The Agony of Elsa

The Sick Suitors

2010-06-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

Romeo and Juliet, in my opinion, would probably be the World's Most Famous Lovers ever! This couple has become a synonym for love itself. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by the equally famous William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet's love story is very tragic. The tale of two teenagers from two feuding families who fall in love at first sight and then marry, become true lovers and then risk it all for their love. To take your own life for your husband or wife is definitely a sign of true love. Their "untimely deaths" ultimately unite their feuding households.

Antony and Cleopatra, again in my honest opinion, ranks second as the World's Most Famous Lovers! The true love story of Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most memorable, intriguing and moving of all times. The story of these two historical characters had later been dramatized by William Shakespeare and is still staged all over the world. The relationship of Antony and Cleopatra is a true test of love. They fell in love at first sight. The relationship between these two powerful people put the country of Egypt in a powerful position. But their love affair outraged the Romans who were wary of the growing powers of the Egyptians. Despite all the threats, Anthony and Cleopatra got married. It is said that while fighting a battle against Romans, Antony got false news of Cleopatra's death. Shattered, he fell on his sword. When Cleopatra learned about Antony 's death, she was shocked. And she took her own life. Great love demands great sacrifices!

Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, in my most honest opinion once again, ranks third as the World's Most Famous Lovers! The tragic love story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere is probably one of the best-known stories of Arthurian Legend. Lancelot fall in love with Queen Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Their love grew slowly, as Guinevere kept Lancelot away from her. Eventually, however, her love and passion overpowered her and the pair became lovers. One night, Sir Agravain and Sir Modred, King Arthur's nephew, led a band of 12 knights to Guinevere's chamber where they burst in upon the lovers. Discovered, Sir Lancelot made a fighting escape, but poor Guinevere was not so lucky. She was seized and condemned to burn to death for her adultery. Fear not. Sir Lancelot returned several days later to rescue his beloved Guinevere from the fire. This whole sad affair divided the Knights of the Round Table and weakened Arthur's kingdom. Poor Lancelot ended his days as a lowly hermit and Guinevere became a nun at Amesbury where she died.

Other famous lovers in history and literature includes: Tristan and Isolde, Paris and Helena, Orpheus and Eurydice, Napoleon and Josephine, Odysseus and Penelope, Paolo and Francesca, Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, Eyre and Rochester, Layla and Majnun, Eloise and Abelard, Pyramus and Thisbe, Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy, Salim and Anarkali, Pocahontas and John Smith, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, Marie and Pierre Curie, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Elizabeth Barret and Richard Browning, Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara, Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip, Fa Mulan and Li Shang, and Shrek and Fiona!

It is important to note that the story of most of the World's Most Famous Lovers ended up tragically! Another important thing to take note of is how the lovers who I mentioned above first met! I am sure that you - my dear readers - are very much aware that Romeo and Juliet first met in a Masquerade in the Capulet's Mansion, Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater first met at the stern of the ill fated RMS Titanic, while Fa Mulan and Li Shang first met in the army camp! Sweet isn't it?

Now, allow me to tell you that Elsa met her true love as well, however it wasn't in a Masquerade just like Romeo and Juliet, nor was it at the Stern of an ill fated ship like Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater and neither was it in an Army Camp in China before the invasion of the Huns like Fa Mulan and Li Shang! The truth is: Elsa actually met her love inside the Boy's comfort room of St John's Academy! Now, how did this just happened? Allow me to tell you details of Elsa's love story by me first going back to the time when Elsa was inside the School Library of St John's Academy on her fifth day as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning! Allow me to go back to the time when Elsa was about to get her self a piece of pizza!

Elsa was about to get her self a piece of pizza when suddenly Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks screamed from behind her! Josefina yelled: "Oh no! Don't steal my foods! I will bring those home!" Klarizza screamed: " Oh no! Don't touch those foods! Those are mine!" and Emerlita hollered: "Guard! Help us!" Suddenly Omario Bulatao, the Groveling Guard appeared, grabbed Elsa's hands and in a very loud voice said: "Violation number 7: Illegal possession of Deadly Weapon"!

Omario then dragged Elsa to Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's office. While Omario drags Elsa to Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's office he kept saying: "Violation number 7: Illegal possession of Deadly Weapon"! Omario also made sure that his voice was loud enough for the other students and teachers to hear what he is saying! Upon reaching Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's office, Omario forcefully opened the door then pushed Elsa in! Omario then saluted and said: " Miss Hampto! You are the most beautiful, intelligent, charming, sexy, and deserving Principal of this prestigious school! I want to report to you that I find this bald girl guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the charge of: Violation number 7: Illegal possession of Deadly Weapon! "

Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, upon the instructions of her tutor named Mrs. Lucy Fernan - who at that time was disguised as a shadow - got very angry, slapped Elsa's face 14 times, and said: " You bald girl is very bad! I am the Sexiest and Most Deserving Principal of this prestigious school! Why did you commit Violation Number 7: Illegal Possession of Deadly Weapon? Why are you a very bad girl? Give me your reason! Answer me in simple English only!" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal then paused for a while appearing to be waiting for Elsa to give her reason.

Elsa noticed that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal stopped talking and seem to be waiting for her to defend herself. Elsa took a deep breath, looked at Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal and was about to reason out when suddenly Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal screamed saying: " Hey you! Yes you the only one of you! You are a very bad girl! You are disrespectful! Why will you answer me back? You don't have Good Manners and Right Conduct! You should not answer back Grown-Up people like me! " Elsa was confused. She thought that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was asking her for her reason but when she was about to give her reason, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal got mad and accused her of being disrespectful! But Elsa did not get mad at Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, she just thought that the reason why Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal behaved the way she did was because Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal might be very tired already!

Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, upon the instruction of her tutor named Mrs. Lucy Fernan, then punched Elsa's mouth 6 times while saying: " You bald girl is very bad! You should never answer back a well respected Grown-Up like me! You deserve to be punished! You have made another violation, and you are disrespectful, and according to Josefina, Klarizza and Emerlita you are very lazy! I want to see your Master tomorrow right now! "

Omario Bulatao the Groveling Guard who was at that time still inside the Principal's office, upon hearing Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal say: " I want to see your Master tomorrow right now! ", immediately ran to the classroom of the Terrible Teacher to relay what Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal just said. It was the Terrible Teacher who then immediately ran to the Gotohan of the Misinformed Master to tell Mang Joey that Elsa committed Violation Number 7: Illegal Possession of Deadly Weapon and that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal wants to talk to him!

When Mang Joey learned that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal wanted to talk to him because Elsa got into trouble again, he got worried but was a bit disappointed at Elsa. Mang Joey immediately closed the Gotohan and hurriedly went to St. John's Academy and headed straight to Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's office. As Mang Joey entered Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's office, he heard Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal said: " Hey you! Mang Joey the owner of the gotohan infront of my prestigious school and the master of this bald girl who is very bad, I want to tell you that I find Elsa guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Violation Number 7: Illegal Possession of Deadly Weapon ! And she is disrespectful! And according to Josefina, Klarizza and Emerlita she is also very lazy! Because of that I want to inform you that I will punish Elsa! I will assign her as Assistant Janitress and she must clean the Boy's Comfort Room from start of classes until end of classes with 2 hours overtime everyday without pay for 3 months! Do you understand? Okay! You can leave now! And you can bring Elsa along with you this moment right now!"

Mang Joey did not say a word anymore. After hearing what Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal said, he just quietly walked out of the office of Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal with Elsa and went back to the Gotohan. Upon reaching the Gotohan, Mang Joey opened the store again to serve customers! Elsa spent the rest of the day at the gotohan and she just worked hard as usual. As expected, with Elsa around the gotohan, plenty of customers came to the gotohan to eat! Elsa attended to all the customers without any hint of tiredness!

While watching Elsa work, Mang Joey was a bit confused at how he is really feeling towards Elsa. Mang Joey feels bad that Elsa was punished again, but he also feels a bit annoyed that Elsa has to clean the Boy's Comfort Room of St. John's Academy. The reason behind Mang Joey's annoyance is: If Elsa has to clean the Boy's Comfort Room of St. John's Academy from start of classes until end of classes with 2 hours overtime everyday without pay for 3 month, that means that by the time Elsa works for his Gotohan, the Simple Schoolgirl might be very tired already and may not work as well as she does! And so Mang Joey decided to talk to Elsa. Mang Joey told Elsa how he really feels. Mang Joey also reminded Elsa that if she commits another violation, she will be kicked out from school.

Elsa told Mang Joey that she was very sorry for what happened. However, Elsa did not defend herself anymore on the violation that she was accused of committing. Elsa also promised Mang Joey that she will not make any more violations and that she will still work hard in the gotohan even if she cleans the Boy's Comfort Room of St. John's Academy from start of classes until end of classes with 2 hours overtime everyday without pay for 3 months. Mang Joey accepted Elsa's apology.

The next Monday, Elsa started working on the new punishment. Elsa started her work as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room of St. John's Academy! And it was inside the Boy's Comfort Room of St. John's Academy where Elsa met Albert Jason Martinez the Good Boy. Albert Jason would have the distinction of being the first boy that Elsa is to have a special feelings for!

Anyway, as I was saying, on Elsa's first day as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she met Albert Jason Martinez the Good Boy! At that time Albert Jason was inside the Boy's Comfort Room to heed to the call of nature when he saw Elsa. At first, Albert Jason was very surprised to see Elsa cleaning the comfort room. Albert Jason asked Elsa why she is cleaning the comfort room. Elsa, in full details, told Albert Jason what happened to her and how she ended up cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room. Albert Jason, after hearing Elsa's story, felt very sorry for Elsa. Soon after, Elsa and Albert Jason quickly became friends! Albert Jason promised Elsa that after classes he will always drop by the Boy's Comfort room to wait for Elsa so that he could tutor Elsa on the day's lesson. Elsa agreed! Soon enough, Elsa and Albert Jason were studying together after school. Elsa got overwhelmed at the attention that Albert Jason was giving her! Elsa, at first could not understand what it was that she was feeling! But when she started having good dreams about Albert Jason, she knew that she was feeling something very special!

Unfortunately, before the week was over, Albert Jason got critically sick and he had to be admitted to the hospital! Albert Jason failed to fetch Elsa at the Boy's Comfort room that Monday! Infact he was never to show up ever again because his parents decided that he get transferred to another school. Apparently, Albert Jason was diagnosed of having acquired an uncommon strain of Viral Infection that was traced to have been from the Boy's Comfort Room! Upon learning of what happened to Albert Jason, Elsa was extremely very sad but she tried to understand the situation. That week Elsa learned that its painful to lose someone who one has good dream about!

On Elsa's second week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she met Dominic Flores the Bad Boy. At this point Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, upon the instruction of her tutor named Mr. Lucy Fernan, has instructed Elsa to clean the Boy's Comfort Room twice as hard after what has happened to Albert Jason. Elsa simply agreed and as expected, she worked harder than what she does before! And when I say " twice as hard ", I mean it literally! Elsa does things two times! She mops the Comfort Room Floor twice! She scrubs the Toilet Bowl twice! And she wipes the mirrors two times as well! Now, it was at that time when Elsa was doing things twice when Dominic noticed her! At first, Dominic made fun of Elsa! Dominic did so because he did not understand why Elsa was doing thing two times! Dominic hid the mop that Elsa is using causing Elsa some delay on her job! Dominic also intentionally threw dirt inside the Boy's Comfort Room causing Elsa some dismay that she has to clean the Comfort Room all over again! Elsa soon found out that it was Dominic who was doing all the pranks at her! But instead of confronting Dominic, Elsa just ignored Dominic's tricks on her because she still misses Albert Jason and she has to make sure that the Boy's comfort Room is really clean!!

Dominic then tried playing more pranks at Elsa but the Simple Schoolgirl simply shrugged her shoulders and refused to get affected! Dominic, seeing how Elsa handles the situation, got impressed at how Elsa took all his bullying and he changed his wrong ways! Dominic decided to treat Elsa out during recess and he asked to be forgiven. Dominic also gave Elsa a Fuji apple as a token for peace. Elsa accepted Dominic's apple and apology. Soon enough Dominic was fetching Elsa from the Boy's Comfort Room after classes! Dominic also continued giving Elsa more apples! Dominic was undeniably in love with Elsa. Elsa on the other hand was also starting to develop a special feeling towards Dominic! But it was too late! Before the week ended, Dominic was accused of stealing Fuji apples from the Terrible Teacher and he was kicked out of the school leaving Elsa alone! That week Elsa learned that it is also painful to lose someone who took the effort to change his ways just to be accepted by the person he loves!

On Elsa's third week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Johnny Carlito De Guillen the Gay Boy. Johnny Carlito was the first to spot Elsa inside the Boy's Comfort Room! Johnny Carlito De Gullien already knew who Elsa is based on what he has heard! Johnny Carlito De Guillen loves chin-wagging! Johnny Carlito De Guillen made Elsa fall in love with him. Johnny Carlito would treat Elsa during recess. Johnny Carlito would tell Elsa how beautiful she is! Johnny Carlito would talk to Elsa every night to ask her how she maintains her beauty! Johnny Carlito also walked the corridor with Elsa. Johnny Carlito waits for Elsa after school. With all the attention that Johnny Carlito was giving her, Elsa quickly felt something special towards the Gay Boy! When Johnny Carlito sensed that Elsa was already smitten, he started asking Elsa small favors. Then one day, Johnny Carlito asked Elsa to give him an original DVD copy of Pelukang Itim by Eddie Gill. Elsa agreed and she went to Quiapo. Unfortunately, an original DVD copy of Pelukang Itim by Eddie Gill is already out of stock, so Elsa bought Masikip sa Dibdib by Rufa Mae Quinto instead! Elsa also bought Eng Bee Tin Hopiang Munggo as she knows that this is Johnny Carlito's favorite food! When Elsa gave her gifts to Johnny Carlito, Johnny Carlito did not say Thank You. Instead he broke the DVD and wounded Elsa's face. Johnny Carlito then turned his back and left with the Eng Bee Tin Hopiang Munggo! Johnny Carlito did not fetch Elsa after school that day! The next morning when Elsa saw Johnny Carlito, she asked him why he did what he did, Johnny Carlito simply said: "I want to see your reaction!" Johnny Carlito then raised his eyebrows then walked away while swaying his hips!

Elsa was sad at what happened between her and Johnny Carlito! Elsa blamed herself! Elsa thought that had she bought Pelukang Itim by Eddie Gill, Johnny Carlito would not hurt her! Elsa was very much affected at what happened between her and Johnny Carlito! Elsa cried and for the first time she felt really bad about herself! Suddenly, Ivy Violinda Ubesa the Breathless Bestfriend appeared to Elsa and explained that she should not blame herself with what happened! Ivy Violinda Ubesa also told Elsa that she must instead try to understand Johnny Carlito! According to Ivy Violinda Ubesa, Johnny Carlito is a very sick child! Elsa did not understand what Ivy Vioinda Ubesa said! Elsa did not see anything in Johnny Carlito that would suggest that he is sick! Ivy Violinda Ubesa then explained that Johnny Carlito got abducted when he was younger, only to be reunited with his adoptive parent after several months with a trauma! Elsa then understood! Elsa also realized that some people may look physically healthy but they may still be sick! That week Elsa learned that it's painful to love someone who is consumed with the horrors of the past!

On Elsa's fourth week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Firmo Guzman the Mama's Boy! Elsa was the first to notice Firmo! Firmo is always inside the Boy's Comfort room because his mother would wipe his back, apply him powder, make him drink milk, and comb his hair every break! Elsa saw how lucky Firmo was for having a very loving mother! When Elsa got the chance, she told Firmo's mother that she thinks Firmo is a very lucky boy because he has a mother like her! Firmo's mother was flattered! Firmo's mother and Elsa quickly became friends! One day, Firmo's mother asked Elsa if she could wipe Firmo's back, apply him powder, make him drink milk, and comb his hair every break for three days because she will be going out of town! Elsa agreed! Elsa still did her job as Assistant Janitress while she also finds time to attend to Firmo! Soon enough Firmo and Elsa started feeling special towards each other!

Unfortunately, towards the end of the week, Elsa missed a day without wiping Firmo's back, applying him powder, making him drink milk, and combing his hair every break because Elsa was asked to clean Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's office! The next day, Firmo's mother showed up and berated Elsa! Firmo's mother blamed Elsa as the reason why her son caught cough and colds! Firmo's mother accused Elsa of being irresponsible! Firmo's mother then humiliated Elsa infront of the other boys who were in the Comfort Room! Firmo's mother Elsa ordered to stay away from Firmo! Elsa felt sad but she understood! That week Elsa learned that it's painful to love someone who could not take care of himself!

On Elsa's fifth week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Ronnel Ybias the Frat Boy! Ronnel is always with his Frat members! Ronnel treats Elsa kindly but he does what his Frat Brothers tells him to do! The Frat is headed by an over staying student named: Jess Gutierrez! Jess Gutierrez orders Ronnel to ask money from Elsa. Other members of the Fraternity are: Bryan Bragansia who calls Elsa names behind her back, Suzuki Takahasi who also took interest on Elsa but was only after Elsa's money, and Paul Mangunbabatu who threw stones at Elsa! Elsa treated Ronnel very well! Ronnel reciprocates but is always influenced by his Frat members! Ronnel is kind but does not know how to make his own decisions! In the end, Ronnel got in to trouble because Jess told him to drink beer in school! Ronnel was afraid of his parents and he ran away. Elsa never heard of Ronnel again! That week Elsa learned that its painful to love someone who loves his Frat members more!

On Elsa's sixth week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Marvin Gapon the Play Toy! Marvin is a good looking boy who is fond of making friends with girls! Marvin enjoys the idea of having girls adore him! Marvin also made Elsa fall in love with him! Marvin walked the corridor with Elsa. Marvin always visited Elsa inside the Comfort Room! Marvin always talks with Elsa. Elsa quickly fell for Marvin! But one day, before the week was over, Elsa over heard Marvin talking with some of his friends. Marvin was actually denying that he is close with Elsa. Elsa felt hurt! When Marvin saw her, the Play Toy pushed her and said: "Stay away from me! You are ugly!" Elsa did not say anything anymore! She just turned her back and continued cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room! That week Elsa learned how painful it is to be denied by someone whom one loves!

On Elsa's seventh week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Aaron Francisco the Hard Court Boy! Aaron is a member of the school's basketball team! Aaron always frequents the Boy's Comfort Room to change into his Basketball uniform. It was during one of those visit to the john that he noticed Elsa! Aaron soon took the courage to approach Elsa to ask her why she was cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room. Elsa told Aaron everything in details! Aaron felt bad for Elsa. Aaron then invited Elsa to watch his Basketball game! Elsa promised she will. On the day of the game, Elsa went to the Basketball Court to watch Aaron play. Unfortunately Aaron wasn't there! The game started and ended without Aaron! Elsa soon learned that Aaron felt ill before the game and he was rushed to the hospital! Elsa waited for Aaron to come back to school. But Aaron was never to come back! Elsa is all alone again! That week Elsa learned that it is painful to wait for someone who is not sure of ever returning!

On Elsa's eighth week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Rexie Salome the Boy Scout! Like any other Boy Scout, Rexie is always ready to help anybody in distress! This is what he showed on the day that he met Elsa. It was actually Elsa's second month as an Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room when an incident took place inside the Boy's Comfort Room! It was mid day and Elsa was getting ready to once again scrub the toilet bowls when suddenly Elsa slipped on the slippery floor. As Elsa slipped, the scrub flew from her hands! The scrub flew to the florescent light! The florescent light then fell straight down to Elsa! The shattered pieces of the florescent light wounded Elsa! It was a good thing that Rexie was inside the Comfort Room at that time! Upon witnessing what happened to Elsa, Rexie right away helped the Simple Schoolgirl! Elsa was flattered at what Rexie did for her! Elsa thanked Rexie for the help. Rexie said welcome but he did not ask Elsa her name and why she was inside the Boy's Comfort Room! Elsa thought that Rexie just forgot to ask those details! Soon after the incident in the Comfort Room, Elsa witnessed Rexie helping other students in school! Elsa tried to make her presence be noticed by Rexie but Rexie did not seem to remember her anymore! Towards the end of the week Elsa saw Rexie helping more people in school. Elsa also noticed that Rexie doesn't ask anyone whom he has helped for details! Elsa then understood! That week Elsa learned that it is painful to not know the difference between obligation and love!

On Elsa's ninth week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Allan Miko James Borcelis Alagao the Theater Boy! Allan Miko James Borcelis Alagao was at that time undergoing workshop in the school's Theater club! As part of the workshop, Allan Miko James was asked to approach Elsa and act as if he is courting her! Elsa did not know that Allan Miko James was just acting! Elsa fell for Allan Miko James's acting! Allan Miko James seeing that his acting was effective went on to make Elsa believe that he loves her! Allan Miko James continued with his acting for several days. But Allan Miko James told Elsa that their love must have conditions. First Allan Miko James said that they are an item only when they are inside the Boy's Comfort Room! Second Allan Miko James said that Elsa must give him money everyday! And third Allan Miko James said that Elsa must treat him like a King! Elsa agreed for a while thinking that Allan Miko James was just testing her love! But by the end of the week, Allan Miko James told Elsa that he wants more conditions to their love! When Elsa tried to tell Allan Miko James that conditions are not necessary, the Theater Boy got angry and left! That week, Elsa learned that it is very painful if a love has conditions!

