One Glimpse

 

Many stories can be told each day even as we simply walk down the street. A vendor's life, the stare of a woman standing by the road, a child's playful innocence and even an old man's guarded eyes, each having their own tales to tell. Right now, I'm sitting at the front seat of a jeepney car, writing this. Holding a pen on my right and a little notepad on my left, the driver had already glanced once or twice at me. Guess I might have been a little peculiar to look at... or oh Yeah! a fair fare price of 11 might be what he was looking for at me. Touche! But what really made me bought my pen and paper out was a little something I saw earlier. Sometimes when I look, I just simply stare; not really seeing what I saw. But as I look out of the doorless pane beside me, I happened to see a little girl staring intently at what I believed are Yemas (a sweet custard candy made with egg yolks. One of the popular delicacies in the Philippines) set before a kariton (pushcart) where a vendor keeps his watchful eyes. I saw how the little girl smiles and fixes her little beady eyes at the sweets with pure joy. Beside her stood a tall, young man pointing at the goods and talking to the vendor. Their muted conversations, I cannot hear for I was too far away. My gaze were still fixed to the little girl when the man bought her one of those delicately wrapped in shiny, orange-cellophane, yemas. It was such a wonderful picture of a loving father and a lovely daughter. My eyes were now focused on the father and saw how warmly he had smiled. I was still thinking about that smile when he waved his hand and the little girl scampered away happily, still clutching the yema around her two hands. It took me a while to realize that the man was a total stranger to the child just as I was with the jeepney driver beside me, blasting his horns, loudly. A part of me was left there with the scene. It was so beautiful and so wonderful that it had somewhat completed my day. At least, goodness can still be seen these days. My destination is arriving soon. I must get myself ready to unload. The infamous words of "Para Po" are already starting to form in my mind when my mouth said: "Sa tabi nalang po, para..." Soon, I won't need to deal with the jerkiness of the vehicle and soon I would be writing at ease and with a peace of mind. No more pakielamera people looking behind my shoulder. Oh well...
So many people you see each day. So many faces you meet each day. Some you could still see again, but some you could never see again. Only fate could tell and only time could have it's last words. Love and thank God each time you wake with the rising sun and for each sleep you rest with the shining moon. This is all that I can say as I now retire to my house, eager to greet people who had made it a home.


Treasuring this day.




Stranger Passing-By
SP-B/10/19/12