Black Eyed Susan

Susan’s husband Andy* is an ordinary worker. Since they live in the province, their cost of living is supposed to be minimal. But with 6 children in the family, life was still difficult.

Consequently, Susan* always gets irritated. She feels as if everything was conspiring to give her a hard time. So, she started nagging Andy every time she gets a chance. Andy, on the other hand just ignores her altogether. After all, it’s not his fault the price of everything keeps on getting high, is it? Besides, he’s doing everything he could. What else can he do?

One night, however, when Susan was in one of her ranting moments, Andy became a little uneasy. He feels as if Susan’s tongue was a little sharper and her face a little uglier, in short, Susan was more annoying this particular night. Well, blame it to the brandy he consumed earlier.

Andy loves his wife. She might be a pain sometimes but behind the irritating face is a sweet, kind woman he married about 10 years ago. But there are times that she goes too far, just like tonight.

Susan, running out of something annoying to say, began to drag Andy’s mother into the issue. She started to blame her mother-in-law for not paying what the old woman owed to her, like a kilo of rice, a bottle of cooking oil, etc. She started to say how irritating, meddling, ugly old hag Andy’s mother was. But as soon as the words came out of her mouth, Susan flew across the dining room and fell on her butt. Her left eye was bruised and burning from Andy’s knuckles.

Andy stood and walked out of the house. He came back the following morning.

Moral Lesson: Don’t do to other people’s parents what you don’t want other people do to yours.

*not real name

A Rewarding Call

About 4 days ago while our receptionist was busy with another client, I answered the phone and felt somehow uneasy when the caller specifically asked for the English teacher which, obviously, happened to be me. Did I do something wrong? I thought.

I identified myself and asked the caller what it was about. She told me how grateful she is for all the things she learned from me during the review. She took the civil service exam last October and passed. I congratulated her sincerely and told her I am so happy for her.

Other people may think that it is our job to teach, but for us, it is more than that. We don’t just prepare lessons and stand and talk. We find ways to make learning easier and more enjoyable. We don’t simply give out the correct answers, we teach the students how to find the answers. We don’t simply want them to pass, we want them to LEARN.

Teaching is not just a JOB. Teaching is a way of life and only those with the gift can do it properly and enjoy it. So, if anyone is teaching just for the salary, she’s lucky to last for 3 years. If she does, then there’s a chance she’ll do it for as long as she can.. :)

How Much Is Your Love?

Mark* and Belle* were childhood friends. They practically grew up together. They did a lot of things together and shared a lot of memories. So, we were kind of expecting that they would end up together.

It was quite obvious that Belle felt something for Mark. But Mark, though obviously thoughtful to Belle, never courted her in any way or dropped a hint that he would do so when the time comes. Still, we waited. We were so sure that fate would take its natural course. We didn’t doubt it even when Mark changed girlfriends countless of times and Belle had boyfriend as well when we all went to college. Why would we doubt? They look so good together that we couldn’t imagine one without the other.

When they both graduated from college, we thought that the long wait was over. But we were disappointed yet again. At this point in time, we wanted so much to interfere, but we knew we were not supposed to meddle with other people’s affairs even though those other people are our friends.

After years of waiting, in one very special occasion, Mark was finally able to say how he felt about Belle. We were right all along. He loved her.

We were shocked, however, to find out after a few months that he was marrying someone else. So, we went to Belle to clear things up.

What is going on?

Belle was composed. She told us what really happened that night. Yes, Mark expressed his feelings to Belle. How much he loved her all this time. But he was only letting Belle know. He was not courting her. He never did and he never will. It seems like he met a girl at the party that particular night. A rich and gullible girl who was obviously smitten by his natural charm and he knew, she was the one for him.

They got married. Mark is now living the life he had always wanted, a comfortable one without sweating out even a little. Belle? She is doing fine. She is also married to a more deserving man and she is now operating her own preschool.

The saddest part of this story is that.. it is true :(

*not real name

Speech Delayed?

Mommy said Paul’s speech is delayed, but upon assessment, I found out that Paul’s English vocabulary is even better than those of other kids his age. When presented with pictures, Paul can identify objects and animals, but he can’t talk with us. He can’t tell us what he wants nor can he tell us how he feels. He simply can’t communicate with other people.

Moreover, Paul’s pen grip is so light. He can’t hold a pencil by himself. He can’t rub a crayon against paper, so, he can’t color the pictures that I give him. One time, during one of our sessions, Paul suddenly had an attack of separation anxiety. He wanted mommy, but mommy went somewhere else. So, I explained to him that we have to wait for mommy to come back. Paul mumbled words that nobody could comprehend. Frustrated, he pointed outside and kept on mumbling. I assumed that he wanted us to follow his mommy but I said that wouldn’t be good because we didn’t know where mommy went. Paul wept in between mumbling. I felt that he was trying so hard to tell me what he wanted to happen. I felt that he was pleading and begging. I felt that he needed help but I didn’t know how to help him. I tried to comfort him and told him everything’s going to be ok, I was with him and we will both wait for mommy to come back. Paul kept shaking his head. He wanted to say something but I couldn’t figure out what it was. So, he just sat on his chair and wept silently. I nearly wept with him.