On Elsa's tenth week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Marck Joeven Enriquez the Poor Boy! Joeven Enriquez is an Academic Scholar in St. John's Academy! As a Scholar he does not have to pay his Tuition fee! He also receives stipend from the school! Marck Joeven studies hard! Marck Joeven studies hard day and night! Marck Joeven studies hard to maintain his grades so that he won't lose his scholarship! Marck Joeven studies hard because he dreams of being successful when he grows older! When Marck Joeven saw Elsa cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, he right away go impressed but he does not understand why Elsa has to clean the Boy's Comfort Room! Marck Joeven then approached Elsa to ask her why she was cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room. Elsa told Marck Joeven everything! Marck Joeven got even more impressed! Marck Joeven understands why Elsa is doing all the sacrifices that she is doing! Marck Joeven soon promised Elsa that after dismissal, he will teach her the day's lesson! Marck Joeven did not treat Elsa during recess because he does not have money! Elsa understands Marck Joeven's situation! Marck Joeven also found out about Elsa's jobs! Marck Joeven also found out about Elsa's parents! Marck Joeven learned many things about Elsa! Marck Joeven accepted everything about Elsa! Marck Joeven then promised Elsa that he will fetch Elsa in Baseco Compound that Saturday! Elsa agreed! Unfortunately, that Saturday Marck Joeven did not show up at the place and the time that they have agreed on! Elsa soon found out that Marck Joeven met an accident! Marck Joeven was hit by a speeding Funeral Hearse! That week Elsa learned how painful it is to lose someone who has accepted everything about her!

On Elsa's eleventh week as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, she then met Reinier Manolo Viray the Dance Floor Boy! Reinier Manolo always drops by the Boy's Comfort Room to change into his dancing attire! Elsa always sees Reinier Manolo! Reinier Manolo is very popular in school! Reinier Manolo is adored by many girls! Reinier Manolo is also well liked by teachers! Reinier Manolo also has many friends! Elsa soon found herself liking Reinier as well! But Reinier Manolo did not seem to even notice her presence! One day, Reinier Manolo dropped by the Boy's Comfort Room. Elsa was very happy! Elsa became even happier when she saw Reinier Manolo smiled at her. Elsa thought that the reason why Reinier Manolo smiled at her is because the Dance Floor Boy has special feelings towards her! But Elsa soon realized that it was not the case! When Reinier Manolo was on his way out of the Comfort Room, Elsa saw Reinier Manolo giving everyone the same smile! That week Elsa learned how painful it is to love someone on her own!

And finally, on Elsa's third month or twelfth week or last five days as Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room at St. John's Academy, she became close friends with Cyril John Mondejar the School's Boy! Cyril John is the son of the school's Janitress! Cyril John is also employed at St. John's Academy as a Janitor! Cyril John is assigned to collect the garbage from all the classroms after school and he is also assigned to take care of the school garden! Cyril John has known Elsa since the first day when the Simple Schoolgirl started working as an Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room as part of the punishment given to her by Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal! Cyril John saw how Elsa suffered! Cyril John was impressed at how Elsa handled all the troubles that went her way! Cyril John felt something very special about Elsa! Since the day Elsa started working as an Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room as part of the punishment given to her by Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, Cyril John already wanted to be close with Elsa! Cyril John wanted to defend Elsa! Cyril John wanted to be Elsa's knight in shining armor! Cyril John however could not do all that he wanted because he is just the School's Boy!

When Cyril John found out that Elsa only has 5 days remaining as an Assistant Janitress cleaning the Boy's Comfort Room, he quickly planned to court Elsa! Cyril John wanted Elsa to know his genuine intentions! And so, Cyril gave Elsa flowers that he picked from the school garden! However the flowers did not even reach Elsa. Now what happened was: Cyril John was so ashame to hand the flowers personally to Elsa, so what he did was he left the flowers on Elsa's locker! But Ely Rose Apple along with her minions, saw that Cyril John left Elsa some flowers, and so, after Cyril John left, Ely Rose Apple took the flowers and dunked it straight into the garbage can! That afternoon, when Cyril John was collecting the garbage, he saw the flowers! He felt bad. But he did not approach Elsa to ask why the flowers were in the garbage can!

The next day, Cyril John left Elsa a love letter! Cyril John placed the love letter in Elsa's locker again! In the love letter, Cyril John confessed his love! Cyril John also wrote that he is willing to defend Elsa against everyone who hurts her! Cyril John also asked Elsa that he was willing to have his love tested! When Cyril John left after putting the love letter in Elsa's locker, Ely Rose Apple along with her minions quickly stole the letter! Ely Rose Apple then came up with a plan! She wrote a reply to Cyril John's letter and placed the same in Elsa's locker! That afternoon, when Cyril John was collecting the garbage already, he saw a letter with his name on it! Cyril John took the letter and started reading it! While reading the letter, Cyril John's face brightened up! Cyril John was very happy! That afternoon, Cyril John worked hard!

During the next few days, Cyril John was surprisingly more hard working! Cyril John worked without end! Cyril John almost didn't sleep! Cyril John also worked after his obligations in school! Cyril John vend cigarette! Cyril John vend Balot at Penoy! Cyril John also took small jobs at the nearby Junk Shop! Cyril John also run some errands from other neighbors in exchange for some money! Cyril John was obviously saving for something! Apparently, Cyril John thought that Elsa was testing his love! In the letter that Ely Rose Apple wrote, it is stated that: " If you really love me, You must give me a bouquet of red roses! You must also buy me a nice dress; an expensive bag; a pair of shoes; and a red headband! You must also treat me out in an expensive restaurant! You must do all these before the week ends! If you fail to do it, I will not talk to you anymore!

Cyril John believing that it was really Elsa who wrote the letter took the test of love! Unfortunately, before the week ended, Cyril John got sick from too much exhaustion! Cyril John was very pale, was coughing very badly, and was down with a fever when he was rushed to the hospital! On the very last hour of Elsa's punishment, Cyril John Mondejar was declared: DEAD!

"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." - Kahlil Gibran

The Contriving Clerks

2010-05-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

Albay province is located in the southern part of Luzon in the Philippines. The province is bounded by the Lagonoy Gulf and Camarines Sur on the north-northwest; the Pacific Ocean on the east; the province of Sorsogon on the south; and the Burias Pass on the southeast.

The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys. Approximately 40 percent of the land area is flat, surrounded by the mountains of Masaraga, Malinao, Pantao, and Mayon Volcano, which is the most famous landform!

Albay is one of the most typhoon-prone provinces in the Philippines. The area is located on the typhoon belt and experiences this hazard at the average of two major destructive typhoons per year.

In November 2006, Albay was one of the areas hardest-hit by Typhoon Reming. Reming was one of the most deadly and destructive tropical cyclones to ever ravage the Philippines! The typhoon brought 466 millimeters of rainfall, the highest in 40 years. A number of communities in Albay were immediately buried under tons of rocks and mud that rushed down from the Mayon Volcano’s slopes during the typhoon. Aside from Reming, three other major typhoons hit Albay in 2006: Tropical Storm Caloy, Typhoon Milenyo, and Typhoon Seniang!

People in Albay, being no stranger to storms, know - based on experience rather than on theory - that before the heavy rainfall or the sometimes very destructive strong wind arrives, a period of calmness usually takes place! This is what we call "The lull or calm before the storm!" The lull or calm before the storm is a period before or during a storm when suddenly everything goes eerily quiet, and the air seems still and calm, then afterward heavy rainfall or strong winds lashes out its fury!

The lull or calm before the storm is also an idiomatic expression which means: " a quiet period just before a period of great activity or excitement." And it is with this idiomatic expression that I wish to describe Elsa's 1st day in the School Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning!

As you are very much aware by now, the story that you are currently reading, is a narration of a very sad story about the miserable life of a Simple Schoolgirl named Elsa Ragoza! The title above would definitely give you a hint that nothing in this story would be fairytale like! If the title of this story isn't enough, allow me then to rewrite what I wrote in The Lousy Letter: " It is my sad duty to inform you that this story is filled with sad, miserable and unpleasant events in the life of a young girl named Elsa! In this page you will also read about children going to bed hungry, love evaded women, truth clouded with doubts, stormy weather, ant bites, wet socks, old green jackets and crumpled paper. "

I know very well that I have given you - my dear readers - enough warning to be aware at this point that nothing in this story will ever favor Elsa! You should also be aware that when things appear to be going smoothly, it is actually just a very brief period of calmness that will precede great sadness and sorrow! Allow me to once again say that: Elsa's 1st day in the School Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning is just the calm before the storm!

Elsa's 1st day in the School Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning is just the calm before the storm because on Elsa's 2nd day in the Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning, she met Minerva Jalova's clerks! This meeting is the start of yet another set of agonies!

Allow me - at this point - to segue for a while so that I could introduce you to Minerva Jalova's clerks! Minerva Jalova, the Lenient Librarian has 3 clerks. The Lenient Librarian's clerks are friends of Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal! The Lenient Librarian's clerks who happens to be Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's friends - if I were to be really honest and straight to the point - lacks the following virtues: Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility!

The names of Minerva Jalova's clerks are: Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita! Josefina's full name is Josefina Acedia Jalandoni. She is an old aged woman with very elongated chin. Josefina is very lazy! Josefina hates working. Josefina enjoys sleeping, specially during work hours! Klarizza's full name is Klarizza Luxuria Capaguin. She is a middle aged woman with very thick lips. Klarizza is very raunchy! Klarizza loves talking about sex. Klarizza enjoys reading pornographic magazines, specially during work hours! Emerlita's full name is Emerlita Invidia Cantos. She is also an old aged woman with very huge nose. Emerlita is always very envious of other people. Emerlita hates seeing others happy and contented. Emerlita enjoys talking ill about other people, specially during work hours! Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks have been friends for a very long time!

Now that I have already introduced you to Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita, the Contriving Clerks, allow me to continue on with my narration of Elsa's agonies by telling you what happen with the Simple Schoolgirl's 2nd day in the Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning!

It was actually exactly 7:30 in the morning when Elsa arrived at the School Library of St. John's Academy to report to Minerva Jalova. Miverva Jalova has been in her office since 7:00, this is 30 minutes early than her official schedule. Minerva Jalova has never been late with any of her obligations! Minerva Jalova knows the value of time! Minerva Jalova also believe in the old saying that: "Time is Gold!" Minerva Jalova always sees to it that she seizes every moment of each day! Minerva Jalova always does everything that she could do in all given opportunity!

Minerva Jalova, upon seeing Elsa arrive, talked with the Simple schoolgirl and once again assured Elsa that there is nothing that she should worry about while she is in the Library. Elsa was happy with what Minerva Jalova told her.

At around 8:34 in the morning, an hour and 4 minutes after the official time, the contriving clerks arrived! Josefina was looking sleepy as usual. Klarizza was talking about sex as usual. And Emerlita was talking ill about other people as usual. The Contriving Clerks did not bother to greet Minerva Jalova as they passed by the Lenient Librarian's office! The Contriving Clerks did not even offer an alibi as to why they all came in late. The Contriving Clerks obviously does not recognize Minerva Jalova's authority over them! The Contriving Clerks, unlike most of the school's employee, disrespect Minerva Jalova. The Contriving Clerks dispespect the Lenient Librarian because Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal is their friend!

Now, almost immediately after arriving, Josefina quickly grabbed the day's newspaper and pretended to read through the pages. The truth though is, Josefina already closed her eyes to take a nap! Klarizza on the other hand, quickly escaped to a vacant room near Minerva Jalova's office. There she pretended to be fixing something when infact she was already browsing over her newly bought pornographic magazine! Emerlita, unlike the other two, did not bother pretending! She shamelessly grabbed the phone and started dialing. She did not bother pretending to be talking with another clerk from another office in school. In a loud voice, Emerlita talked with her Kumare! Emerlita is heard talking about how envious she is of their other Kumare who has just bought a new dress!

Elsa, who was still inside Minerva Jalova's office when the Contriving Clerks arrived, witnessed the actions of the Contriving Clerks! Elsa got very frightened at what she just saw but she tried brushing her fears aside. Elsa, despite being scared at what she saw, still hoped that she could get along well with Minerva Jalova's clerks!

Minerva Jalova also noticed the frightened look at Elsa's face. Minerva Jalova understands Elsa's reactions. Minerva Jalova actually knows that the Contriving Clerks does not like her. Minerva Jalova knows the real attitude of Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita. Minerva Jalova knows that the reason why the Contriving Clerks behave the way they do towards her is because they are Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's friends. Minerva Jalova has seen many people like the Contriving Clerks! Minerva Jalova knows that people like the Contriving Clerks should be dealt with great patience!

Twenty seven minutes after the Contriving Clerks arrived, and seeing that Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita have already "settled down" a bit, Minerva Jalova introduce the Simple Schoolgirl to Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita! At first Elsa was really very scared and was obviously trembling as she was introduced to Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita! But, when all three greeted her back with a "Hello!", Elsa started being optimistic again! Elsa, looking at the beauty behind the misery, quickly trusted Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita with just 1 Hello! Elsa then thought that Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita only acted they way they did when they first arrived in the Library that day because they are very preoccupied! Elsa also thought that given the time, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita may turn out to be very kind people afterall! Elsa also thought that in the case of Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita, the term: "First impression is lasting." doesn't really apply!

After introducing Elsa to Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita, Minerva Jalova went back to her office. Before leaving Elsa with Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita, Minerva Jalova told Elsa to approach her if there is anything that she will be needing. Minerva Jalova also told Elsa that she does not have to work on anything that day. All that she needs to do is observe how Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita perform their individual task.

Elsa tried hanging along with Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita the whole day! Elsa tried observing how Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita perform their individual task. But Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita did not perform any task! Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita simply continued doing what they have started doing when they first arrived in the Library. Josefina continued sleeping, Klarizza continued browsing through her pornographic magazine, and Emerlita continued being busy talking with someone over the phone! Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks completely neglected their work that day, stopping only during scheduled break and lunch time!

Elsa, seeing that a lot of task has been left undone, started working around! Elsa did the clippings, a task that is assigned to Josefina. After doing the clippings, Elsa also arranged the books on the shelves, a task that is assigned to Klarizza. After arranging the books on the shelves, Elsa also wrapped some of the old books with transparent plastic cover, a task that was assigned to Emerlita! After doing all the tasks that was originally assigned to Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita, Elsa also cleaned the entire Library! By late afternoon, a few minutes before dismissal, the entire Library is already very well organized! But Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita did not even thank Elsa for taking over their jobs! Infact, before leaving the Library 10 minutes early that what is scheduled, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita all went inside Minerva Jalova's office to tell the Lenient Librarian that they have accomplished their assigned tasks, that they are all tired after doing extra task such as cleaning the entire Library, and that they are leaving the Library 10 minutes early to be able to rest!

Elsa saw Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks entered Minerva Jalova's office and she also overheard the 3 telling the Lenient Librarian that they have accomplished their task and that they are very tired and that they need to go home early to be able to rest. Elsa could have entered the office of Minerva Jalova to tell the Lenient Librarian that Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita are not telling the truth, but the Simple Schoolgirl decided not to do that because she wanted to be friends with Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks! Elsa also thought that the reason why Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita claimed to have done what they did not do is because they are challenging her to work harder next time!

On Elsa's 3rd day in the School Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning, things went on as usual! And when I say "as usual" what I actually meant is that: Minerva Jalova still came in early and was very encouraging to Elsa, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks still arrived late, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks still ignored Minerva Jalova, Josefina still went to sleep, Klarizza still kept herself busy reading her pornographic magazine, and Emerlita still talked with someone over the phone and discussed how envious she is of her other friends who bought a new shoes!

Elsa, seeing that Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks wont do their job as usual, went on to do what she did the day before! Elsa did the clippings, Elsa arranged the books on the shelves, Elsa wrapped old books with transparent plastic cover, and Elsa cleaned the entire Library! Elsa continued working without rest from 7:30 in the morning until around 2:58 in the afternoon! By 3:00 in the afternoon, Elsa was already very tired and very hungry but she did not complain! Elsa also did not go to Minerva Jalova's office to ask for anything! Elsa did not want to bother the Lenient Librarian. Elsa also did not bother Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks because she is wishing that Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks would become her friends!

Elsa thought that her wish got granted when by 3:02 in the afternoon, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks all approached her and in unison said: "Hello"! Elsa immediately replied: "Hi!" Josefina, in a sleepy voice, then said: "You are very industrious. You have been working since this morning. " Klarizza the said: " You seem hungry already. Do you want to eat anything?" Elsa, thinking that saying "No" may turn Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks away, immediately said: "Yes!" Upon hearing Elsa say: "Yes", Emerlita then said: "Okay! Give us money and we will buy food for you!" Elsa searched her pocket and saw a 50 peso bill. Emerlita upon seeing Elsa's money quickly said: "Wow! you have enough money to buy Hamburger with coleslaw, Manggo Juice, and Siomai! Do you want those?" Elsa quickly said: "Yes please." Emerlita then said: "Okay, just wait for us. We will just buy foods for you!" After Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks left, Elsa felt very happy because Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks already spoke with her, seemed very much concerned, and even offered to buy her food.

After Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks left, Elsa continued doing stuffs in the Library. Elsa also waited for Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks to come back from buying her food. Elsa waited and waited but Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks did not come back quickly!

Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks has been gone for more that an hour already when they finally came back to the Library! As Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks entered the door, Elsa approached them with the original intention of helping carry the food that they bought! But Elsa noticed that Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks did not seem to be carrying anything. Josefina and Klarizza then walked passed her without telling her anything. Emerlita then held out a flattened hamburger from her pocket and gave this to Elsa saying: "Elsa! Here is your hamburger! Eat!" Elsa said: "Thank You." Emerlita then said: "Oh! By the way, I forgot to bring you Manggo Shake and Siomai! I also forgot to bring your change!" Elsa just smiled and said: "It's okay." Elsa did not complain, Elsa just thought the reason why Emerlita forgot to buy her Manggo Shake and Siomai is because she is very busy."

On Elsa's 4th day in the School Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning, things again went on as usual! Situation inside the School Library of St. John's academy was basically the same except that before lunch time at around 11:38 in the morning, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks approached Elsa again and with a smile and in unison said: "Hello!" Josefina in a sleepy voice then said: "You are a very diligent girl." Klarizza said: "Because you are a very diligent girl, we will reward you!" Emerlita the said: "The reward is that we will treat you for lunch!" Upon hearing what Emerlita just said, Elsa's face brightened up! Elsa became very excited! Emerlita continued to say: "We have ordered for lunch in Shakey's! We ordered for Mojos, Garlic Bread, Spaghetti with meatballs, Chicken, Hawaiian Delight Thick Crust Pizza, Soft drinks and Dessert!" Elsa got even more excited! Elsa has never tried eating Mojos, Garlic Bread, Spaghetti with meatballs, Chicken, Hawaiian Delight Thick Crust Pizza, Soft drinks and Dessert from Shakey's! Emerlita noticed Elsa's excited face and so she went on saying: "We will treat you because you've been very industrious and we want you to be our friend! But, we want to ask you a favor. Is it okay if we ask for a simple favor?" Elsa immediately said: "Yes!" Emerlita, with a smile, then said: "Since we know that you are working at Mang Joey's gotohan and it is pay day tomorrow, could you treat us for lunch too?" Elsa, making no second thoughts, right away said: "Sure!" Emerlita then said: "That's great! You are not only a very industrious girl! You are also very kind! If you treat us tomorrow, you will be our friend!" Elsa smiled. Emerlita then left. While Emerlita walked away, Elsa was very optimistic! She was also very happy on the thought of having new friends! Elsa decided that she will allot a portion of her salary from Mang Joey to treat Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita for lunch! She also decided to suspend her plans of buying a new slippers first so that she could treat Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita!

When the foods from Shakey's arrived, Elsa got really excited! The smell of the food made her even more excited. But as the delivery boy hands over the foods to Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks, Elsa noticed that there were only 3 sets of packed foods. Elsa did not ask Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks why this is so. Elsa thought that it is very rude to do so! Anyway, immediately after the delivery boy left, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks quickly ran to the stockroom of the library. There Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks quickly ate the food! Elsa waited for Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita to approach and offer her food but none of the the Contriving Clerks bothered to call her. After 1 hour and 12 minutes, Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita came out of the stock room! Josefina quickly sat down and took a nap, Klarizza quickly grabbed her pornographic magazine and started browsing, Emerlita went straight to where the phone was and dialed a number. As Emerlita was waiting for someone to pick the phone, she saw Elsa and with a surprised expression said: "Oh! I'm so sorry! I forgot to call you! There are no more foods! It's such a pity that you missed lunch! You should have tasted how delicious the Mojos, Garlic Bread, Spaghetti with meatballs, Chicken, Hawaiian Delight Thick Crust Pizza, Soft drinks and Dessert are! Anyway, don't forget! You made a promise! You will treat us tomorrow, right?!" Elsa just smiled and said: "Yes." Elsa did not feel bad that Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks did not call her for lunch! Elsa just believed what Emerlita told her. Elsa just thought that Emerlita really forgot to call her.

