Riddle of the Dots

Three

It was almost noon time. The sun was freaking hot in this part of the country, although the wind seemed to be cooler and obviously, fresher. The one-hour boat ride went easier than Issa had thought. Her fears and hesitations were allayed as she hummed the song she and her Lolo created back in her childhood.

Canoe..

It felt comforting, relieving, as she closed her eyes she felt the entire ride was like being in a cradle, half awake, half asleep, the feeling of being safe in the midst of ravaging waters.

The boat reached the other side of the riverbanks past noon. Issa slowly stood and picked her baggage while trying to balance herself as she alighted the boat. Cagayan boats, mostly, do not have katig, the reason why despite being anchored to land, one needs to balance himself not to topple or capsize the boat.

The smell of wet leaves and dew drops, minute soil particles in the wind, the smell of poultry animals and organic wastes welcomed Issa back to her and Yna's birthplace. She was fetched by one of their kuliglig and drove her to the farmhouse.

Issa felt her acid going up again as she walked closer to the house entrance. The pavement is still surrounded by shrubs and florals, hanging orchids, sampaguita, gumamela, wild grasses and wild flowers. It was not as clean and as nurtured as it seemed the last time Issa saw it, nevertheless despite its change of appearance it still looked charming, welcoming, and warm. Perhaps it looked as if it has dawned to some level of puberty, like in humans. On the main doorstep still lie the coins that Issa, Yna and their cousin Lennon had buried during the house renovation one summertime. On the topmost casement of the door still hang three tiny rounded bags of cotton cloth, each of about not more than two inches in diameter. Family elders believe that with every birth of a new generation of San Juan's, born in the farmhouse, the mother must trim a part of the baby's umbilical cord, wrap it inside a cloth, and hang it by the door of the house. It was believed that it will bring the family good fortune. These three were of course, from Issa, Yna, and Lennon.

Inside the air felt cooler inside probably due to the structure's nipa roofing. The wide windows in almost every part of the house and the high ceiling in the entry way towards the receiving area both provide adequate air circulation, in fact there is rarely a need to use electric fans despite a very hot weather outside. The ground floor was hazy with a smell of burnt coal. The kitchen must have been in use.

A long, wooden bench welcomes visitors by the main entrance of the house. On one of the main posts of the house at the corner of the receiving area, hang three carabao horns, where hats, shirts and other farmers' used clothing are being hung after a day's hard labor.

Sacks of rice were stacked in the west wing of the ground floor, which is separated from the receiving area by the staircase, leading to the main living area and bedrooms.

Issa placed her things on the bench as she walked inside to the kitchen. She was greeted by one of their farm helpers who had just finished setting the dining table for Issa's lunch.

"Kape, tsokolate, o Coke?", asked Manang Celia as she wiped clean the old claypot in the kitchen.

Tired from travelling for more than twelve hours, Issa felt too dehydrated to take any caffeine or soda. "Tubig na lang po 'Nang," Issa requested.

Deep well water leaves a strange after taste in the absence of chlorine treatment. Issa helped herself with a late lunch of tinolang tulya on sprite and fried galunggong.

"Doon ka mag pahinga sa taas para hindi ka maistorbo mamaya mag dadatingan at magmemeryenda ang mga tao," Manang Celia said referring to the farmers who are served with afternoon snacks in the farmhouse during Sundays, where they are also paid their weekly wage.

"Sino po pala nasa bukid ngayon?" Issa asked Manang Celia, while stretching her legs to relieve the cramps bought by long hours of sitting.

"Ay, eh di si Lennon, yang pilyong pinsan nyo"

Lennon? The actor wannabe?

"Araw araw yan nasa palayan, nangitim na nga sa araw. Wala naman ibang maasahan na ang Auntie Sampaguita mo."

"Mabuti po at hindi naman nag iinarte. Ayaw po nya matapak sa putik dati", Issa recalled. Lennon, who during their childhood, strongly believes that he is the son of a famous artist hence the name John Lennon. He rarely went to the farm during vacation. He would prefer to stay in the tree house, or wander in the streets playing tricks and magic. He loved crowd attention.

"Pilyo pa din po?" Issa was trying to keep her laughter to herself.

Manang Celia laughed. "Hay naku hija, dalawa na silang sakit ng ulo namin lagi ng auntie mo"

Two headaches: