raised in sympathy.
She tackled me in a hug. I was surprised at first with the sudden gesture, but I ended up returning the little girl's embrace. And then she said, "It's because he's my brother, Father. He's dying! So, I must ring the bells!"She sobbed on my shoulder.
My tears fell freely as I heard her whining. I looked out to the sky and tried to blink them back. In the dark velvet expanse of the heavens, a star twinkled brighter than the others.
What a poor little girl! I thought, as I stared at the star.
"You don't need to be sorry, my dear,"said I, running my hand comfortingly up and down her back.
"Why do you think ringing the bells can cure your brother?" I asked when she pulled back. "You should be at the hospital now, watching over him."
"Somebody told me that ringing the bells is a 'call' to the heavens. I think calling my God, Jesus Christ, this Christmas can help my brother fight for his life,"she said. She really believed what she said, judging by the look in her eyes.
As she let those words spout from her mouth, I was amazed. Was she an angel? What a great faith she had! Her heart touched mine.
"Please, Father, help me pray for him this Christmas,"she said, gripping tightly on my sleeves, "Somebody told me that priests can talk to God. Is it true, Father? If so, please, talk to God right now! Please, Father!"