On Elsa's 5th day in the School Library as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning, things did not go on as usual! Minerva Jalova was not in her office while Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks were already in when Elsa arrived at exactly 7:30 in the morning! Elsa also noticed that Josefina was wide awake and that she was already working her clippings! Elsa also noticed that Klarizza was not holding her pornographic magazine instead she is very busy arranging the books on the shelves! Elsa also noticed that Emerlita was not talking with someone over the phone, instead she was very busy wrapping old books with plastic cover. As Elsa approached the table where Emerlita was working, the Contriving Clerks paused from what they were doing, smiled, and in unison said: "Hello!". Elsa smiled back and said: "Hi." Josefina then said, in a lively voice: "Elsa! You are a very kind girl! I want to be your friend!" Klarizza then said: "I also want to be your friend!" Emerita then in a very quick succession said: "We all want to be your friend! By the way, you might be wondering where Minerva Jalova is. Well, she can't come to work today. She called in sick. She is down with fever. It's so sad that she is not around for your treat! Oh! By the way, today is your payday right? You promised to treat us for lunch, right? You are a very kind girl, right? You want us to be your friend, right?" Elsa tried to understand what Emerlita was saying! Elsa tried to absorb all that was suddenly happening around her. Elsa was overwhelmed with what was transpiring, but she still managed to say: "Yes."

After hearing Elsa said "Yes", Josefina immediately offered Elsa a seat. Klarizza approached Elsa and said: "You don't have to work today. You have done so much in this library. You are very industrious." Emerlita then said: "I was not wrong when I told Josefina and Klarizza that you can be a very good friend! Just sit down okay? We will do all the job today! Besides you shouldn't be doing our job because you are only a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning! Oh! By the way, I already ordered for food! It will be delivered before lunch!" Elsa was still very much overwhelmed at what was suddenly happening but she still managed to nod and say: "Yes."

The whole morning Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks kept themselves very busy! Elsa tried helping but Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks refused being helped. At around 11:46 in the morning, Josefina approached Elsa and then she said in a lively voice: "You are a very generous girl!" Klarizza then said: "I hope that we will be friends forever!" Emerlita then said: "It will be lunch anytime soon! The foods that I ordered will arrive within 14 minutes! You promised that this will be your treat, right? You promised to treat us because you want us to be your friend, right? You will treat us today because it's your payday, right? Oh! by the way, do you have your money with you? The delivery boy will arrive at anytime!" Elsa once again tried to catch up with what Emerlita was saying, but even if she was confused, Elsa still managed to say: "Yes."

After 14 minutes, at exactly 12:00 noon, a delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza arrived! Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks quickly approached the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza. Elsa heard the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza saying: "Good afternoon Ma'am! Delivery for Miss Elsa. This is an order for: 2 Boxes of Huge sized Anchovy Lovers Pizza; 2 Boxes of Huge sized New York's Finest; 2 Boxes of Huge sized Manhattan Meatlovers; Hot wings; Ham and Cheese Calzone; Spaghetti and Meatballs; Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta; Twice-baked potato halves; 1 Pint Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Pistachio Ice Cream; and 6 bottles of Huge Drinks!" Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks quickly grabbed all the foods and hurriedly ran to the stockroom leaving the Delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza and Elsa behind.

The Delivery Boy from Yellow Cab Pizza was surprised at how Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks behaved. The Delivery Boy from Yellow Cab Pizza was speechless for 2 minutes and 34 seconds. After 2 minutes and 34 seconds, the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza came back to his senses and when he saw Elsa he said: "Hi! I'm looking for Miss Elsa." Elsa replied by saying: "Hello, I am Elsa." The delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza then said: "Oh! So you are Miss Elsa! Here, this is the bill for the foods that you just ordered." Elsa took the bill. Elsa got shocked upon seeing the total amount that she has to pay! the total amount of the foods that Emerlita ordered was 8,765 php! Elsa was speechless and motionless for a while! Elsa just stared at the bill. Elsa was very worried! Elsa only earned 8,800 from Mang Joey! Elsa needs to give her parents money! Suddenly the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza said: "Miss Elsa, I really need to go. I still have many other deliveries! Can I have the payment now?" Upon hearing the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza, Elsa suddenly came back to her senses and with a trembling hand took her wallet and handed the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza the amount of 8,800. The delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza smiled and said: "Thank You Miss Elsa." Elsa waited for her change when suddenly Emerlita, who was still in the stock room, yelled: "Keep the change!" The delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza then said: "Thank you very much!" Elsa was once again speechless and motionless as the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza turned to leave.

Elsa stared at the delivery boy from Yellow Cab Pizza as he walked away with her hard earned money! As she watched the delivery boy from Yellow cab Pizza leave, Elsa was also thinking of how to explain to Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay that she does not have any more money! Elsa was also thinking of how her parents would react upon finding out that she has already spent her money for a blow out to her friends! Elsa was still imagining how her parents would react when suddenly Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks walked passed her. Josefina in a sleepy voice said: "Move aside." Klarizza said: "I am very full! The food is very delicious!" Emerlita said: "Oh! I'm so sorry! I forgot to call you! We already ate! the food was very delicious. Move aside! And by the way, just stay here and we will just brush our teeth!" Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks then left Elsa alone in the Library!

As Elsa watched Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks walk away, Elsa tried to think of how to tell her parents that she has no more money. Elsa then walked back inside the Library. As she walked by the stockroom, Elsa saw that there were still untouched boxes of pizza and still unwrapped foods. Elsa thought of getting herself some food. Elsa entered the stockroom and took a spoon, fork, and a paper plate. Elsa looked at the foods that was delivered. Elsa could not recognize what most of the foods were. Elsa is not used to eating expensive foods! Elsa only recognized the Pizza. Elsa decided that she will eat Pizza. Elsa opened a box of Pizza. Elsa noticed that the Pizza was still untouched and that the slices were still intact. Elsa took a knife. Elsa was about to get her self a piece of pizza when suddenly Josefina, Klarizza, and Emerlita or the Contriving Clerks screamed from behind her! Josefina yelled: "Oh no! Don't steal my foods! I will bring those home!" Klarizza screamed: " Oh no! Don't touch those foods! Those are mine!" and Emerlita hollered: "Guard! Help us!" Suddenly Omario Bulatao, the Groveling Guard appeared, grabbed Elsa's hands and in a very loud voice said: "Violation number 7: Illegal possession of deadly Weapon"!

"The Seven DEADLY SINS: Wealth without work; Pleasure without conscience; Science without humanity; Knowledge without character; Politics without principle; Commerce without morality; and Worship without sacrifice!" - Mahatma Gandhi

The Lenient Librarian

2010-05-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started the narration of Elsa's sad life, never was there really a time when I felt that I was truly appreciative of the Grown-Ups! I can enumerate several reasons why this is so, and I could always justify - a million times over - why I feel unappreciative of them!

As I have said in The Sorrowful Salutation: "I have been with the sad company of the Grown-ups, and I know how they think! I know how they look at things!" I also know how they say one thing but mean the complete opposite! For instance, when a Grown-Up says: "You look really beautiful." what he or she actually meant with that is: "You could actually look better if you had your hair done this or that way."

Grown-Ups are dishonest, impatient, insincere, cruel, ill tempered, materialistic, opportunist, manipulative, evil, sinister, and... I could actually go on forever listing down all the bad things about them if only the chance permits!

But, in the spirit of fairness, allow me to also say that: "There is always an exemption to the rule." In every 9 million Grown-Ups there would be 1 who is different! Someone who - because of age has learned to be - patient, sincere, kind, helpful, and lenient! Minerva Jalova, the Librarian of St. John's Academy is 1 in the 9 million.

Minerva Jalova - allow me to say - was once a Student Leader in her youth. She once rallied the streets of Mendiola for a cause! She once marched the streets of Makati and Katipunan with other Student Activists for Freedom, Equality, Women's and Children's Rights, and No Tuition Fee Hike. Minerva Jalova was a Graduate of The University of the Philippines with a course in Library Science. She graduated with Honors. And believe me when I say that there is a lot of good things about Minerva Jalova! Behind the stiff and conservative looking wardrobe is a very nice person! I promise that you'll get to know Minerva Jalova - the Lenient Librarian - a lot better as I go on with my actual narration of Elsa's very sad life in this Episode.

Allow me, at this point, to pick up from the last part of the episode entitled: The Pinheaded Principal. The part when Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal appeared in the School Canteen where a melee was going on and approached Elsa, who was at that time being accused by the Groveling Guard of committing Violation Number 6: Estafa.

Now upon hearing Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal say: "Definitely! Hey you! The only one of you! I want to see your parents tomorrow! Right Now!", the Groveling Guard quickly grabbed Elsa and dragged the Simple Schoolgirl to the Principal's office. While Omario Bulatao walked away and tagging Elsa along with him, the Canteen Manager and the Canteen Cashier continued hurling unwashed plates, spoons, forks, water glasses and pitchers while repeatedly calling Elsa: "Ugly, stupid, poor!"

Inside the Principal's Office, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal - upon the instructions of Mrs. Lucy Fernan who at that time was disguised as a shadow - violently tied Elsa's hands with blue colored nylon cord and covered Elsa's mouth with a locally bought packaging tape. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal then said: "Definitely! You bald girl is very bad! You already have six violations in my prestigious school! What is your reason? Answer me in simple English only!" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal waited for an answer but Elsa could not give her reasons because her mouth was covered with packaging tape. When Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal did not hear Elsa speak she then said: "Definitely! Are you deaf? Did you hear me? Why did you not answer me in simple English only? Are you making me angry? Now, answer me! Why do you keep making violations in my prestigious school"? Again, Elsa could not speak, she could also not make gestures as her hands were tied up. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal then got very furious and she said: "Definitely! You are making me more angry! I want to see your parents tomorrow! Right now!"

Again, upon hearing Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal said: "I want to see your parents tomorrow! Right now!" the Groveling Guard, who was at that time still inside the Principla's office, immediately ran to the classroom of the Terrible Teacher to relay what Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal just said. It was the Terrible Teacher who then immediately ran to the Gotohan of the Misinformed Master to tell Mang Joey that Elsa committed Violation Number 6: Estafa and that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal wants to meet Elsa's parents. Mang Joey, the Misinformed Master believing that Elsa was already an orphan decided to close the Gotohan and then proceeded to the Principal's office.

Back in the Principal's Office, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal - upon the instructions of Mrs. Lucy Fernan who was at that time still disguised as a shadow - said: "Definitely! You are not the Parents tomorrow right now of this bald girl who is very bad! You are Mang Joey the owner of the Gotohan which is located near my prestigious school! Why did you come here?" Mang Joey replied: "I'm very sorry, but Elsa is already an Orphan and since she works for me, please allow me to be her guardian." Elsa heard Mang Joey and she wanted to explain that she is not yet a complete orphan. But Elsa could not speak as her mouth was still covered with packaging tape. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal upon hearing what Mang Joey said, replied: "Definitely! Sure why not? Now I am warning you that if Elsa commits 2 more violations in my prestigious school, I will expel her! Do you understand me?" Mang Joey simply answered: "Yes, Miss Hampto. And I am very sorry." Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal still upon the instructions of Mrs. Lucy Fernan who was at that time still disguised as a shadow then said: "Definitely! I forgive you but I will not yet forgive Elsa! I will punish her again! She will now be assigned as a Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning at the School Library! Do you understand?" Mang Joey simply said: "Yes, Miss Hampto."

Now it was because of the said punishment that Elsa, the Simple schoolgirl met Minerva Jalova, the Lenient Librarian. The next week immediately after the Canteen incident, Elsa was to start reporting to the Linient Librarian named Minerva Jalova. Elsa was assigned to clean the Library from start of classes until dismissal and the said punishment will be effective for a whole week! This simply means that Elsa was not to attend classes again!

Anyway before I go on, allow me to tell you that because of the new punishment on Elsa, the Terrible Teacher, the Brattish Bully, the Contemptible Classmates, the Groveling Guard, and the Pinheaded Principal along with her tutor named Mrs. Lucy Fernan were all very happy! The Terrible Teacher was happy because, without Elsa in her class, she could now ask all her students to give her gifts! The Brattish Bully was happy because she could take a rest from her evil antics! The Contemptible Classmates were happy because they too could take a rest from following Ely Rose Apple's evil schemes on Elsa! The Groveling Guard was happy because he could concentrate on roving the school grounds without thinking of new violations that he could accuse Elsa of. And the Pinheaded Principal, along with her tutor named Mrs. Lucy Fernan, was very happy because she felt that she has done a good job in making sure that her prestigious school was properly managed!

The Misinformed Master though, unlike the other characters that I have already mentioned in the sentence above, was not really very happy with the new punishment on Elsa. He was not very happy because he felt very sad for Elsa. He was not very happy because he felt that the punishment was way too harsh. He was not very happy because he thought that Elsa would grow very exhausted by cleaning the Library from start of classes until dismissal time. This means that by the time that Elsa would be working at his Gotohan in the graveyard shift, the Simple Schoolgirl may already be too tired to be able work as well as she use to. This thought really saddened Mang Joey a lot! Allow me now to say that: "Mang Joey is really a very kind man, and his only flaw is that he loves money a lot!" This means that, if Elsa wont work as well as she use to, the Gotohan might loose part of its earnings!

Anyway, going back to the story. On Elsa's first day as Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning at the School Library, she was very nervous! Elsa was very worried because she thought that Minerva Jalova might hurt her too. Elsa was very tense because she thought that Minerva Jalova might throw and hit her with heavy books. Elsa was very anxious because she thought that Minerva Jalova might call her stupid, ugly, and poor. But, Elsa's fears all vanished when Minerva Jalova spoke to her.

On Elsa's first day as Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning at the School Library, Minerva Jalova invited Elsa in her office and talked to Elsa very kindly and told the Simple Schoolgirl: "Good Morning Elsa. I already heard about your story. I was told why you were sent here. And I was also told that you were assigned as Student Assistant Majoring in Cleaning at the School Library for a week. Now, please don't be frightened and don't worry. I know Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto very well. And I have to be honest with you. I don't really agree with her. I don't think you deserve this punishment. But what can we both do? Let us just let her be. Just report here everyday. You don't have to do all the job here. I'll also ask your classmates to lend you their notebooks so that you could also catch up on your lessons. Please don't hesitate to tell me what else you need, okay?"

Upon hearing what Minerva Jalova just said, and upon realizing how kind Minerva Jalova is, Elsa's face brightened up! Elsa felt glad! Elsa was happy that after encountering several sinister characters in her stay at St. John's Academy, she finally met someone who seems really very accommodating, affable, affectionate, agreeable, altruistic, amiable, approachable, auspicious, beneficent, benevolent, charitable, commendable, compassionate, congenial, considerate, cordial, decent, estimable, excellent, fair, fine, forgiving, friendlike, friendly, generous, gentle, good, good-hearted, good-natured, good-tempered, goodly, gracious, helpful, humane, humanitarian, kindhearted, lenient, loving, merciful, nice, noble, openhearted, patient, sisterly, softhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted, thoughtful, understanding, unhostile, unresentful, unrevengeful, very good, virtuous, warm, warm-hearted, warmhearted, well-intentioned, and well-meaning!

Now at this point of the story, allow me to say that Elsa was absolutely right when she thought that she finally found someone who is the complete opposite of all the other sinister characters that she has already met so far in St. John's Academy! Allow me to also tell you about Minerva Jalova's own encounter with Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal. Telling you - my dear readers - of these details will make you understand why, on the 4th paragraph of this episode, I mentioned that Minerva Jalova is an exemption to the rule!

Let me begin with: "The Most Outstanding Teacher incident." Now you should know that every School Year, St. John's Academy gives out an award for The Most Outstanding Teacher. The Teacher who is declared as Most Outstanding should pass several criteria! The Teacher who is declared as Most Outstanding should be Kind, Intelligent, Hard Working, Approachable, Morally Upright, is active in Community Service, and is Well-Loved by his or her students! The Teacher who is declared as Most Outstanding will be given a cash prize, a salary increase, a golden trophy, a certificate of recognition, and a gift check worth 1,234.50 in Robinson's Department Store!

The previous winners of The Most Outstanding Teacher award were all very much deserving! The previous winners were all very Kind, Intelligent, Hard Working, Approachable, is Morally Upright, is active in Community Service, and is Well-Loved by his or her students! So, everyone in school was expecting for someone no less! At the beginning of the School Year, teachers of St. John's Academy were already rooting for Mrs. Remedios Purificasion as the recipient of the Most Outstanding Teacher award! Mrs. Remedios Purificasion has been with St. John's Academy for a long time! Mrs. Remedios Purificasion is well loved not only by her students but by all her co teachers as well! Mrs. Remedios Purificasion has all the qualifications for being The Most Outstanding Teacher. However, when Mrs. Clarita D. Castor moved to St. John's Academy, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal immediately wanted to declare the Terrible Teacher as the Most Outstanding Teacher.

Many teachers reacted to Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's hasty and unfair decision and they demanded for an explanation. When Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal learned of the teacher's reaction, she called for a meeting. The meeting was to be held in the school library. Minerva Jalova, being part of the school management was also asked to be present during the meeting. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, with the help of her tutor, Mrs Lucy Fernan, prepared for the meeting.

On the day of the meeting, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal arrogantly delivered her prepared speech. Her tutor, Mrs. Lucy Fernan was also present during the meeting - she was disguised as an Artificial Flower on a vase! The bottom line of Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's 2 hours and 45 minute speech is that: Mrs. Clarita D. Castor is very much deserving of the award as The Most Outstanding Teacher simply because: "They are friends!"

At first Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal thought that she did very well with her speech and that the teachers wont be asking any question. But when the teachers started questioning her if her basis has logic, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal started to panic. She panicked because her tutor can't coach her since she was disguised as an Artificial Flower on a vase. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal just stared blankly at the teachers. The teachers waited for an answer but Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal just stood there infront of the teachers without saying anything! The teachers started to get impatient.

Minerva Jalova, seeing that the teachers were starting to get really exasperated and sensing that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was lost for words again, immediately stood up and calmly repeated the teacher's question to Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal. But when Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal heard Minerva Jalova repeat the question, she took offense, pinpointed, and screamed at Minerva Jalova saying: "Definitely! You are a very bad Librarian! You are not the Principal of this prestigious school! You are only the very bad Librarian! You should ask me question in simple English only! I will not answer the question because I am tired!" After saying this, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal walked out from the Library carrying with her the flower vase.

Minerva Jalova was left with the teachers. Minerva Jalova kept her cool. Minerva Jalova knew that reacting on what Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal did to her would only stir more chaos! Minerva Jalova, in her youth, has seen many leaders like Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal. Minerva Jalova knew that leaders like Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal should be dealt with patience. And so, Minerva Jalova, after being treated badly by Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, calmed herself and tried to pacify the teachers. Minerva Jalova promised the teachers that she will talk with Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal again and demand for a clear answer. The teachers of St. John's Academy listened to her. The teachers of St. John's Academy listened to Minerva Jalova because they respect her. The teachers of St. John's Academy respect Minerva Jalova because unlike Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, she actually showed how a Grown-Up should conduct herself infront of other Grown-Ups!

Let me now tell you of the: "The Foreign Student incident"! Now it was actually the Second Quarter of the School Year and at the same time St. John's Academy's celebration of the English and Book week when this story took place! At that time, all the teaching and non teaching personnel of the school and students were in the school's gymnasium watching the oratorical contest when a foreign couple from New Castle in England named Mr. Stephen Sullivan and Mrs. Beth Sullivan along with their son named Lee Sullivan went to St. John's Academy. The British couple are considering St. John's Academy as the new school of their son Lee. The British Couple wanted to gauge the school first and wanted to speak with someone from the school administration. Now since everyone is in the school gymnasium, it was only Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal who was available to speak to the British couple.

At first, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was very excited to meet with the British couple. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was also very excited on the thought of having a foreign student in her prestigious school. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal tidied up her office before meeting with the British couple. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal also brushed her teeth so that she'll have fresh breath. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was in the act of ordering her tutor, who at that time was disguised as a picture frame on the wall, to turn into a shadow when the British couple suddenly entered her office. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was left without a choice but to smile and offer the British couple a seat. But as the British couple take their seat, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal started to get really very nervous because her tutor was still disguised as a picture frame hanging on the wall!

The British couple smiled at Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal and then told her how impress they are at the tidiness of the school. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal smiled back and nodded her head as a response. But the truth is, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was already struggling to understand the accent. The British couple, in an authentic British accent, then said: "Hiya! now what it is, we are considering of enrolling our son here named Lee in your stupendous school! We see that everything seem spot on! However, there are some things that we would like to be assured of. Is it okay if we ask several questions about your school?" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal got really nervous but, in a stammering voice, still managed to say: "Definitely!"