When mommy came back, I told her what happened. Mommy said that was her problem with Paul and told me that she didn’t know what to do about it. Honestly, I didn’t know either. So, I just told her to consult Paul’s pediatrician and ask her to recommend a speech therapist for the boy.

I may have an idea what happened to Paul, but I didn’t know what is supposed to be done except consult  the specialists about it.  We stopped Paul’s program and we wouldn’t resume until something has been done about his speech. I sincerely hope that mommy didn’t wait until now to do something about it :(

*not real name

Mommy Laptop

Kyle* is a little boy of four. He is one cheerful lad with smiling face. He is also quite smart and one of the best students in class.

He is usually brought to school by his aunt and fetched by his grandfather at the end of class. We never met his mother. But whoever raises Kyle is surely doing a good job at it, because though the little boy can be mischievous and stubborn, he is one sweet, smart and well-adjusted kid.

One day during their play time, Kyle started to say something about his mom. Out of curiosity, we asked Kyle what his mom’s name is and he said..

“Mommy Laptop”

It was how we learned that Kyle’s mom is an overseas contract worker and that he only sees her and talks to her via the internet.

I found it a little sad that a child like Kyle grows up knowing his mother only on the screen. He has no memory of how she held him in her arms, nor how she kissed him and tucked him to bed.

I can understand the sacrifice Kyle’s mom has to make for her child and I know that someday Kyle will understand, too. If only all children of overseas contract workers are raised with so much love and affection, then, surely , no child will feel neglected and abandoned even if he only sees his mother on the laptop. Kyle’s program will end this December and I sincerely wish him and his entire family good luck..

*not real name

Till Death Do They Part

When I was in high school way back in the province, I remember a couple. I already forget their names but I wouldn’t forget their story.

They were newly weds and they were as sweet as newly weds could be. As far as I can remember the boy works in the farm and the girl sells rice cakes. In the afternoon when their tasks were done, they would walk hand-in-hand in the farm. They did it every day that it became a common sight.

Then one day, the girl was in her 6th month of pregnancy. They were walking down the road they usually take when it suddenly rained. It was only a drizzle but the boy got worried for his pregnant wife so he decided that it was time to go home. He held his wife’s hand and was walking faster than usual when he saw a blinding light and heard a deafening sound, then BLANK. When he regained consciousness he was lying down the wet and cold earth, beside him was the lifeless body of his wife. She was buried after a week.

The first few months were the hardest for the boy. He went on with his usual farm chores as if nothing has changed. But the scary part was, he was living as if his wife was still with him. He was often found sitting by the tomb of his wife at the cemetery singing her songs he used to sing to her. He was always seen walking in the farm talking with no one. His family worried for his sanity but they did their best to help him cope up. They succeeded.

After a few years, the boy led a normal life. Last time I heard he remarried and was living in the province together with his family.

“LOVE NEVER DIES but PEOPLE DO…”

(Blog author’s Note: I still do not know how the girl was struck dead by lightning while her husband only suffered slight burns. I did not study science much but I have too much respect for nature so I do not question its power, still, this case left me curious.)

Education Stars at Home

When the parents decide to send their child to school, it is understood that they are taking the responsibility of all his needs: financially, academically and emotionally.

Karlo* is a 4-year old boy. He is a naturally playful kid who is preoccupied with every other thing aside from studies. It seems like he is not ready for school yet. We surely understand that, after all, enrolling in our center is an optional thing.

As what I heard, Karlo is being sent to school by his grandmother in US. She sends him money for the monthly tuition fee and allowance for the entire month, so, his financial need is settled.

For the past 4 months, however, we noticed that no one is making a follow up on his lessons. His homework is always undone.. actually it is untouched. He is always absent and when asked why, he would say because he slept. When we asked his aunt, we learned that the boy played computer past his bedtime and woke up around noon making him miss school altogether.

It was also obvious that no one is reading his reminder notebook. So, when there is something to bring to school, he would come empty-handed. He also wears the prescribed uniform any day he wants when we already sent a memo that the official civilian day is Wednesday. (Don’t they even notice that he is dressed differently?)

On our Halloween party, he came early (for the first time) but not in his proper Halloween costume. His mother said she does not know about the costume so, she bought one on the spot. After the party, the teacher made an announcement that the class will resume on November 8 and there will be a long test the following day, so, please refer to the reminder notebook for the child’s schedule.

As we expected, Karlo did not come to school on the 8th and came instead the following day at 10:30am when it was specified that his schedule is at 11:30am. His mother simply answered that they were busy so did not look at Karlo’s notebook so they did not know that the class resumed the day before. When asked if they know about the exam, his mother’s expression became blank at first then abruptly answered that she already reviewed Karlo. (How come then that she didn’t know about the schedule?) The result of the test proved otherwise. Karlo got a very low grade.

Last Thursday, the teacher announced that the students’ official plastic envelope must be brought to school to be updated. Karlo did not bring his. We tried to call his mother at home but no one was answering the phone. We tried to reach her on her cell phone but with  no luck either.

Every child has the right to education. The decision, however, when and where to get that education depends on whoever is responsible for him. We can only teach academic subjects and a little of moral values by reminding him what to do and what not to do. The best way is by setting example and only those who live with him could give that.