The British couple were very glad at Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's response and so they went on to ask: "Do you offer extra curricular activities to students so that they'll learn how to hone their individual talents and skill?" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal answered: "Definitely!" The British couple looked at each other smiled and nodded their head as if to show that the are impressed! The British couple then continued to ask: "Do you have highly qualified teachers who are ready to respond to the challenges of various students with multiple intelligence and who would make sure that students are given proper training and would acknowledge individual differences?" At this point, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal started to get really nervous. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal started to perspire! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was hoping that she had her tutor with her. But, even if Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal didn't fully understand what the British couple just asked her, she still managed to say: "Definitely"!

The British couple looked at each other. They seemed unconvinced. They sensed something wrong. They were not sure however what it was. Then they continued to ask: "Could you please tell us how you deal with students who are misbehaving?" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, immediately answered: "Definitely!" The British couple nodded in responce and waited for Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal to expound on her answer but Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal remained quiet and was obviously very jittery and was perspiring profusely! The British couple then said: "So, Can you tell us how?" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's nose started to bleed but she still managed to say: "Definitely!" The British couple noticed that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's nose was already bleeding and they got very concerned and so they asked: "Are you okay?" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal replied: "Definitely!" The British couple looked at each other and got very scared, and so they said: "You don't seem okay! Are you sick?" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal replied: "Definitely!" The British couple were taken aback! Then they asked: "Do you have AH1N1 or Swine Flu Virus?" Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal answered: "Definitely!" The British couple turned pale with shock, panicked and hurriedly ran out of Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal office!

While the British couple ran away, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was left wondering why the British couple ran away from her. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal was infact clueless why the British couple hurriedly left. It was her tutor Mrs. Lucy Fernan, who has at this point turned into a shadow, who told her that the reason why the British couple ran away from her was because the foreign couple finds her face horrible! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal immediately believed Mrs. Lucy Fernan! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal did not even suspect that it was her answers and her bleeding nose that frightened the British couple!

Mrs. Lucy Fernan went on to tell Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal that the British couple does not like talking with her because her breath stinks! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal right away believed her tutor. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal got very mad and so she hurriedly went to the school gymnasium where a program for the English and Book Week was being held. Upon entering the School Gymnasium, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal started hearing everyone speaking in English. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal nose started to bleed again! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal then ascended the stage and grabbed the microphone from the emcee of the program! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, upon the coaching of her tutor who was at that time disguised as a shadow, then said: "Definitely! Hey you! The all of you! I am the very good Principal of this prestigious school! I will declare that no more school program from now on! No more English and Book week, no more United Nations Day, no more Nutrition month, no more Intramural, no more Acquaintance Party, and no more JS Prom! I will allow only Graduation Day and Linggo ng Wika! Stop this program! The all of you, go back to your classroom immediately, right now!"

All the teachers were shocked at what Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal just did and said! The students were unhappy with what Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal just declared! The students started booing Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal! Some students threw crumpled papers to Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal immediately left the school gymnasium! Miverva Jalova, who was the chairperson of the English and Book week took the microphone and calmly addressed the audience saying: "Dear Teachers and Dear Students, I need your attention please." The audience, upon hearing Minerva Jalova started to quiet down and listened. Minerva Jalova then said: "I know you are all very upset at what you just heard. But I'm sure our Principal has a reason why she said those. May I please ask all of you to just relax and I will speak with the Principal. I will also ask her if she could allow us to have other school programs and activities. Now, Dear Teachers kindly escort your students back to your classrooms and for the meantime resume your classes while I speak with our Principal."

The teachers of St. John's Academy listened and followed Minerva Jalova. The Teachers asked their students to line up and proceed back to their classroom. The students quietly formed a line and headed back to their classroom. The students did not react violently at the orders of Minerva Jalova. The students wholeheartedly obeyed Minerva Jalova. The students of St. John's Academy obeyed Minerva Jalova because they could feel that Minerva Jalova meant well. The students of St. John's Academy respects Minerva Jalova. The students of St. John's Academy looks up to Minerva Jalova because unlike Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal, she actually showed how a Grown-Up should conduct herself infront of other Grown-Ups and most specially infront of the young ones!

"In times of trouble leniency becomes crime." - Proverb Quotes

The Pinheaded Principal

2010-05-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

If an award for "The Brightest School Principal in the Entire World and its nearby Galaxy" will someday ever be given, it will be wise that the Grown-Ups, who are known to have devised or formulated a scientific way on how to choose the best among a roster of already best, consider - without second thoughts - of awarding it to the School Principal of St. John's Academy named: Glenda Hampto!

Glenda Hampto deserves the award: "The Brightest School Principal in the entire World and its nearby Galaxy" for two reasons! Firstly because Glenda Hampto is undeniably very bright! Second and most importantly, Glenda loves wearing Safety Reflector Vest!

Now again, If you are a Grown-Up who finds my reasons for suggesting that the award for being "The Brightest School Principal in the Entire World and its nearby Galaxy" be given to Glenda Hampto really senseless, allow me to explain that the word BRIGHT in this episode is actually an adjective that means: "Light - characterized by or emitting light. Having lots of light either natural or artificial such as the sun and those safety reflector vest worn by traffic officers." I didn't mean: "Intelligence - having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree."

Glenda, in actual fact, is far from being intelligent! She was almost 40 years old when she finally earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education Major in Values Education. She took up Elementary for 20 years, High School for 10 years and College for 10 years. Now if you are a Grown-Up who maybe wondering why it took Glenda that long to finish her studies, allow me now to explain why by telling you more details about Glenda. So, please be patient.

It is important, right here - right now, that you know that Glenda was born in Baranggay Capipiza Kanluran Tanza Cavite. She grew up among the Carabaos, Goats, Chickens, Ducks, Bayawaks, and Kuligligs of the said Province in the Philippines. Glenda grew up learning how to operate the Araro and she also knows how to sail the Bangka! During her spare time, Glenda strolled along the Ricefields, the Waterfalls, and the Beach of the tiny and sleepy Town located in the Western part of Tanza Cavite called Capipiza! It is also in Capipiza where Glenda studied Elementary. Actually, Glenda never had any interest with school. Her only dream was to be a Lady Farmer or be a Fisher Woman in Capipiza! But her father, who was the richest man in Capipiza and is actually the Town's Captain, forced her to go to school.

Glenda was actually at a normal age when she first set foot in school as a Preschool Student in the Town's Day Care Center. She was still at the right age when she went on to study Elementary. Glenda, being the only child of the Town's Captain, had everything that a student could ask for! She had everything except the intelligence to survive life in school. Thanks though to her father's money and influence, Glenda was able to - somehow - get through school. Glenda's father would approach Teachers and School Officials if he sees that Glenda needs some help, specially in passing!

Anyway, Glenda - despite the help that she gets from her father - still struggled in school! Glenda struggled in school because she had no interest with Reading, Mathematics, Arts, Music, History and Science. During classes her mind is occupied with thoughts of the Rice Field and the Sea. Because of her intellectual liabilities - and despite her father's help - Glenda was able to complete the whole Elementary Program - a School Curricular Program which normally takes only 6 years - for 10 long years. Unfortunately, a week before her graduation, it was discovered that there was a discrepancy in the name that she had been using in all her school records with her actual name in her birth certificate!

It was discovered that Glenda's real name is Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto. This prompted the school officials to force Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto to repeat the whole Elementary Program! Glenda and her Father felt very sad about the situation and they both cried for 2 minutes and 36 seconds. However, Glenda's father did not question the school official's decision.

He felt that it was partly his fault. He forgot to tell Glenda what her real name was! He forgot that Glenda is just a nickname. A name that he was so fond of. A name that he gave his daughter as nickname.

Anyway, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto studied Elementary again - for another 10 years! At the end of the 10 years, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was finally able to graduate without any hitch! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto then studied High School in Amaya School of Home and Industries which is located in Baranggay Amaya still in Tanza Cavite. Amaya School of Home and Industries or ASHI is just 1 Tricycle and 1 Mazda ride away from Capipiza.

Now, it is important that I tell you at this point of the story that: It is during High School when Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto started wearing Safety Reflector Vest. It was actually her father who told her to do so. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was asked to wear Safety Reflector Vest because she was studying in Amaya School of Home Industries already. And the said School is 1 Tricycle and 1 Mazda ride away from Capipiza! This means that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto had to cross the street! At first Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was not comfortable wearing the Safety Reflector Vest, but after seeing the benefit of it, she decided to waer it everytime she leaves home and she also decided to make it her fashion statement!

Anyway, going back, I have to tell you that after repeating Elementary due to discrepancy in the name used as compared to the actual name in the Birth Certificate, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto became more careful! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto made sure that she used her real name in all of her school records. But despite being careful with the use of her name, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto still had one problem. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto struggled in school. She could not cope with the demands of High School. She gets frightened with numbers! And, she did not understand Big Words in English. To hide her lack of intellectual prowress, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto decided to always utter the word: Definitely! this way, she thought she will sound intelligent.

Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto tried to pass all her subjects in school, but just like when she was still in Elementary, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto - despite all the help that she got from her father - also completed High School for 10 long years. Allow me now to put in details how this happened! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was a Freshman for 2 years, a Sophomore for 3 years, a Junior for 2 years, and a Senior for 3 years! The reason why Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto keeps repeating each Year Level is because she could not speak English well. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto also could not understand long sentences in English. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto does not even know the meaning of simple English words like: Brain, Study, Intelligent, and Honor. Infact, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto thought that those words were examples of Fishes in the Sea! Another reason why Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto failed in High School is because she was always being sent home. Now I also have to tell you that everytime she hears some one speak in English and everytime she tries to speak in English, her nose would mysteriously begin to bleed! So her Teachers thought that she was sick! So these are the reasons why Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto completed High School for 10 long years. By the way, High School Course in the Philippines only takes 4 years to complete!

After graduating from High School, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was enrolled in Western Colleges. A small College in Naic Cavite. Western Colleges is just 1 tricycle and 1 Mazda ride away from Capipiza. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto's father also decided that she takes up Bachelor of Education as a course. Allow me to point out that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was from that era when parents of not-so-intelligent children would require or force their children to: "Just take up Bachelor of Education and be a Teacher only." And so, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto knowing her own capacity agreed to take up the course that her father wants her to take up.

At first Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto tried to Major in English because she was hoping that by doing so, She will begin to learn the meaning of simple words such as: Brain, Study, Intelligent, and Honor! She was also hoping that she will learn more words in English and be able to speak English fluently. Unfortunately everytime her Professors discuss a lesson, she would have nose bleed. And everytime her Professor would assign her to conduct a report, she always ends up staring blankly at the class and utter the word "Definitely" repeatedly without end while her nose bleeds! This made her shift from English to taking up Math as her Major. But that wasn't very successful either. So she also tried Science, History, Music, Arts, and Physical Education but none were successful! Finally she took up Values Education as her Major and she finally graduated after 10 long years! Thanks to her father's money and influence - I mean, help!

After Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto graduated from College with a Degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Values, Her father decided to let her live in 10th Avenue Cubao Quezon City. Her father, being rich and influential was able to buy a property in 10th Avenue Cubao Quezon City and was able to put up a school which he named: St. John's Academy! Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was first appointed - by her father - as Teacher Aide to the Nursery Class. Her job was to erase the writing on the board, clean up the mess of the Nursery Students, play with the Nursery Students during PE, and lead the singing of "Good bye my Teacher, Good bye" before Class Dismissal! After 10 days, Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was appointed - by the father - as the School Principal.

Her father, knowing that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto was not very sharp and may find her new job really difficult, decided to hire a tutor! The said tutor was to assist Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto in her job as the School Principal. Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto's tutor though was strictly instructed by Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto's father to never show up to anybody! It was agreed that the tutor should be unseen, unnoticed, and unknown! The tutor should make sure that it would only be Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto or Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto's father who would see her. If it was impossible for the tutor to be unseen and that Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto needs help, the tutor should disguise herself first before showing up to assist Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto. She should disguise herself either as: a Pizza Delivery Boy, an Afgan Woman wearing Burka, a Colorfully Costumed Clown, a Black bat, an Albino Cat, a Green House Snake, a Beach Ball, a Picture Frame, an Artificial Flower or a Shadow! The tutor agreed to the conditions because after all, she will be paid big cash! By the way, the name of Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto's tutor is: Mrs. Lucy Fernan!

Now if you are a Grown-Up who has grown increasingly agitated at all the characters that I've been introducing and seeing that I have not actually made true of the promise that I made on last sentence of the second to the last paragraph of the episode entitled: The Contemptible Classmate, then I guess I have to try to understand you more and forgive you. Afterall, Patience - to some Grown-Up - do grow thin as one ages.

Anyway, to fulfill that promise and since I have already introduced to you The Brightest School Principal in the Entire World and its nearby Galaxy named Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto who in actual fact fits the title The Pinheaded Principal more, allow me now to tell you about the Canteen Incident.

If you may recall, it was Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal who ordered Elsa to be a Canteen Assistant for a week as punishment for being wrongly accused of possessing a leakage during exams. This is the third of 3 punishments! The first is that Elsa was disallowed to take the exam. The second is that she was asked to walk around the campus while holding a placard saying: " I am a Cheater! Do not imitate me! "

Now, being the person responsible for Elsa performing Canteen Assistant task, I could say that it is Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal's fault why Elsa suffered yet again in the hands of Ely Rose Apple - the Brattish Bully!

Picking up from where I ended from the episode entitled: The Brattish Bully, Elsa was made to wash dishes, fetch water, chop woods, clean the dining area, and serve foods to students during lunch for one week! Elsa must perform the said punishment from start of class until dismissal time! This means that Elsa was not to attend classes. Elsa however, did not feel bad about what she was going through. She just thought that the reason why she was ask to be a Canteen Assistant was for her to develop her talent at serving or helping others who are eating in the canteen!

Elsa was actually thinking about the positive side of the punishment on the 5th and last day when Ely Rose Apple along with the Contemptible Classmates called her to join them in the table. Ely Rose Apple together with Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar were in the school canteen to have lunch! As Elsa approached her classmates, she was ready to follow all the orders of the Brattish Bully and the Contemptible Classmates! Elsa was also ready to accept every slap on the face that she may receive. Elsa was ready to swallow all the humiliation that the Brattish Bully and the Contemptible Classmates would utter at her. Elsa was ready with the worst!

But Elsa was surprised at what she heard when she finally reached the table where the Brattish Bully and the Contemptible Classmates are sitting in. Elsa could not believe it when Ely Rose Apple said: "Elsa, my friend, why don't you sit down and have lunch with us"? Elsa was speechless for 17 seconds! Elsa could not believe what she heard. Elsa became even more shocked when Fritz Noel approached her, held her hands, and brought her near the table. Elsa could not believe it either when Lia Reynalyn made her seat beside her. Elsa was more surprised when Anthony Bob handed her a toy to play with. Elsa was still shocked when Nerissa Janina smiled at her. Elsa was still speechless when Adelaida Floricar said: "Elsa, since you have not attended classes for 5 days already, I will lend you all my lectures so that you could study well. I will also ask our Beloved Teacher to give you make up exams. I'm sure our Beloved Teacher will agree, am I right Josie Jean?" Elsa came back to her senses when Josie Jean said: "Huh? What, Who, Where, When, Why, How?" as a reply to what Adelaida Floricar said!

Elsa was already sitting on the table with the Brattish Bully and the Contemptible Classmates and was still wondering at what was happening when she again heard Ely Rose Apple said: "Elsa my ever dearest friend, why don't you order some foods? It's my treat! I see how hard you have worked this week! I want you to feel better." Elsa could not believe what she heard and all that she was able to say was: "Thank you!". Before Elsa could say anything more, Ely Rose Apple has already instructed Nerissa Janina to order foods.

After 8 minutes and 46 seconds, several School Canteen Personnel started coming towards the table with many foods! One School Canteen Personnel looked at Elsa devilishly. But Ely Rose Apple was quick to tell Elsa: "Don't worry. I'll take care of everything!" While the foods are being prepared, Ely Rose Apple also told Elsa that she was sorry for what has happened and that starting that day she wants them to be friends. Ely Rose Apple also told Elsa that Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar also want to be friends with her. Ely Rose Apple also told Elsa that she will ask her father to give her a raise in her salary. Ely Rose Apple also told Elsa that she will build her up with their Beloved Teacher so that the Teacher won't be mad at her anymore! Elsa felt very happy! Elsa could not believe her luck! Elsa smiled and thanked God. Elsa happily had lunch with Ely Rose Apple, Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar!

After lunch, Ely Rose Apple said: "Elsa, can you please join us later this afternoon in the school playground? Let us play Touch the Body out! I really want to be friends with you." Elsa was adamant at first but when Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar all said in chorus: "Please, Elsa?" The Simple Schoolgirl eventually said: "Okay." Ely Rose Apple with Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar all smiled and patted Elsa at her back.

All seem well when suddenly the bell rang. This means that the students must come back to their classroom. All student except Elsa. Elsa must still stay in the Canteen. Her punishment ends at dismissal. Before Ely Rose Apple, Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar left, The Brattsih Bully handed Elsa 3 Five Hundred Peso bill. Ely Rose Apple then said: "Elsa my dear friend, that money will cover everything that we have eaten today. There might be some extra. Keep it for yourself. I wish to see you later this afternoon in the playground, okay?" Elsa smiled and said: "Thank you very much."

After Ely Rose Apple, Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar left, Elsa was still speechless. Elsa could not believe what just happened. Elsa was very happy that finally she is friends with Ely Rose Apple, Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar. Elsa was very excited to meet her new friends in the playground. Elsa was already looking forward for dismissal time when suddenly she thought she heard the Breathless Bestfriend whispering to her. She thought she heard Ivy Violinda Ubesa telling her to: "Look at the money." At first, Elsa ignored the voice. But when the voice became persistent, she scrutinized the money on her hands and was very shocked to see Kris Aquino on the 500 peso bill instead of Ninoy Aquino!

Things happened very fast afterward! Elsa was scolded by the Canteen Manager! The Groveling Guard came and said: "Violation number 6: Estafa"! Then Elsa was slapped 57 times on the face by the Canteen Cashier! Then Elsa was pushed hard on the wall. Then Elsa was beaten. Then Elsa was kicked. Then Elsa was told that she is ugly, stupid, and poor while unwashed plates, spoons, forks, water glasses and pitchers were hurled at her! Just then Glenda or Marissa Soccorro G. Hampto the Pinheaded Principal appeared, approached Elsa and said: "Definitely! Hey you! The only one of you! I want to see your parents tomorrow! Right Now!"

"Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story" - Max Ehrman

The Contemptible Classmates

2010-05-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Similar to the episode that preceded this is one, I have to tell you that I shall not be narrating a story in this chapter! Just like the story part prior to this, I actually wrote this section to introduce additional characters to Elsa's grievously sad story. In this episode, instead of narrating events in Elsa's miserable life, I shall actually be devoting my time telling you exact details of who the Contemptible Classmates are. Now, I have to tell you that I find it extremely necessary to comprehensively introduce these new characters - who I actually first mentioned in the 3rd sentence of the 9th paragraph in the episode entitled: The Brattish Bully - so that you, my dear readers, would understand Elsa a lot better!

If you are a Grown-Up who thinks that the last sentence of the first paragraph appears really vague and really senseless, let me explain further that what I actually meant with that! To simply put it: the life of the characters that I shall be introducing in this episode would greatly affect the life of Elsa The Simple Schoolgirl.

Allow me now - before I continue on telling you who the Contemptible Classmates are - to fist define what the word: " Contemptible " means. Contemptible is an adjective which means: deserving of contempt or scorn. Synonyms of the word contemptible may include: abhorrent, abominable, bad, currish, despicable, hateful, ignominious, mean, shameful, and vile! Antonyms to the word contemptible are: admirable, good, and loved! A sample sentence would be: " Elsa, while studying in St. John's Academy, was bullied by Ely Rose Apple with the help of The Contemptible Classmates! "

The first Contemptible Classmate is: Nerissa Janina Alquala. She is the girl with spiky hair and who loves wearing hairpins with skull design. Nerissa Janina is not as well-off as her other friends but she knows how to mingle with the rich kids in school. Nerissa Janina will do anything to be accepted by the privileged elite. Her favorite color is Black. Her favorite music is Rock. Her favorite number is 666. Her favorite food is Kaning Tutong. Nerissa Janina hates people who are poor. She hates poor people because it reminds her of what she is.

The second Contemptible Classmate is: Fritz Noel Del Monte. He is a rich, tall and good looking boy who was born and raised in Australia. Fritz Noel is so charming that he always gets what he wants. Fritz Noel knows that he is good looking and he always makes sure that he uses his good looks to his utmost advantage. His favorite color is Blue. His favorite music is Hip Hop. His favorite number is 8. His favorite food is Chicken Lollipop. Fritz Noel hates people who doesn't find him handsome and who can not give him what he wants. He hates people who doesn't find him handsome and who can not give him what he wants because he believes that his good looks is enough to get him everything in this world.

The third Contemptible Classmate is: Lia Reynalyn Cave. She is the girl who loves collecting expensive things with heart shape design. She was born on Valentines Day. She loves being loved. She loves buying flowers and chocolates. Lia Reynalyn is wealthy, and snobbish. Her favorite color is Pink. Her favorite music is Country. Her favorite number is 987,654,321. Her favorite food is Tapsilog. Lia Reynalyn hates people who could not buy flowers and chocolates. She hates people who could not afford to buy flowers and chocolates because she thinks that people like those are undeserving of love.

The fourth Contemptible Classmate is: Josie Jean Reynes. She is the chubby girl who loves wearing ribbons on her hair. Josie Jean is opulent. She always have delicious foods in her lunch box! She loves sharing her delicious foods with her friends! She loves the words: What, Who, Where, When, Why, How and Huh? Her favorite color is Transparent. Her favorite music is Lullaby. Her favorite number is 0. Her favorite food is Bubble Gum. Josie Jean hates people who does not have delicious foods. She hates people who does not have delicious foods because her parents told her to do so.

The fifth Contemptible Classmate is: Anthony Bob Arcallona. He is the short sized stout guy who is sickly but is worth a million. Anthony Bob has nice, imported, and expensive toys! He always brings his nice, imported, and expensive toys to school. He uses his toys to get people to like him. If people doesn't do what he wants them to do, he hurls his expensive toys to them. His favorite color is Roygbiv. His favorite music is Rhythm and Blues. His favorite number is 69. His favorite food is Ginataang Kuhol. Anthony Bob hates people who does not have nice, imported, and expensive toys. He hates people who does not have nice, imported, and expensive toys because he believes that the number one requirement of friendship should start with having expensive toys.

The sixth Contemptible Classmate is: Adelaida Floricar Robles. She is not very moneyed but she is the Class Valedictorian! She is very intelligent! She always gets perfect score during exams! She is the champion in the Declamation Contest, Oratorical Contest, Math and Science Quiz Bee, and Spelling Competition! Adelaida Floricar believes that she is a Queen that is why she always wear a crown! Her favorite color is Royal Blue. Her favorite music is Gospel. Her favorite number is 1. And her favorite food is Food for the Gods. Adelaida Floricar hates people who are more intelligent than her. She hates people who are more intelligent than her because she believes that she is a Queen.

The Contemptible Classmates are the minions of Ely Rose Apple The Brattish Bully. Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar are always with Ely Rose Apple. They were with Ely Rose Apple during the Notebook Sticker incident! They were with Ely Rose Apple during the Flagpole incident! They were with Ely Rose Apple during the Hide and Seek incident! They were with Ely Rose Apple during the Homework incident! They were with Ely Rose Apple during the Leakage incident! And they - the Contemptible Classmates- were with Ely Rose Apple - the Brattish Bully - during the Canteen incident! The Canteen incident which I mentioned in the last sentence of the episode entitled: The Brattish Bully. The Canteen incident which I have not narrated in full details yet. The Canteen incident which I promise to narrate on the next episode.

Now, if you are a Grown-Up who can not understand and finds it silly that I refuse to narrate in this episode the Canteen incident, I wish to explain that: I cannot tell you of the Canteen incident yet because this episode was written to introduce the new characters who I actually first mentioned in the 3rd sentence of the 9th paragraph in the episode entitled: The Brattish Bully! Allow me to also remind you that I wrote this episode with the primary intention of making you - my dear readers - understand Elsa a lot better! You have to understand that in understanding Elsa a lot better, you must also get acquainted with: Nerissa Janina, Fritz Noel, Lia Reynalyn, Josie Jean, Anthony Bob, and Adelaida Floricar - the Contemptible Classmates!

"Throughout life people will make you sad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, because hate in your heart will consume you too" - Will Smith

The Breathless Bestfriend

2010-05-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

Watching horror movies in a third class movie house, walking along bare foot in a stony beach, strolling in a flowerless park, playing with faceless paper dolls, eating meatless meat lover's pizza, learning how to play an old bamboo flute, climbing an ant infested mango tree, flying a kite made of sticks and Japanese paper, and staring at the stars on a breeze less summer night would be a lot more enjoyable when done with a friend or to be more specific about it - a bestfriend! I'm sure a great number of people will agree with me if I say that things are absolutely better when done with a bestfriend!

Elsa Ragoza, the Simple Schoolgirl - despite being bald and seemingly different from other schoolgirls her age - also has a bestfriend! Or should I say - HAD a bestfriend! Now you must remember that HAS and HAD are two different words! While both words are verbs and may infact be used with a singular noun, it still plays a great role in making a point clear! HAS is used to indicate an action or state of being in the present tense, while HAD is used in the opposite- The PAST tense! In other words - Elsa used to have a bestfriend!

Before I go on further explaining why Elsa now only USED to have a Bestfriend, it would be a matter of great importance - specially to the Grown-Ups - that I define this episode's title: The Breathless Bestfriend! As perhaps already known to many, Bestfriend is a compound noun which is normally spelled separately! Bestfriend is made up of two words - Best and Friend. Best is a word which means: " In the highest degree or beyond all others. " While Friend means: " A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts. " In other words, A Bestfriend is: " A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts in the highest degree or beyond all others! " Now the word: Breathless may also be broken down into two separate words. Breath and Less. Breath is actually a noun which means: " The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration. " While Less is a suffix which is used to form adjectives meaning: without (the thing mentioned). In other words, Breathless means: DEAD! Elsa Ragoza's bestfriend is already DEAD!

Now please pardon me if I had to say that there is really nothing much to tell about Elsa's bestfriend. As a matter of fact, her being DEAD means that she will not be playing a very major role in my actual narration of Elsa's grievously sad story! So if you expect to read an episode - after this one - where the Breathless Bestfriend would suddenly defend Elsa from those who inflicts her pain, then that - definitely - won't happen. This is no longer possible for the simple reason that: the Breathless Bestfriend, as I have already mentioned, is DEAD!

Here and now I must say that it is also very important that I tell you that the Breathless Bestfriend, despite being DEAD - and just like all other Bestfriends whether living or dead - has a name. It should also follow that I tell you the name of the Breathless Bestfriend. Being DEAD does not strip one of the right to be known or to be introduced. Being DEAD does not erase the good - or even the bad - things that one has done in the past. Anyway, the name of the Breathless Bestfriend of the Simple Schoolgirl is: Ivy Violinda Ubesa.

Ivy Violinda Ubesa was actually Elsa's Bestfriend when both girls were just at an age when one - aside from enjoying the activities that I mentioned at the beginning of this episode - still believes that they could become Princesses with an elegant violet colored gown and a sparkling diamond studded tiara! The Breathless Bestfriend unfortunately did not live long enough to learn that not all girls grow up to become a Princess! Ivy Violinda Ubesa died at a very young age!

Ivy Violinda Ubesa - if mentioning it would make any sense at all - was the second person next to Icasiano Antonio who truly, genuinely, and honestly loved Elsa. Ivy Violinda Ubesa being DEAD is enough proof that she truly did loved Elsa. And to further prove my claim I also must tell you that when Ivy Violinda Ubesa was still alive, she took it to herself to serve as Elsa's defender. Ivy Violinda Ubesa made sure that she defends Elsa from other mean girls. Ivy Violeta Ubesa also made sure that Elsa was always happy. Ivy Violinda Ubesa always tries to cheer up Elsa specially when she sees Elsa looking sad. Ivy Violinda Ubesa's presence made Elsa Ragoza The Simple Schoolgirl not very different from other young girls! And so, despite being physically, psychologically, and mentally maltreated by her own mother - on a daily basis - Elsa still had reasons to be happy because she had her bestfriend to cheer her up. And despite being bullied by other girls - on a regular basis - Elsa still had reasons to be strong because she had her bestfriend to defend her!

Now I have to tell you that the Breathless Bestfriend was not any richer than Elsa, infact she herself had a very sorry life. Ivy Violinda Ubesa had to vend pandesal just like Elsa. Ivy Violinda Ubesa had to harvest Indian Mangoes from an ant infested mango tree as a part time job! Ivy Violinda Ubesa was infact - also a subject of ridicule by other girls because she does not have any nice clothes to wear. Ivy Violinda Ubesa is Elsa's neighbor in Baseco Compound. She lives in a shanty made of scrap woods and galvanized iron with her mother and 10 other siblings. Food was not enough for all of them. Her father left them for another woman. And she has dark skin and she is devoted to the color Violet! But despite all her miseries, Ivy Violinda Ubesa still manages to smile everyday and see the beauty behind all the misery. Ivy Violinda Ubesa always seem to have every reasons to be happy. Ivy Violeta Ubesa is a very positive person! This attitude is what actually drew Elsa to her. And it is the very same attitude that Elsa herself grew to learn. Now I have to reveal that it is actually Ivy Violinda Ubesa who inspired Elsa how to be Optimistic!

There is another thing that I need to tell you about Ivy Violinda Ubesa apart from her being DEAD and apart from her being the Breathless Bestfriend who defended Elsa from bullies, who cheers up Elsa, and who inspired Elsa how to be optimistic. I must make sure I don't miss out telling you this very important detail as this may allow you to understand Elsa better as you continue on reading about Elsa's string of agonies!

At this point I wish to tell you that Ivy Violinda Ubesa would appear before Elsa everytime the Simple Schoolgirl is in trouble, is sad, or is hurt. Ivy Violinda Ubesa appears before Elsa as a spirit and tells her that things will be fine. Nobody except Elsa would see and hear Ivy Violinda of course. Ivy Violinda Ubesa appeared to Elsa when the Terrible teacher was punishing her! Ivy Violinda Ubesa appeared to Elsa when the Beastly Boss was making her life miserable! Ivy Violinda Ubesa appeared to Elsa everytime Fanchita Isidra makes her do impossible things like singing backwards! Ivy Violinda Ubesa appeared to Elsa while she was walking around the campus while holding the placard saying: " I am a cheater! Do not imitate me! " Ivy Violinda Ubesa appeared to Elsa while the Simple Schoolgirl was doing her task as a Canteen Assistant.

Ivy Violinda Ubesa appears to Elsa to tell her and assure her that things will be fine! Sometimes, Ivy Violinda Ubesa visits Elsa in her dreams or while Elsa is resting. Ivy Violinda Ubesa, even in afterlife has remained a real friend to Elsa. A friend who tells another friend that things will be fine. A friend who would defend another friend in trouble. A friend who supports another friend in all her undertakings. A friend who makes sure that her friend has a friend when the friend needs a friend.

In the first sentence of the 4th paragraph of this episode, I wrote that there is really nothing much to tell about Ivy Violinda Ubesa, The Breathless Bestfriend of The Simple Schoolgirl. But I guess - after saying what I said above - I managed to somehow introduce her to you anyway. It is important that you know who Ivy Violinda Ubesa is! Even is she would not be playing a very big role in my actual narration of Elsa's story! Knowing who the Breathless Bestriend is, would allow you to understand Elsa better. I have to say that, this episode did not actually narrate a story! The truth of the matter is: I added this episode with the primary purpose of making you understand Elsa a lot more.

By the way, Ivy Violinda Ubesa The Breathless Bestfriend - mysterious, impossible, and intriguing as it may seem- died of an ant bite!

"A Bestfriend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out." - Grace Pulpit

The Brattish Bully

2010-05-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

Name is a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known. Adnos Uyañe Plein is a group of, seemingly nonsensical and unrelated words that was designated to me, by two Grown-Ups otherwise known as my parents, when I was born. Adnos Uyañe Plein then - having no other choice - is my name!

Now in all honesty, I have always been fascinated with Names - People's Name specifically! People's Name and it's etymology constantly occupy my mind. People's Name is also a topic that I would often research about! It is in one of those researches that I found out that the name: Daniel ranked 12th in the 25 Most Popular American Male Names. James, John, Robert, Michael, and William being the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth consecutively! Daniel also means: "The LORD is my Judge". I love the name: Daniel! I wish that it was my name.

More about names, I once was acquainted with a person named: Happy. Now " Happy " is actually an adjective meaning: " Cheerful! " Happy, just like other cheerful adjectives, may be used as People's Name then! Anyway, going back to Happy - the person and not the adjective - In my opinion, his name suits him well as - true to his name - he is indeed a jolly person. I have heard of someone said that your name - the one that you have no choice of having since its your parents or the Grown-Ups choosing it for you - represents the kind of person that you will be!

Several years back, I was fortunate to have been in acquaintance with someone with the First name: Brillan, and with the Last name: Te. When combined together his name would read as: Brillan Te. Such a sparkling name isn't it? Then I have met people with a combination of 2 or more names! Arvey Lester is somebody that I met back in the 1st Grade! Jeffrey Jose is somebody that I used to play Chess with! Juan Karlo was once a friend. Christopher Caezar is a friend who does not know how to say NO to his friends! And Albert Jason is someone whom I used to share my secrets with! Anna Karen Nina, Mary Pauleen Joy, Carl James Nicholas, and Miguel Sebastian Rodrigo are examples of 3 names within 1 name!

Then of course I have met people with uncommon but very interesting names! To name a few: Cleofela Septem, and Xzyql Dominique. Now, I have to admit that my name fall in this category! Anyway - Rouen France, Manila, Paris Grace, Jay Rome and Kenya are friends who were named after the place where they were born! Joselito Gregorio was named after his Grandparents from his Mother and Father's side. And I have even heard of a child being named after a storm, a political figure in history and even after a softdrink brand! Flowers are very common name for girls! There is: Rose, Lily, Dahlia, Jasmine, Daisy and even Geranium! If the Grown-Ups would want it, they could even use Rafflesia! Then there are those named after a specific type of bird: Wren, Raven and even Eagle! Gem stones may also be used as names! Pearl, Ruby, Garnet, Beryl, and even Amethyst! Violet - which is a color produced when you mix Red and Blue - is also used as a girl's name! Brown, White, and Black are often used as Last Names!

Occasions may also be used as person's name! Valentine, Christmas, Winter and Summer are common "Event Names". Foods - including fruits and anything that is sweet tasting - could also be a good source of names! I'm sure you have already heard of someone named: Strawberry, Cherry, Almond, Hazel, Sugar, Candy, Cookie, and Muffin! I even know of one girl named Russel Cake! Now I wonder, has someone - in any part of this world - ever been named: Lasagna or Vinegar or Broccoli or Anchovies or Pepperoni Pizza or Buttered Croissant or California Maki?

There are various ways on how a person could be named! The possibilities are endless! If I had the choice, aside from Daniel, I would absolutely have wanted to be named with any of the following: Will, Jill, Hester, Chester, Peter, Polly, Tim, Tom, Mary, Larry or even Little Clarinda! I wont even mind being named after Santa Claus' Reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen or even Rudolph! But never in my wildest dream did I ever thought of bearing the name: Ely Rose Apple! Why? Read along!

Ely Rose Apple is the name of the Elsa's classmate who was wearing red headband and whom Elsa - on her first day in school at St. John's Academy - approached to ask where she could take a seat. Now to be frank about it, Ely Rose Apple is such a sweet name for a sour faced, pungent breath and bitter mannered little girl!

Ely Rose Apple is a rich kid. She always has nice clothes to wear! She always has the most expensive bags! Aside from being rich, Ely Rose Apple is also the most popular girl in St. John's Academy! That is why she is always surrounded with "friends"! Her minions which is composed of 4 girls and 2 boys always follow her wherever she goes. Her minions consider her a boss! They always do what she tells them to do!

Ely Rose Apple is an attractive girl! She has an angelic face! As a matter of fact, because of her good looks, she is consistently being voted as class muse! It is also because of her cherubic looks that many boys in school get attracted to her! But behind her heavenly image however hides a monster! Now, allow me to say that: it is with her looks that a lot of people, specially the Grown-Ups, would not believe that she is capable of doing evil things!

Ely Rose Apple is an only child! And as an only child, she gets every single thing that she lays fancy on! Her father always buys her what she wants! Her father always brings her wherever she wants to go! Her father always allow her to do what she feels like doing! Her father doesn't scold her! Her father doesn't tell her what is right and what is wrong!

Ely Rose Apple's father however, is really not a bad person. He is just very busy! He is busy helping other people. He is busy helping anybody who seeks help from him. He is busy donating to charitable institutions, giving alms to the mendicants, helping elderly people cross the street, planting trees to help save the environment, volunteering to clean clogged esteros, and regularly feeding street children!

Ely Rose Apple's father, aside from being busy helping other people is also very busy running their business! Ely Rose Apple's father run a food business! A food business in front of the school. The school which is named: St. John's Academy! Ely Rose Apple's father owns the only gotohan in 10th Avenue Cubao Quezon City! Her father is a very helpful man and a very busy businessman whose name is: Mr. Joselito Montealegre! He is also known as Mang Joey!

Ely Rose Apple's name - in case you have not noticed - has been repeated 12 times already up to this point and if I mention the name again at least once before the end of this paragraph that will all total up in: 13! Now you have to understand why I am doing this! You have to understand really well the reason why! However, if you have no time to understand the reason why I keep repeating the name of the girl whose name I don't wish to bear, and if you feel that it is better to find out how much it would cost to have Cable TV installed into your home than to understand my reason, then by all means, I will explain why I keep repeating the name: Ely Rose Apple!

Now, the reason why I keep repeating the name of Elsa's classmate who was wearing red headband and whom Elsa - on her first day in school at St. John's Academy - approached to ask where she could take a seat is because: this episode - after all - is not about Names but is about The Brattish Bully who has an angelic face, who is very popular, who gets whatever she wants, who can go wherever she wants to go, and whose name is Ely Rose Apple!

Just how brattish Ely Rose Apple is will be the next thing that I shall telling you! Allow me to start with the " Notebook Sticker incident! "

Now, Ely Rose Apple - on Elsa's second week in school - accused the Simple School girl of stealing her expensive Hello Kitty notebook sticker with which Elsa was severely punished! Now what actually happen was: Ely Rose Apple approached Elsa on her seat while the teacher was busy giving her lesson in Addition and Subtraction. Ely Rose Apple pretended to ask Elsa that she wants to borrow a red kilometrico ballpen. When Elsa was on the act of getting the said pen from her bag, Ely Rose Apple then secretly pasted the Hello Kitty notebook sticker on Elsa's Math notebook. When Elsa was about to hand Ely Rose Apple the red Kilometrico ballpen, the Brattish Bully started to scream and shouted on top of her lungs saying: "Teacher! Elsa stole my expensive Hello Kitty sticker! Look! Its pasted on her cheap spiral Math notebook! Its pasted on the upper right hand corner of her locally made notebook! Its pasted about about half an inch from the edge! I am so lonely! Teacher! Punish Elsa! If you don't punish her I will tell my father not to give you an expensive gift on Christmas!" Upon hearing Ely Rose Apple, the Terrible Teacher grabbed Elsa on her hand and dragged the Simple Schoolgirl at the corner of the room then she made Elsa hunker down the whole day! The Terrible Teacher did not investigate! The Terrible Teacher did not ask! The Terrible Teacher instantaneously took the side of the Brattish Bully and unfairly punished the Simple Schoolgirl who never complained!

After classes, Ely Rose Apple - surrounded by her minions - approached Elsa and threatened the Simple Schoolgirl saying: "Hey you! Don't you ever try telling my Daddy what happen in Math Class today! If you do, I will tell him to fire you off our Gotohan! Do you understand?"

The Simple Schoolgirl understood very well what the Brattish Bully said. Elsa did not say a word of protest! Elsa knows what the Brattish Bully was capable of doing! Elsa just thought that the reason why Ely Rose Apple accused her of stealing the expensive Hello Kitty Notebook sticker was for her to learn how to save money so that she could also buy expensive stickers in the future!

After the Notebook Sticker incident, The Brattish Bully once again thought of a way on how to make fun of Elsa. This would be the " Flagpole incident! "

What happen was: A month after the Simple Schoolgirl attended school at St. John's Academy, and a few minutes before the students gather in the quadrangle for the Flag Ceremony on a Monday Morning, Ely Rose Apple - together with her minions - approached Elsa and told her: " Hey you! Today I will accuse you again of stealing! This time I will tell our Teacher that you stole my expensive Hello Kitty key chain! And if you complain, I will tell my Daddy to fire you off the Gotohan! But, if you do what I tell you to do, I will not do what I plan to do! Okay? "

Elsa did not utter a single word. The Simple Schoolgirl simply nodded. The Brattish Bully then said: " Now, I want you to climb to the top of the Flagpole in the quadrangle! Stay there until a Maya Bird with tangerine wings perch at the tip of the flagpole! Go! " Upon hearing Ely Rose Apple's command, Elsa immediately run and sprinted towards the flagpole in the quadrangle! Upon reaching the flagpole, Elsa hurriedly climbed the top of it. It has only been seconds that Elsa was on top of the flagpole when the school bell rung to signal that the students must already gather at the quadrangle for the Flag Ceremony! It was too late for Elsa to get down! The students all gathered up in the quadrangle and the Flag ceremony started. Then before the flag was completely hoisted up, the students started laughing upon seeing Elsa on top of the flagpole! The flag ceremony was put to a halt and the Terrible Teacher - using a megaphone - ordered Elsa to go down! Elsa immediately slid down and was very humiliated! Then the Terrible Teacher grabbed Elsa by the hand and dragged her going to the Principal's office! Elsa was made to clean the whole campus that day as punishment!

Elsa did not complain! Elsa just thought that the reason why Ely Rose Apple made her climb the flagpole to wait for a Maya Bird with tangerine colored wings was for her to be Physically Fit and to be an Animal Lover! She also thought that the reason why she was made to clean the whole campus was for her to learn how to love Mother Earth!

Two weeks after the " Flagpole incident ", Ely Rose Apple - together with her minions - decided to make more fun out of Elsa! Allow me now to tell you about the " Hide and Seek incident! "

It was during Physical Education Class when the Brattish Bully - together with her minions - approached Elsa and told her: " Hey you! We are going to play Hide and Seek! I am thinking of allowing you to join us! But, you have to be the "it"! If you do not agree, I will tell my Daddy to fire you off the Gotohan and I will tell our P.E. teacher to give you a failing grade! " Elsa, upon hearing what Ely Rose Apple said, simply nodded her head!

Ely Rose Apple then told Elsa to go to the Amugis tree near the School Canteen where she must count 1 to 9,274,677,889 with 5 seconds interval each count before she begins seeking! Elsa agreed! Elsa did not complain! The Simple Schoolgirl just thought that the reason why Ely Rose Apple wants her to count that much and with 5 seconds interval is for her to learn how to count well!

Elsa was almost done counting until 9,274,677,889 and was ready to seek when suddenly she sensed a bright light flashing on her face! She opened her eyes and realized that it was dark already! Elsa's eyes was momentarily blinded by the bright light. She tried squinting her eyes to adjust with the bright light ahead and the darkness around her. Then she started seeing a figure of a man holding a flashlight! Then, the man spoke: " Violation number 5: Over Staying! "

The Grovelling Guard grabbed Elsa's hands and dragged her to the Guard House! And while dragging Elsa, Omario Bulatao was saying: " It's 9:36 PM already! All the students left at 4:01 PM! What are you doing inside the campus at this time? I will charge you with Over Staying! and that is your 5th violation already! "

Upon reaching the Guard House, Omario Bulatao then told Elsa, with a soft voice that he will not report the incident anymore to the Principal if she promise to bring 2 orders of Hot Goto with tuwalaya the next day! the Grovelling Guard also told Elsa that she must also bring 5 Okoys, Maanghang na Sawsawan, and 1.5 litres of A and W Rootbeer! Elsa nodded her head. Elsa did not complain. She promised the Groveling Guard to give what he asks to be given. Elsa then thought that the reason why Omario Bulatao asked her to bring him food was for her to learn how to be generous!

The day after the " Hide and Seek incident ", Ely Rose Apple, upon noticing that Elsa was not punished for staying until past 9:00 PM in school, became very furious and she called her minions! Ely Rose Apple told her minions about her next plan! This time, the Brattish Bully thought of a way on how to make Elsa fail in class! I now have to tell you about the double evil deed of Ely Rose Apple! The " Homework incident " and the " Leakage incident "! Allow me to start with the former!

The Terrible Teacher gave the class a homework that will require research work in the library! Elsa did her homework and was infact the only one in the class to do so. The whole class - with the exemption of Elsa - purposely did not do the homework because Ely Rose Apple told them to do so! Ely Rose Apple did this so that she could perform her evil deed! On the day of submission of the homework, Ely Rose Apple approached Elsa and asked if she could copy her homework, Elsa graciously allowed Ely Rose Apple. The Brattish Bully then announced to the whole class that it is only Elsa who has an assignment! All the students approached Elsa and asked the Simple Schoolgirl if they too could copy the assignment. Elsa agreed. Elsa was happy that she was able to help her classmates!

Finally, the Terrible Teacher arrived and asked for all homework to be submitted. Elsa submitted her notebook. The Simple Schoolgirl was feeling very confident that finally her teacher might appreciate her because she has done her homework well. But, instead of saying that she did a good job, the Terrible Teacher shouted at her instead and threw her notebook hitting her face!

Apparently, when the Terrible Teacher was already inspecting Elsa's notebook, the teacher saw a blank page! There was nothing on Elsa's notebook! Elsa was again punished! She was made to clean the room! Elsa did not complain! Elsa did not say a word! She just thought that the reason why she lost her assignment was for her to learn to make an extra copy next time!

Elsa was almost finished cleaning the room when all of a sudden, a paper plane landed on her feet. She noticed something familiar with the paper plane so she picked it up. She inspected the paper plane and noticed a familiar handwriting! She unfolded the paper plane and saw that it was her homework. When she looked around to locate where the paper plane came from, she noticed Ely Rose Apple and her minions giggling mischievously!

The " Leakage incident " happen the very next day after the " Homework incident "! It was examination day! Elsa was accused of being in possession of a leakage! Naturally it was Ely Rose Apple who accused Elsa of having a leakage! The Terrible Teacher did not investigate! The Terrible Teacher did not ask! She just took the Brattish Bully's word for it and quickly grabbed Elsa by the hand and dragged her to the Principal's office!

The Principal was about to punish Elsa when she thought of asking the Terrible Teacher for the "evidence". When the Terrible Teacher was about to hand the Principal the "evidence", she realized that the said "leakage" was just a copy of a song lyrics! The Terrible Teacher, realizing her mistake and not wanting to lose face just said: "Ma'am, this poor moneyless girl has found a way to make the leakage disappear from my hands! But, I am very sure that she was in possession of a leakage during my exam! Punish her! "

The Principal then said: "Definitely! You poor moneyless bald girl is very bad! I will punish you!" That day, Elsa was disallowed to take other exams and was made to walk around the campus while holding a placard saying: " I am a cheater! Do not imitate me! ". Elsa did not complain! Elsa did not feel bad. She just thought that the reason why she was accused of having a leakage was for her to learn not to bring song lyrics during exams!

For being wrongly accused of possessing a leakage during exams, aside from being disallowed to take the exams and being asked to walk around the campus while holding a placard saying: " I am a Cheater! Do not imitate me! ", Elsa was also ordered to be a Canteen Assistant for the whole week! She was made to wash dishes, fetch water, chop woods, clean the dining area, and serve foods to students during lunch!

"Some children are spoiled and it is not their fault, it is their parents." - Roald Dahl

The Groveling Guard

2010-05-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

The episode that you are reading right now, assuming that you are indeed reading it and that you have an eye - regardless if it is one or two - to serve that purpose, is where Elsa would finally realize that what I wrote in the second sentence of the last paragraph of the ninth episode of this tragic tale - which to be exact is the very same episode prior to this one - is true!

In the event that you have not read that episode and you have any, if not all, of the following reasons: "I simply have no time to scroll down to read it" ; "I totally am not interested to know what was written in the second sentence of the last paragraph of the ninth episode of this tragic tale" ; "I strongly prefer not to know what it was that was written "; and " I love the aroma of brewed coffee", then allow me to retype and enclose in a quotation mark what I said there!

"But, just like what is believed by many, the sad truth is: some good things surely doesn't last."

Honestly, I would want to assume that it wont take for one to be university learned to understand what I mean! The message is very obvious and very clear! The sentence is so worded to make anybody who reads it understand straight away that there are things in life that seem to be so good that we tend to think, or even wish earnestly, that it would stay and last long! But the sad truth is - anything that is positively overwhelming will surely - and must - come to an end! Just like how an ice cream - no matter what flavor it is - would melt under the heat of the sun, how a rose - whether its red or white or pink - withers after several weeks, how the sun - whether you are in the north or south hemisphere - sets at the end of the day, and how today's happy moments would become tomorrow's history!

Now, to cut the chase - for I truly am not the type who usually beats around the bush - allow me to say that: Elsa's streak of luck ended when her acquaintance with the School Guard started!

And so in this episode, I shall start my actual narration of what seem to be Elsa's never ending agony on the very day that Elsa first step foot on St. John's Academy! The school which is right infront of Mang Joey's Gotohan! The school that is located along 10th Avenue Cubao Quezon City, Philippines! The school where Mang Joey enrolled Elsa. The school where Elsa, the simple schoolgirl, studied again after being unfairly accused of murdering a terrible teacher and a vile vendor which resulted to her being expelled from her former school which resulted to her working full time in the gotohan of the beastly boss which resulted to her being assigned all the job in the gotohan that resulted to her being overworked which resulted to the fire that caused her to lose her job which resulted to her fearing the reaction of her preposterous parents once they find out that she is jobless which resulted to her walking from her house in Baseco Compound to 10th Avenue Cubao Quezon City Philippines in search for a new job that in the end resulted to her meeting the misinformed master who offered her a job that resulted to her going back to school that unfortunately resulted to her getting acquainted with the groveling guard of the St. John's Academy! St. John's Academy by the way is the school which is right infront of Mang Joey's Gotohan! The school that is located along 10th Avenue Cubao Quezon City, Philippines!

It was a typical Monday morning when Elsa woke up with high hopes that the day would be just like the past 2 weeks! Elsa was very optomistic that just like the past 14 days, positive things would happen to her! Now allow me to also tell you that Elsa was very excited to head off to work because it was also the day when she was to go back to school! And so, after making sure that she has performed all her household tasks, Elsa quickly took a shower, prepared her things - that includes her new carnation pink and orange colored school bag with Garfield design, 7 pieces of 50 sheets spiral notebook, and blue and red kilometrico ballpen - and then headed to Mang Joey's gotohan!

Upon arriving at the gotohan, and - without even taking breakfast yet, Elsa right away performed her duties! Elsa cleaned the kitchen, swept the floor in the dining area, scrubbed the toilet floor, washed the dishes, repaired the broken picket fence, cooked goto, welcomed customers, served hot goto to customers, took payments, and tidied up the tables! Mang Joey was very happy to see Elsa working really hard even when not told!

At around 10:59 A.M., Mang Joey instructed Elsa to take a rest, eat her lunch and prepare for school. Elsa right away obliged because her classes starts at 12:00 noon! But before Elsa started preparing for her first day in school, she first made sure that she has done all her duties in the gotohan! After making sure that there was nothing else for Mang Joey to worry about while she is in school, Elsa quickly ate her lunch, freshened herself up, put on her new pink and white uniform, grabbed her new carnation pink and orange colored school bag with Garfield design that has 7 pieces of 50 sheets spiral notebook, and blue and red kilometrico ballpen, said goodbye to Mang Joey and headed to school!

When Elsa was finally infront of the school's yellow gate and was about to enter, the School Guard stopped her and demanded for an ID! It was at that point when Elsa realized that she has left her ID at home! Elsa tried to explain in a meek voice that she has left her ID in her house and that her house is in Baseco Compound and if she still go back to her house to pick it up she would be late on her first day in school! The School Guard listened to her explanation but still refused to let her enter the school! The School Guard even said: " Violation number 1! Illegal entry" When Elsa heared what the School Guard accused her of doing, she meekly informed the School Guard that she is new to the school and that she is working as the new All Around Helper in Mang Joey's Gotohan! It was at this point when the School Guard's heart finally seem to have softened for Elsa. He smiled and then said: "Is that so? You are the new All Around Helper at Mang Joey's gotohan? That is great! Now, I will allow you to enter the school premises but promise me that tomorrow, you will give me hot goto with tuwalya, okay?" Elsa thought for a while. When Elsa realized that she could actually give her share of the hot goto to the School Guard, she meekly said: "Yes!" After hearing Elsa's answer, the School Guard opened the yellow gate and allowed Elsa to enter the school!

When Elsa saw how big the school was, she was momentarily mesmerized! She walked along slowly and observed her surroundings! The school was very different from her previous school! St. John's Academy has a playground, a canteen, a drinking fountain, a stage, a clinic, and a library!

Elsa was so consumed at the view of the new school that she has totally forgotten about the time! It was only when she heard the school bell rang that she realized that she was to attend classes that day!

When Elsa realized her purpose for being inside the school, she quickly looked for her classroom! Elsa looked at her registration form and only then did she realized that her classroom was actually in the 3rd floor! Elsa walked fast and tried to reach the classroom on time! Unfortunately, when Elsa reached the door of her classroom, the door was already closed and surprisingly the School Guard - the very same one who was at the gate earlier - was already standing beside it! When the School Guard saw Elsa, the School Guard shouted saying: " Violation Number 2! Cutting classes! ". Elsa tried to meekly explain to the School Guard that she was not skipping her classes. Elsa tried to reason out that she was only late. Elsa then remembered the School Guard's earlier request, so Elsa said : "I am really very sorry for being late, I promise that it will never happen again. Don't worry, tomorrow I will come in early and bring you hot goto." Upon hearing this, the School Guard smiled and said: "Oh! Really? Cross your heart swear to die? Do you also promise to give me 1.5 litro of A and W Rootbeer?" Elsa thought for a while then upon realizing that she could not guarantee the 1.5 litro of A and W Rootbeer she said: "I promise to give you goto, but I cannot promise the 1.5 litro of A and W Rootbeer." Upon hearing what Elsa said, the School Guard frowned, pouted his lips and said: "What? You can not promise? Okay! Get inside now!" Then the School Guard opened the classroom door and pushed Elsa in!

When Elsa got inside the classroom, she was already 23 minutes late! Her classmates were already taking their quiz! The teacher had her back turned from the class and was writing something on the board! Elsa said good afternoon but no one paid any attention to her. Elsa stood motionless beside the door then once again said: "Good afternoon teacher." The teacher didn't turn her back and didn't seem to have heard her! Elsa, fearing that the teacher might get angry if she said something again, decided to approach one of her classmate who was wearing a red headband to ask where she could sit. Elsa was on the act of asking her classmate when the teacher finally finished writing in the board and faced the class! The teacher saw Elsa standing beside the student with red headband! The teacher, upon seeing Elsa, started to yell saying: "Cheater!" The students got startled and started to scream as well! Suddenly the door opened and the School Guard came in and held Elsa's hand and said: "Violation number 3! Cheating during exams!"

Upon the teacher's orders, the School Guard brought Elsa to the Principal's office! Elsa wasn't given a chance to explain! The teacher who is most concerned about the welfare and well being of all her students, who always makes sure that all the students under her care are properly guided, who likewise makes sure that she prepares her lessons well so that her students become well knowledgeable, who treats her students with utmost love, care and understanding, and who loves those students who shower her with costly gifts during Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Foundation day anniversary, Linggo ng Wika, Nutrition month, English and Book week, United Nations Day, Halloween, Birthday and even during Rizal day bombing anniversary and Eid ul fitr - is just like Elsa - fairly new to St. John's Academy! She moved to St. John's Academy after being forced to resign from her previous school after the school officials found out that she was asking gifts from her students and that she was just pretending to still being sick after being confined in the hospital for Leptospirosis! By the way, just to let you know, the teacher's name is Mrs. Clarita D. Castor!

Anyway, going back to the story, the School Guard dragged Elsa from the classroom to the Principal's Office. And while walking, the School Guard repeatedly ennumerated what according to him was Elsa's School Violations! Upon entering the Principal's Office, The School Guard gave out a big smile, flexed his muscles, winked his eyes, cleared his throat, stood beside the School Principal, and said: "Ma'am Yes Ma'am! You are the most intelligent Principal in the whole wide world! You are very just and fair! You are also very sexy and beautiful! I caught this bald girl today! And I find her guilty of the following offences: Violation number 1: Illegal entry! Violation number 2: Cutting classes! and Violation number 3: Cheating during exams! I know that you are wise enough to see that I am saying the truth! Punish her!" Elsa, though was shocked at what was happening to her on her first day in school still managed to meekly say: "I am very sorry Ma'am but I didn't do all those. Infact I explained why I didn't have my ID with me and I was allowed to enter after I promised to give him hot goto from the gotohan of my new Master whose name is Mang Joey." The School Guard after hearing what Elsa said was quick to say: "Ma'am! Yes Ma'am! You are smart and flawless! I am sure you will agree with me when I say that what the bald girl just did was: Violation number 4: Attempting to bribe an honest School Guard!"

The School Principal gave Elsa a mean look, pretended to write something down on her notepad, glanced and smiled at the School Guard, then said: "Definitely! You bald girl is very bad girl! Leave her with me now and Thank you very much Head Guard Omario Bulatao! You did a great job today!"

"The spirit that does not soar is destined to grovel." - Benjamin Disraeli

The Misinformed Master

2010-05-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

Subsequent to the conflagration at Estrella's gotohan, Elsa was left without any permanent employment. And I have to tell you that being jobless worried the Simple Schoolgirl a lot because, obviously without a job, she won't be able to hand over money to her stepfather every payday! And without money on his hands, Rodelio Jay would surely get infuriated! And once her stepfather is in a bad mood, her mother would surely follow suit! Elsa also knows that, once upset, her stepfather would surely hurt her! And again, once her stepfather begins to hurts her, her mother would definitely do the same thing! And Elsa doesn't want these things to happen. Not because she feels bad being physically or mentally hurt by Rodelio Jay and Fanchita Isidra, but because she does not want her stepfather and mother to get exhausted!

At this juncture, allow me to point out that Elsa could not count on her part time jobs as her source of regular income because Labor Day, Town Fiesta, Piyesta ng Nazareno, Easter Sunday, Christmas, and New Year comes only once every 365 1/4 days! The truth is, many times had Elsa wished that holidays came more often so that she could perform her part time job and hand over more money to her stepfather twice as many as a result! But, she knows that she could not make it Christmas or New Year or Labor day or Town Fiesta or Piyesta ng Nazareno or Easter Sunday twice in a singular year! Elsa knows very well that there are wishes that do come true, but most wishes usually ends up being just that - wishes!

Anyway, I also have to tell you that there are things which Elsa finds hard to share with her mother and stepfather. Elsa could not tell them about how she feels towards many things. Elsa could not tell Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay if she feels sick or lonely. Now the truth is, Elsa once tried telling Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay that she was not feeling well, but instead of attending to her, Fanchita Isidra even scolded her severely and even slapped her 7 times and told her that she was useless and it was better if she was dead! While Fanchita Isidra berates Elsa, Rodelio Jay was looking on and was grimacing!

And so, knowing how her mother and stepfather might react if they find out about the fire in the gotohan, Elsa decided not to tell Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay of the said incident. Elsa knows that Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay would get really mad once they found out about the fire that caused her to lose her permanent job! Actually, Elsa is very much aware that more than anything else, the real reason why her mother and stepfather would get mad is because she lost her permanent job thus losing her regular income in the process! So, Elsa was determined to keep the incident as a secret as long as she could! Elsa knows that the only way for Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay to not bother about the incident is when they are assured that she would still be able to give them money very payday!

And so, the day right after the fire, knowing that she has no place else to go for work, Elsa decided to look for a new job! Elsa was very determined to find a new employment! First, Elsa searched around Baseco compound area but there was no job vacancies there! Elsa also tried scouting around the Port area but there was no job vacancies there either! After failing to find a job near where she lives, Elsa began walking without stop. Elsa continued moving along on foot, passing through various streets from San Nicholas District to Binondo District to Quiapo District to San Miguel District to Sta Mesa District to San Juan City finally stopping for a glass of Sago't Gulaman in Pinatubo Street just beside Araneta - Cubao MRT Station in EDSA. After gulping down her glass of Sago't Gulaman that was worth 5 pesos, Elsa crossed the overpass going to Farmer's Market in Cubao. Cubao, by the way, is a 35-hectare commercial estate owned and developed by the Araneta Family in Quezon City, Philippines.

From Farmer's Market, Elsa hoofed it around Cubao area! When Elsa passed by and saw Araneta Coliseum, she was momentarily mesmerized at the sight of the enormous hippodrome and so she stood still and started imagining that she was inside the Big Dome watching Disney on ice! When Elsa passed by and saw SM Shoemart Cubao Branch, she stood motionless and started imagining that she was wearing the nice clothes worn by the mannequins in the showroom. When Elsa passed by and saw Ali Mall, she stood quietly and started imagining being inside the Shopping Mall that was named after the famous American Boxer, Muhammad Ali.

Now, allow me to also tell you that one of Elsa's dream is to get inside a Shopping Mall. For a very long time, Elsa has been dreaming of getting inside a Shopping Mall. Now that the opportunity was right infront of her, Elsa wanted to fulfill that dream. So, after some hesitations, Elsa attempted to get inside Ali Mall. To do this, she first waited for other people to pile up at the entrance, then when she finally saw that opportunity, she joined the horde of people, joined the queue and walked towards the Mall's entrance. Unfortunately, just as when Elsa was to first step foot on the Shopping Mall, the Mall's Security Guard stopped her at the entrance and refused her entry. Elsa was whisked aside by the Security Guard and was told that she could not come in. The Security Guard then explained to Elsa: "You cannot get inside this Mall because you look like a beggar asking for solicitation! Look at your clothes! Now go away! Don't you ever come back here again! "

When the Mall's Security Guard gave Elsa the thumbs down on her entry to the Mall, Elsa just turned her back and quietly went away. She forgave the Security Guard. She then made heself believe that the real reason why the Security Guard disapproved of her entry was for her to learn how to dress well next time she plans of going inside the Mall. Elsa then vowed that next time around, she would wear nice clothes and she would also wear her yellow worn out slippers with Betty Boop design that she wears only everytime she goes to school so that she wont look like a person asking for charity!

Anyway, from Ali Mall, Elsa crossed P. Tuazon Blvd and continued walking along until she finally saw a: "Wanted All Around Helper" sign infront of Joey's Gotohan in 10th Avenue! The sight of the "Wanted All Around Helper" sign infront of Joey's Gotohan was enough for Elsa to momentarily forget that earlier she was denied entrance to a shopping mall! When Elsa saw the: "Wanted All Around Helper" sign, she quickly grabbed the said sign and walked towards the gotohan.

Now, you have to be made aware that Joey's Gotohan, which is painted blue, which has picket fences infront, and which is decorated with artificial flowers, is actually just infront of a school named: St. John's Academy. The gotohan is, in case you failed to notice it, located along 10th Avenue in Cubao Quezon City Philippines! The gotohan is owned, managed, and manned by Mr. Joselito Montealegre! Mr. Montealegre or Joselito or Joey or Mang Joey is a very softhearted man. He helps anybody who seeks help from him. He donates to charitable institutions, gives alms to the mendicants, helps elderly people cross the street, plants trees to help save the environment, volunteers to clean clogged esteros, and regularly feeds street children! So, it was no longer a wonder why just after seeing Elsa, Mang Joey almost immediately wanted to hire the Simple Schoolgirl as his new All Around Helper!

At this point, let me say that: It was as if Mang Joey and Elsa already knew each other when they first laid eyes on each other! It was as if something mysterious actually connected them! It was as if Mang Joey could actually read Elsa's mind and vice versa! Elsa was holding the "Wanted All Around Helper" sign when she stood infront of Mang Joey to express her desire of getting hired! Elsa didn't say a word but Mang Joey feels that he knew what the Simple Schoolgirl wants! Mang Joey, seemingly sensing Elsa's agony and seeing Elsa looking so tired and hungry, offered the Simple Schoolgirl a bowl of hot goto with isaw and tuwalya first before he even began his interview. Elsa tried refusing the bowl of hot goto with isaw and tuwalya at first. But when Mang Joey insisted and said that it was free, Elsa almost immediately began eating her bowl of hot goto with isaw and tuwalya and it didn't take sometime before she could finished it!

When Mang Joey saw that Elsa was done eating, he gave Elsa a 12oz bottle of Coke for her drink. Then he offered the Simple Schoolgirl another bowl of hot goto with isaw and tuwalya. Elsa meekly accepted the drink but politely refused to take another serving of hot goto with isaw and tuwalya. Elsa then said thank you and gave Mang Joey a faint smile. Elsa's faint smile was enough for Mang Joey to understand that Elsa meant she was very grateful for his kindheartedness! After making sure that Elsa was no longer hungry, it was only then that Mang Joey started the job interview with Elsa. From the job interview that took around 16 minutes and 58 seconds, Mang Joey learned that Elsa actually walked from Baseco Compound going to Cubao in search for a new job. Mang Joey also gathered that Elsa once worked for another gotohan in Binondo. Mang Joey also found out that Elsa actually held many positions in the said gotohan. Mang Joey also discovered that Elsa was expelled from school because of an incident that was not purely her fault.

Unfortunately, Mang Joey failed to get a clear information about Elsa's parents because at the very same moment that Elsa was answering Mang Joey's question about "her parents", an Airplane flew above and the booming sound of the aircraft disallowed Mang Joey to hear that Elsa has what I wish to call "a natal mother who is four quarters short of a dollar, a substitute father who is five cans short of a six packs, and a biological father who is wandering the Elysian Fields"! Mang Joey also didn't hear it when Elsa mentioned that her mother's name is: Fanchita Isidra Ragoza y Cabogus, her stepfather's name is: Rodelio Jay Cabogus, and her Father's name is: Icasiano Antonio Ragoza. All that Mang Joey heard was the last word that Elsa uttered which was: "Dead". Mang Joey was the type of man who never asks the same question twice. So, when he heard the word "Dead", he just nodded his head, pretended to have understood what Elsa said, and straight away assumed that Elsa was an orphan and both her parents have already passed away.

From the information that Mang Joey "gathered" from his interview with Elsa, and being kindhearted as he truly is, he wholeheartedly offered Elsa the job in the gotohan! He also promised the Simple Schoolgirl a monthly salary which is thrice as big as what she previously earned. Mang Joey also promised Elsa a free monthly subscription to Funny Komiks and Tik Tik tabloid for her entertainment! Mang Joey also promised Elsa the following: 13th month pay, Health Insurance, SSS contribution, 15% Night Differential, Non taxable Transportation, Food, and Clothing Allowance, and free bowl of hot goto with isaw and tuwalya! Elsa was very happy with Mang Joey's offer! But what actually sealed the deal was when Mang Joey told Elsa that he will send her back to school!

Mang Joey told Elsa that if she accepts the job in the gotohan, she will be enrolled in St. John's Academy, the school which is right infront of the gotohan! Mang Joey told Elsa that she would be working at the gotohan in the morning then attend school in the afternoon! Upon hearing the very tempting offer, Elsa pondered for about 53 seconds first then she finally said yes! Mang Joey was very glad that Elsa accepted his offers! Elsa was very happy that Mang Joey gave her a very tempting offer! Elsa could not believe the luck that she got that day! Elsa realized that all her effort of walking from her house in Baseco Compound to Cubao was all worth it!

Mang Joey explained to Elsa further what he expects from her while working at the Gotohan. Mang Joey told Elsa that she must always come to work early and do her job well. Elsa finds the expectations reasonable. Mang Joey also explained to Elsa that the reason why he wants her to study again was because he wants her to have a better future. Elsa was gladdened because of this. So she didn't have second thoughts anymore when she signed the contract that Mang Joey presented to her. After the contract signing, Mang Joey gave Elsa money so that she wont walk from Cubao going home to Baseco Compound anymore! Elsa accepted the money, smiled meekly and said thank you.

Elsa went home very happy. Elsa went home with full of hope. Elsa went home with a smile on her lips. Elsa went home knowing that the next day will be a good day! Elsa went home feeling very positive! However despite feeling very positive about what unfolded that day, Elsa decided not to tell Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay about her new job. Elsa didn't tell Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay about her luck. She didn't tell her mother and stepfather because they wont care anyway. What matters to them is for her to hand them money every payday! And Elsa understands them for that.

Elsa woke up early the next day. After making sure that she has done all her household chores, she immediately headed to Mang Joey's Gotohan in 10th Avenue in Cubao! Elsa arrived at the Gotohan early which impressed Mang Joey! Elsa did the her obligations at the Gotohan without being instructed anymore! This impressesed Mang Joey yet another time! Elsa worked without stop, doing all the job from washing bowls, spoons, forks, water glasses and kaldero, to cooking the goto, to sweeping the floor, to wiping the tables, to collecting payments, to repairing the roof, to cleaning the tables, to welcoming customers with a warm greetings and a sweet smile! These impressed Mang Joey a lot!

And so, things went on well in Mang Joey's Gotohan in 10th Avenue Cubao Quezon City! Elsa performed her job well and Mang Joey fulfilled his promise! Mang Joey gave Elsa the benefits that he stated in the contract. Mang Joey also enrolled Elsa in St. John's Academy, the school which is right infront of the Gotohan! Elsa was to start school again in a week's time! Elsa was excited!

At this point, Elsa seems to have all the right reason to believe that she is indeed very lucky and that life has finally turned out good for her. But, just like what is believed by many, the sad truth is: some good things surely doesn't last. In this part of the story, Elsa is totally unaware of the impending doom that lies ahead of her. Elsa, if truth be told and as the title of this story obviously suggests, is in a matter of fact headed to more agonies! Only that, in this part of the story, Elsa just doesn't know it yet!

"The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy." - Florence Shinn

The Preposterous Parents

2010-05-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

Parents is a word, which here in this episode of Elsa's story would mean: Preposterous! It may also refer to such lexemes like: punishment; apathetic; defilement; and umbrella!

Elsa, if euphemism would make it any different, has what I wish to call "a natal mother who is four quarters short of a dollar, a substitute father who is five cans short of a six packs, and a biological father who is wandering the Elysian Fields"!

While most young girls of Elsa's age would be delighted on the thought of going home from school every afternoon knowing that a loving mother would be ready to meet her at the door with a warm hug, Elsa, just so that you are aware, does not!

If most young girls of Elsa's age would be confident on the thought that what ever happends, a supportive father will always be around to defend her from bullies in school, Elsa, to make my point clearer, does not!

The reason why Elsa does not look forward at meeting her mother at night after school is easy to understand! And it is easier to understand why Elsa does not consider her father supportive! At this point of the story, allow to me remind you about the name of Elsa's father. He is: Icasiano Antonio Ragoza. It is important that I mention that name again. It is important that I remind you of that name in case you have forgotten all about it. Some people, especially the grown-ups, have the proclivity to forget minute details like the names of people.

If you are a grown-up who has followed this story from the onset and has forgotten about Icasiano Antonio Ragoza, I honestly do understand and infact, you are forgiven! But if you are new here and is just starting with this episode, then you have three options: the first is to leave hastily and look for something else to read; second is to trace back four episodes back and start reading the episode entitled: The Simple Schoolgirl; and third is to forget about prerequisites, just read along, infer, and make a conclusion! A conclusion which, since it’s devoid of basis, may end up biased!

Anyway, for the third time in this episode, allow me say again that the name of Elsa's father is: Icasiano Antonio Ragoza! Icasiano Antonio Ragoza spent his childhood days in the largest province and the biggest rice producer of Central Luzon in the Philippines: Gapan in Nueva Ecija! When he reached the age of 22, he decided that he had enough of the provincial life! And so, he went to Manila to look for a job. Unfortunately, he wasn't very successful at finding an employment! Knowing nothing else and having no other skills but to sow and reap in the rice fields, he always ends up with small jobs with very meager pay! But, despite the elusive luck, Icasiano Antonio discovered that he attracted the attention of many women due to his nice looks! And, Icasiano Antonio Ragoza also soon found out that he could survive life in the city using only his good looks! He got romantically involved with several women who could afford to give him allowance every month. Icasiano Antonio Ragoza got things going until he met Maritess Dolores Pulmones, The Vile Vendor!

His liaison with The Vile Vendor paved the way for him to meet the woman who he really fell in love with and whom he eventually married, Fanchita Isidra! Unhappily, his love relationship with the woman who he really fell in love with was doomed because of a curse made by The Vile Vendor! A curse that states: "Death will be the reward for whoever gives true love to the first born child of Fanchita Isidra and Icasiano Antonio Ragoza!"

After spending sometime of his life as a gigolo, Icasiano Antonio eventually wedded Fanchita Isidra in a civil ceremony. They used the earnings from the Special Banana cue stall, which Icasiano Antonio took with him when he eloped with Fanchita Isidra, to start up their family. The two contentedly lived together and in no time, Fanchita Isidra got heavy with their first child.

When Fanchita Isidra concieved, it was then that Icasiano Antonio realized that he has to start working hard for his family. He realized that soon he will grow old and his good looks would no longer be much use to him. He realized that it was time for him to take his life seriously! And so, he decided to go to Hong Kong and worked as a Cutter in a Clothing Factory. Icasiano Antonio worked really hard! He sends home a big portion of his earning every month so that Fanchita Isidra could save a portion of it so that she'll have money to spend when she delivers her child and she spends a portion of it for household expenses and home improvement.

A couple of months past and Fanchita Isidra gave birth to Elsa. But Elsa's birth, which was supposed to be a very happy event, turned out to be the beginning of The Vile Vendor's curse. When Icasiano Antonio learned that Fanchita Isidra gave birth to a baby girl, He was very happy and was so full of pride that finally he is a father. Icasiano Antonio became more determined to work hard for his family. Icasiano Antonio felt so much love for Fanchita Isidra and his new born baby, which of course would be Elsa! And because of too much joy, Icasiano Antonio decided to celebrate the special day by inviting some of his Filipino friends in the factory for a night of drinking in a bar.

The celebration went on and then ended a minute past midnight. At the end of the drinking spree, Icasiano Antonio was already so drunk to even go home that he fell asleep on a bench in the park which is right infront of the bar. When he woke up that morning, he was no longer feeling well. He was nauseous. He was throwing up. He was feverish. At first, he thought that it was a simple flu that he caught as a result of sleeping in the park. But, he got worse as the day progressed. He still reported for work however! But toward the end of the day, he just went from worse to worst. In the afternoon, he collapsed while at work and so he was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was confined at the hospital for a week before he breathed his last. The official hospital report indicated that Icasiano Antonio's cause of death was: Meningococcemia!

When Fanchita Isidra learned of the news of Icasiano Antonio's death, she was devastated! When she learned about the cause of Icasiano Antonio's death, she was terrified! When she learned about the reason why Icasiano Antonio went drinking that day, the drinking that made him drunk, that made him fall asleep in the park, that made him sick, and that made him pass to life eternal, she was furious! Fanchita Isidra was very angry! And she blamed her new born child! She took it all against Elsa! From that day on, Fanchita Isidra never really cared about Elsa anymore!

Fanchita Isidra never breastfed Elsa! Fanchita Isidra never changed Elsa's diapers! Fanchita Isidra never sang a lulluby for Elsa. Fanchita Isidra never hugged Elsa! Fanchita Isidra never even considered Elsa as her daughter!

Elsa grew up uncared for by her own mother. Elsa never really knew what happened to her father. Fanchita Isidra never spoke about Icasiano Antonio to Elsa. And it was because of that missing piece in The Simple Schoolgirl’s life that made Elsa think that her father "was not supportive"!

Six weeks, six hours and six minutes after Icasiano Antonio's death, Fanchita Isidra met Rodelio Jay Cabogus. Fanchita Isidra was on her way to the Juetengan to place a bet that time when she met Rodelio Jay Cabogus. By the way, Rodelio Jay Cabogus is a short stout senior Jueteng bet collector who came from a family with history of mental illness!

Because of Cupid's mischievous game, Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay, upon laying eyes on each other, instantly fell in love. Fanchita Isidra even gave Rodelio Jay a “beautiful eyes” as the latter took her bet. Rodelio Jay on the otherhand reciprocated by giving Fanchita Isidra a wink. Then he made sure that Fanchita Isidra won on that particular Jueteng draw! Of course, it was Rodelio Jay who delivered Fanchita Isidra's winnings that night! And it was that night too when Elsa's life went from worse to worst! Rodelio Jay and Fanchita decided to live together. Rodelio Jay didn't mind if Fanchita Isidra already has a child! Rodelio Jay didn't mind at all because he knew that he could make use of Elsa when she grows up!

Time flew fast! Days went on to weeks, weeks went on to months, and months went on to years! Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay now have three daughters! The two love their children! They took care of them well! Fanchita Isidra breastfed all of her three daughters. Fachita Isidra also changed their diapers! Fanchita Isidra sung lullabies to her three daughters! Fanchita Isidra hugged her three daughters as well. Rodelio Jay also helped in taking care of his daughters. Rodelio Jay played with his daughters! Rodelio Jay bought dresses for his daughters! Rodelio Jay brought his daughters to the playground! Fanchita Isidra and Rodelio Jay were good parents...but only to their three daughters! To Elsa, they were terrible! Not once did Fanchita Isidra ever considered Elsa to be her daughter. Not once did Rodelio Jay ever bought Elsa a dress. Not once did the two ever cared for Elsa. Infact, they treated Elsa as their slave! Elsa was made to do all the household chores! From repairing the roof, to doing the plumbing, to washing the dishes, to boiling water for Rodelio Jay's hot bath, to cooking Kalamay Hati for Fanchita Isidra's dessert!

Fanchita Isidra also forced Elsa to go to work at an early age! Fanchita Isidra forced Elsa to sell Pandesal every Labor Day, Taho every Town Fiesta, Sampaguita Garlands every Piyesta ng Nazareno, Kamoteng Kahoy every Easter Sunday, Cotton Candy every Christmas, and Thunder Lolo every New Year! Fanchita Isidra also didn't mind if Elsa was tired, hungry, lonely, or sick!

Rodelio Jay also required Elsa to hand over to him all her earnings! Rodelio Jay also required Elsa to tickle his callously feet every night so that he could fall asleep. Rodelio Jay also required Elsa to sing him a song every night as his lullaby! But it is not suppose to be an easy task as he required Elsa to sing songs backwards! And while Elsa is singing... she must pull off her hair one by one! Now, didn't I just answer the question that I promised to answer back in the first episode?

Anyway, Rodelio Jay and Fanchita Isidra took turns in making Elsa's life miserable. Sometimes they do it in tandem! They punished Elsa for the slightest mistake! They did all terrible things to Elsa! They called her names! They repeatedly told Elsa that she was useless! They repeatedly told Elsa that she was ugly! They repeatedly told Elsa that her life was headed nowhere! They repeatedly dampend Elsa's spirit! They inflicted pain not only in Elsa's young body but also in Elsa's innocent heart!

Now allow me to mention that when Fanchita Isidra discovered the sleeping effect of the feet tickling and the backwards song number that Elsa performs for Rodelio Jay, she also required Elsa to perform the routine to her! Fanchita Isidra also required Elsa to learn to sing her favorite songs backwards! Her song list includes: Lollipops and Roses, Moonlight becomes You, Maria Leonora Theresa, Kahit konting awa, Pearly Shells, Tiny Bubbles, My Pledge of Love, Ang Pipit, Yesterday when I was young, Tipitipitim, and Yeyeh Vonnel! And, if Elsa doesn't sing the songs backwards perfectly, she also asks Elsa to pull off her hair as punishment! Fanchita Isidra does everything to make sure that Elsa's life was miserable!

This episode wont be complete if I dont tell you about the miserable incident about the umbrella. The event with the sunshade took place one day, at around 2:46 in the afternoon, Fanchita Isidra went home gnashing her teeth. She was very furious because she left her favorite umbrella in an Airconditioned Baliwag Transit Bus! The umbrella is fuchsia colored and she got it as a prize in a raffle! So, she ordered Elsa to run after the Airconditioned Baliwag Transit Bus and retrieve the sunshade! Elsa, without second thought, obeyed! Elsa, after writing down the plate number of the Airdconditioned Baliwag Transit Bus on her palm, quickly sped off and ran after the Airconditioned Baliwag Transit Bus which was enroute to Baliwag, a 1st class urban municipality in Bulacan, Philippines! Running by the way was an easy task for Elsa! The reason why could be inferred in the first episode.

While running after the bus, Elsa was thinking only of making sure that she retrieves the precious fuchsia colored umbrella. She was motivated on the thought that if she is able to bring back home the umbrella, her mother would start appreciating her. Elsa was also thinking that the reason why her mother ordered her to ran after the bus was for her to learn how to be speedy so that one day she could enter the Olympics and be a well-known sprinter like Lydia de Vega and Nancy Navalta!

Without Elsa knowing it, she already out run the bus and has arrived at the bus terminal ahead of time. She waited for the bus to arrive. Elsa waited for 3 hours, 17 minutes and 52 seconds! When the bus finally arrived, she breathed a sigh of relief! She waited for all the passengers to alight the bus! When everyone has gone down already, Elsa went inside the bus and started searching for the sunshade. It wasn't in the front seats! Elsa became nervous, she wondered if she was in the right bus! She checked the plate number, it was the same one. She went back inside the bus and continued her search. Elsa looked among the middle seats! But the fuchsia colored umbrella wasn't in there either! Elsa became even more nervous! She wondered if someone already took it! But Elsa continued looking around until finally, she found it at the left corner at the back seat! The sunshade was on the bus floor beside an empty canister of Pringles Cheez Ums Flavor size 163g! When Elsa saw the fuchsia colored umbrella, she quickly grabbed it and embraced it like it was the most important thing in her life! Then after making sure that it was indeed the umbrella that Fanchita Isidra won in the raffle, Elsa almost immediately started running back to Baseco compound where her mother was waiting!

When Elsa reached home at around 8:03 in the evening, she quickly but lovingly handed the fuchsia colored umbrella to her mother. Fanchita Isidra grabbed the umbrella and inspected if it was indeed the same one that she won in a raffle! After making sure that it was without a doubt the same one, she knocked Elsa hard on the head with the handle of the umbrella and scolded Elsa for taking too long! She yelled at Elsa, called her useless 29 times, told her that her life was worthless 39 times, told her that it was better if she was dead 49 times, and then she whacked Elsa’s face really hard for 3 more times! She never said thank you! She blamed Elsa for a delay in her schedule! Apparently, Fanchita Isidra wanted to stroll in Luneta Park with Rodelio Jay...and the fuchsia colored umbrella!

"What Parents do to children, Children do to society." - Karl Menninger

The Beastly Boss

2010-05-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

Estrella is a Spanish word meaning Star! However, in this story, Estrella is the name of Elsa's boss in the gotohan in Binondo! Her full name is: Estrella Marte. Estrella is a frustrated actress! She once tried her hand at acting by playing bit roles in several massacre films.

Regrettably Estrella's acting stint didn't go far because she always ends up irking most of her Film Directors by insisting on dying with full make up on, complete with blue mascara, nose line, check eye, beehive hairdo, lip liner, and peach colored blush on.

When her acting career did not bear fruits, Estrella tried joining Beauty Pageants hoping that this would be her vehicle to stardom. She joined all possible Pageants from Miss Baranggay, Miss United Nations, Miss Undas, Binibining Pilipinas Village, Palengke Queen, Mutya ng Binondo, and even Little Miss Philippines where she got disqualified due to age issue!

However, joining Beauty Pageants didn't bring her far either because she always ends up scratching her head, perspiring profusely, dropping her jaw, and answering wrongly during the Question and Answer portion. But, in all fairness, Estrella doesn't always go home empty handed. Every time she joins a Pageant she always receives minor prices like: Best in Props, Best in Makeup, Best in Smile and Best in Attendance. She once bagged the title of Best in Talent when she did an acting piece of a lady being chopped to death by a serial killer.

The highest rank that Estrella has ever gone in joining Beauty Pageant was when she was crowned Second Runner up in the search for Mutya ng Binondo. Now, allow me to say that this only became possible because there were only three contestants on that Pageant, and there was no Question and Answer portion. For landing Second Runner Up, Estrella was awarded with gift packs consisting of dozens of bottles of Datu Puti Sukang Paumbong, Silver Swan Soy Sauce, Rufina Patis, and UFC Banana Catsup.

After joining several more Pageants and not winning the major title, Estrella realized that Beauty Pageants wasn't her thing, and so she decided to join German Moreno's: That's Entertainment! But this stint didn't up her Showbiz career either because she only appears during "special days" unlike most of the members who appears on the said Talent Show at least once a week. Estrella was assigned to do the show only during Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday. Estrella wanted to do the show during Easter Sunday as well so that more people would see her on the boob tube, but Kuya Germs told her that the Easter Sunday Edition of the show is reserved only to the Senior Members.

In spite of the very limited TV exposure, Estrella still got noticed by several Casting Agencies. Estrella was hired to do several TV and Print Adds. Estrella did a commercial on Tiger Katol, Rambo Slippers, and Meng Du Liquid concealer!

For a while Estrella was quite contented with what was happening with her Showbiz career but she soon realized that she wasn't earning much. And so, after a few years she decided to quit Showbizness. And since she was able to save a small amount out of doing commercials, she eventually decided to put up the Gotohan and Mami Stall in Binondo.

And so, Estrella turned her back at Showbizness and became a Business woman. But she remained obsessed with Showbizness! She loves the glitz and the glamour of Showbiz. And so, for her to fuse in her love for showbiz and to pay attention to her new career as a Business woman, she framed all her pictures taken during the tapings of her massacre films, her appearances in That's Entertainment, and shootings of her commercials. She also framed all her pictures when she joined Beauty Pageants then she decorated all these memoirs in her Gotohan in Binondo. Her obsession with Showbizness didn't stop there! She also became a big fan of Kuya Germs. She founded a fan club for the Master Showman and organized several events as well.

Because of Estrella's obsession with Showbizness, She barely had time for her Gotohan. And so, she hired several staffs to help her run the Gotohan. One of them is Elsa.

Elsa started working at the gotohan when her mother, who was originally the one working there as a Dishwasher, decided to quit her job. At first, Estrella was adamant at accepting Elsa because the Simple Schoolgirl was still a minor. But after weighing up the situation and due to economic reasons, Estrella decided to get Elsa service after all. Estrella further realized that upon hiring Elsa, she could actually save for wages because she could pay the Simple Schoolgirl a salary below minimum wage. And since Elsa was just a young girl, she could not even complain about it!

At first, Elsa was just designated the same position as did her mother. Elsa was originally hired as a Dishwasher. And as a Dishwasher, Elsa must wash all the used bowls, plates, spoons, forks, glasses, hot plates, woks, kaldero, and all other kitchen utensils! Elsa must wash all of what I have mentioned earlier using only 1 sachet of Dazz Dishwashing paste! Elsa was instructed by Estrella to be frugal! Estrella told Elsa that she must make sure to extend the 1 sachet of Dazz Dishwashing paste for a month! If Elsa was unable to do this, and an additional sachet of Dazz Dishwashing paste was bought, the amount will be deducted to her salary! Elsa agreed to what her Boss wishes to happened. Elsa understands that the reason why her Boss was doing this was for her to learn how to be prudent in life.

As a solution to the 1 sachet of Dazz Dishwashing paste per month policy of Estrella, Elsa decided to add some Gumamela extract every time she washes the dishes. So, before going to work, Elsa drops by her neighbor's backyard to gather some Hibiscus. She pounds this and puts it in an emptied Star Margarine container. She then brings this to the Gotohan and uses it everytime she washes the dishes! For a while, Elsa's plan worked well! But due to the slimy nature of the Gumamela extract, plates would always slip off Elsa's hand while it is being washed resulting to several plates getting shattered into pieces! Several drinking glasses got broken as well! When Estrella found out about the incident, she right away punished Elsa! At first, she would just slap Elsa really hard on the face and beat Elsa with a stainless sandok. But later on, Estrella seem to find more satisfaction in hurling all the ingredients of the goto at Elsa and then asking the Simple Schoolgirl to pick it all up again and put it in the pot of boiling goto and while Elsa is in the act of putting the goto ingredients in the pot, she would push Elsa directly into the pot of sweltering goto.

For some mysterious reason then again, Elsa doesn't get scalded every time she plunges straight into the pot of boiling goto. Infact, after emerging from the pot of boiling goto, the only evidence that Elsa had a "hot bath" was goto all over her clothes. Anyway, because of this Estrella repeatedly pushed Elsa into the pot of boiling goto every time the Simple Schoolgirl breaks plates or drinking glasses. Maybe you are wondering what becomes of the goto afterwards, right? Oh well, Estrella would instruct her other staff to serve the goto to the customers! And again, for some mysterious reason the customer loves the goto! When Estrella noticed this, she continued to push Elsa in the pot of boiling goto even if the Simple Schoolgirl doesn't break anything! Elsa could not do anything. She could not complain. She just thought that the reason why her Boss was doing this to her is so that she would learn how to take a bath every day.

Anyway, Elsa remained as a Dishwasher in the gotohan for 6 months. At which time Elsa was still attending school under the advisorship of the Terrible Teacher! But when Elsa was expelled from school after being accused of attempting to murder the Terrible Teacher and the Vile Vendor, Estrella decided to promote the Simple Schoolgirl as a Service Crew. Or to be more atrocious about it since this is an agonizing story; Elsa was promoted to the position of Serbidora! I said "atrocious" because allow me to inform you that while Elsa performs her duty as Serbidora, she must also made to perform her previous duty as a Dishwasher. Elsa accepted this because she thought that the reason why her Boss was doing this to her is for her to learn how to be flexible! And besides, she has all the time now to concentrate on her job!

When Estrella noticed that Elsa did not complain about "her promotion", and knowing that Elsa now has all her time for the Gotohan, she also assigned Elsa to be her Personal Assistant. As a Personal Assistant, Elsa must make sure that she contacts all the members of Kuya Germs's fans club before every meeting! Elsa was also assigned to make banners and placards for Kuya Germs! Elsa was also once assigned by Estrella to follow Kuya Germs wherever the Master Showman goes and take pictures ala Paparazzi! Elsa must also frame all the pictures that she took of Kuya Germs then hang these at the Gotohan. Elsa did her obligations perfectly even if it was really difficult. And Elsa never complained.

Seeing that Elsa again wasn't complaining with all her tasks as a Dishwasher, Serbidora, and Personal Assistant, Estrella came up with another idea. An idea that would allow her to save more money! An idea that made Estrella very happy! An idea that she broke to her staff in an emergency meeting by saying: "Good evening Ladies and Gentelmen! Standing before you is none other than Miss Estrella Marte! 27 years of age with vital statistics of 36-25-36. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall. Former Actress, Beauty Queen, Commercial Model and presently the Owner of Estrella's Gotohan and Mamihan here in Binondo! I do believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they posses inside, give them a sense of pride! And my favorite animal is an Ant. My favorite animal is an Ant because they are saving for the rainy days. And so, today, I declare that for austerity measures, all of you are fired except for Elsa! Elsa will assume all the position here in my wonderful Gotohan! She will be the Dishwasher, Serbidora, Kusinera, Kahera, Janitress, Security Guard and most specially my Personal Assistant! Elsa will perform all these duties without any salary increase! If you want to complain, don’t! That's all thank you!"

Instead of reacting violently, the staffs of the gotohan surprisingly were even happy! After Estrella's speech, they applauded their Boss and hurriedly ran out of the Gotohan leaving Elsa behind. When all the staffs have left, Estrella spoke to Elsa and told her never to complain to anybody. Estrella also reiterated that she will not get any salary increase. Estrella also told Elsa that if anything gets broken in the Gotohan, the amount of the broken item will be deducted from her salary. Estrella also told Elsa that from that day moving forward, Elsa must call her: "Madame"! Elsa agreed to everything that Estrella said. Elsa did not feel bad about the situation. Elsa just told herself that the reason why her Boss did what she did was for her to first learn how to be a follower so that in the future she could also be a leader!

The first day that Elsa assumed all the position in the Gotohan, she got very exhausted! But again, she never complained. She accepted her new job and simply looked at the brightside of things! She told herself that: "At least I have a job."

Thirteen days after Elsa took on all the duties in the Gotohan, in what seem to be an ordinary Saturday morning, Estrella told Elsa to get the Gotohan really tidy and cook more goto and mami because after she attends the taping of Walang Tulugan by the Master Showman, she will be inviting over all the members of Kuya Germs's fans club! They will also conduct their meeting in the Gotohan.

Estrella told Elsa further that while she is cooking goto and mami, she must also make sure that all the dishes are washed properly, the dining area is clean, the toilet floor is scrubbed, the cash register is well guarded, the picture frames on the wall and wiped, and while resting, she must also make a banner to welcome the members of Kuya Germs's fans club! Estrella also reminded Elsa not to forget to dive into the pot of boiling goto. Again, Elsa did not complain! All that she was able to say was: "Yes, Madame!" Elsa knew that the reason why her Boss wanted her to do all those chores was for her to learn how to have initiative.

After Estrella left, Elsa went on to do her tasks! She performed her duties well and as usual, never complained. Infact, she was a bit excited to see the members of Kuya Germs’ fans club. She was also excited at the thought that Kuya Germs might also show up. And if that happens she will have an easier time taking photographs of the Master Showman. And if she has pictures of the Master Showman, her Boss will be very delighted!

From early morning until early afternoon, the gotohan was filled with customers as usual. Elsa had to attend to all of them and perform multiple tasks. By around 4:03 PM, there were only 2 customers. So, Elsa wasn't very busy anymore! She has already washed the dishes, cleaned the dining area, scrubbed the toilet floor, balanced the earnings of the Gotohan, dusted the picture frames, made a banner to welcome the members of Kuya Germs’ fans club, and dove at the pot of boiling goto.

Elsa was exhausted and so she sat for a while. Before she knew it she was fast asleep. And very quickly she was dreaming. She dreamt that her Boss rewarded her with a vacation at the beach. She was with her Bestfriend and they were both wearing sexy bathing suit. She and her bestfriend were playing along the beach. After playing, they decided sun bathe. Elsa applied tanning lotion to her Bestfriend and The Bestfriend returned the favor to her. Elsa and her bestfriend were both enjoying the sun bath when suddenly she felt the heat to be getting stronger! It seems that the sun has decided to get closer to earth. Elsa felt very hot and she felt like her skin was already burning. She looked at her Bestfriend but all she saw was herself in the beach. Elsa was so frightened that it was at that point that she woke up!

When Elsa opened her eyes, she saw the 2 customers, who were earlier eating goto, ranning out of the Gotohan! Elsa ran after the two thinking that the customers were running away with the payment. But when she was outside the gotohan already, she saw more people and heard them screaming: "Sunog! Sunog! Call the Fire Department!" Elsa noticed that the people were pointing at her direction. When Elsa turned her back, she saw the Gotohan already on fire! Elsa was shocked! Out of instinct, she ran back inside and tried to extinguish the fire using the hose from the toilet. But the fire has already spread that there was nothing else that she could do. The fire was already spreading fast and so she quickly grab the first thing that she saw. It was the big Kaldero filled with goto. She carried the heavy kaldero filled with hot goto out of the gotohan.

After making sure that the kaldero was safe in one corner of the street, Elsa decided to go back to the gotohan to save somemore things. But there were many people blocking her way all screaming to call the fire department but none actually helped! Before Elsa knew it, the entire Gotohan was completely destroyed by fire! Nothing was saved except for the heavy kaldero which was still filled with hot goto!

When the fire has died down and the only evidence of the fire was the burned woods and smoke, Elsa took the Kaldero from the corner of the street and stood in front of the burned Gotohan. Elsa was so worried about what her Boss would do to her! Elsa was worried but she did not complain! She knew that the Gotohan got burned for a reason. She knew that the reason why the Gotohan got burned at a time when she was all alone was so that she could learn how to extinguish a fire all by herself! Elsa was wishing that her Boss would also understand the reason.

At around 6:01 PM, Almost two hours after the fire, Estrella arrived at the now burned Gotohan with the other members of Kuya Germs’ fans club! Upon seeing what was left of the Gotohan, Estrella became hysterical! At first she wasn't paying attention to Elsa who was at that time still carrying the kaldero with goto. She also did not hear Elsa who kept saying: "I am very sorry Madame. Please forgive me!" Estrella was so hysterical that the other members of the fans club tried to pacify her but she wouldn't calm down. Until one member suggested that Estrella be left alone for a while so that she could breathe some air. When the members of the fans club placed her down, it was then that Estrella stood up. She strikes a pose and said: "Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen! Standing before you is none other than Miss Estrella Marte! 27 years of age with vital statistic of 36-25-36! Standing 5 feet and 11 inches tall. Former Actress, Former Beauty Queen, Former Commercial Model, and now Former Owner of Estrella's Gotohan! My favorite animal is a Lion! And I do believe that Alms, alms, alms, spare me a piece of bread, spare me your mercy, I am a beautiful woman, so sexy, without any more business and so angry! Vengeance is not God's! It's mine! It's mine! And so, I declare that Elsa, you are fired! Vengeance is mine!"

After Estrella's speech, the members of the fans club gave Estrella a big round of applause and then they hurriedly ran away! Elsa was about to put her hands together as well when suddenly she saw Estrella charging before her! Estrella slapped her face 4 times and then kicked her body 8 times! While Estrella was hurting Elsa, She kept saying “All my pictures are gone! Who would believe that I was once an Actress? A Beauty Queen? A Commercial Model? A Business Woman and a Fan of Kuya Germs?"

Elsa took all the beatings and not once did she beg Estrella to stop. Elsa did not complain about Estrella firing her. Elsa did not complain about Estrella slapping her. Elsa did not complain about Estrella kicking her. Elsa also did not complain when Estrella poured all the goto to her and threw the heavy kaldero on her face. Elsa did not mind getting bruises as a result. She knew that the only reason why her Boss did what she did was because she was very upset!

After beating Elsa really hard, Estrella decided to faint! But before she collapse, she took her fake Brown Louis Vitton bag and put out her makeup kit. Estrella applied full make up, complete with blue mascara, nose line, check eye, beehive hairdo, lip liner, and peach colored blush on!

"Passion is a positive obsession. Obsession is a negative passion." - Paul Carvel

The Vile Vendor

2010-05-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

Originally, this part of the story wasn't subsumed in the plan. However I am certain that there are some people, stumbling upon this story one day, who would find it categorically abstruse to clearly deduce the role of Aling Doleh in Elsa's grievously sad life if I don't put things in exact details. So I have decided, after some great amount of reflection, to rope in the Vendor's share of agonies so that it would be clear how Aling Doleh's life story would eventually shape Elsa's own!

Aling Doleh, or Maritess Dolores Pulmones is a native of Barangay Pasol-O in the 4th Class Municipality of Jamindan in the Province of Capiz located in the Western Visayas Region of the Philippines! The Pulmones Family is a household name in their rural Barangay of less than 1000 people. But they are highly feared. Maybe it would help in explaining why the Pulmones's are feared if I mention the name of Aling Doleh's family and the occupation of each! So here is goes. Her mother named: Ludivina Cecilla Pulmones is a well known Mangkukulam. Her father named: Sebero Gaudencio Pulmones is a popular Mangbabarang. Her eldest sister named: Nova Joy Pulmones is a Manananggal. Her elder brother known as: Willie Boy Pulmones is a Mangtatawas. And Aling Doleh, the youngest of the 3 kids, is a Banana cue Vendor!

Now you might be wondering why Aling Doleh seems to be the only one in their family who does not appear to have embraced the dark side. Well, I understand if that is how you are thinking right now. And it is for that other reason why I again included this part of the story.

Anyway, Aling Doleh was really destined to become a Mangbubutbot. But her real dream was to become a Saleslady in SM Shoemart. So, after she graduated from their local High school, she begged and urged her parents to allow her to go to Manila so that she could fulfill her dream. At first her parents and 2 siblings were against her plan because she must be initiated to the dark side before she turns 18 years old as part of the family legacy. But Aling Doleh's persistence was so great that in the end her family granted her their permission but with the condition that she must promise that she must always carry with her a sparkling magical black stone which is the size of Halls Candy but as rough as a panghilod. Aling Doleh must bring the magical stone with her wherever she goes and must swallow it once she decides to join the dark side. She must also shout out loud the magic word: "Ay! Palaka!" to make the magic work! Aling Doleh agreed on these conditions but at the back of her mind, she has already decided not to get initiated to the dark side. She knows that she will never use the magic stone. She just agreed with the plan just so that her family would allow her to go to Manila to fulfill her dream of becoming a Saleslady in SM Shoemart!

So, preparations were made for Aling Doleh's migration to Manila. A party was held. However no one from the neighbors attended the send off party in fear of being placed under the spell of the family. But the Pulmones family didn't feel bad about the non appearance of the invited guests. As a matter of fact, they were a bit happy because they had all the foods for themselves. It would also help if I mention that the Pulomes Family are all horizontally challenged.

The night before Aling Doleh's departure, the family conducted a ritual. While at the center of a big circle surrounded with black lit candles and with bonfire and incense smoke swirling around, each member of the family took turns in giving Doleh some gifts. Her mother gave her the sparkling magic black stone placed inside a small red velvet pouch. Her father gave her a small bottle with skull designed cap filled with lana, 13 pieces of fresh ikmo leaves, a bundle of banana cue sticks and a neon green lighter all placed inside a black box made of Kamagong. Her sister gave her a voodoo doll. And her brother gave her a taliasi!

Aling Doleh was emotional during the gift offering ritual and was evidently teary eyed. But again, just to be clear about it, let me mention that part of why Aling Doleh was teary eye at that time was because of the smoke from the bonfire and the incense smoke that was lit nearby. Anyway, Aling Doleh was really touched with her family's thoughtfulness. She adored the gifts that each of her family gave her. So, after the ritual that actually lasted for 4 hours and 18 minutes, Aling Doleh made sure that the gifts were all placed in her bag with flower design along with her floral underwear, floral dress, floral skirts, floral shorts, floral pants, floral socks, floral shoes and floral half slips!

Doleh was suppose to ride her magic broom going to Manila, but she has an extreme and irrational fear of heights called acrophobia so the family decided that she takes the passenger ferry instead. Now, being out of budget at that time, Doleh's family bought an illegal one way complimentary-economy ticket to Manila in MV Doña dela Paz from one of the ferry's corrupt crew. Holders of the cheap tickets were not listed in the official passenger manifest which Doleh's family got so concerned about, but Doleh didn't care!

At the time of Doleh's voyage to Manila, there were a great number of locals going to Manila for either vacation or work. The ferry which has a maximum capacity of 1,518 passengers and 66 crew members was jam packed with a staggering 4,375 people on board! The extremely overloaded passenger ferry left some of the people without a cabin or even a bed to sleep on. This means that displaced passengers must make do of whatever was available like tables in the pantry, floor on the hallway, and even stairways. Doleh choose to stay awake during the entire journey to Manila! And while everyone was fast asleep, she was actually at the top deck of the starboard side of the ship staring at the night sky and was day dreaming of being what she always wish to become: a Saleslady in SM.

At the middle of her day dreaming Doleh suddenly felt a strong thug and a loud crashing sound. The sudden push outbalanced her and made her fall straight into the ocean below. But she was quick to grab her floral designed bag. When she fell into the dark ocean, a whale was actually swimming nearby. When the orca heard the loud splash, the huge mammal of the sea swam towards Doleh's direction and gobbled up Doleh.

Meanwhile, the passenger ferry actually collided with an oil tanker named MT Victory. The impact caused damage and lost of lives to both ships. Due to the collision, MT Victory's cargo of fuels and oil was set ablaze and spill into the surrounding waters, causing much of the deaths of the crew and passengers of both ships. Both sea vehicles were engulfed on fire before it sank on Davey Jones. Many lives were lost on the sea mishap. Out of the thousands of passengers on both sea traveling vehicles, only 24 souls survived! In this list, Doleh was not included!

There are two reasons why Doleh's name was not one of those reported to have survived! One is because she was not in the ship's manifesto in the first place and two because she was rescued not by a person but by a grampus. Now how was she saved by the whale if I earlier mentioned that she was swallowed by it? Well, read along.

Since most cetacean mammals doesn't chew, Doleh went straight into the whale's stomach. She was alive. At first, all that Doleh could see was darkness. But Doleh remembered what she has on her bag with floral design. So, she dig into her bag and she took the neon green lighter that her father gave her and then she gathered up some woods inside the whale's stomach and started a fire. Then she caught some tulingan that was also trapped inside. She grilled the tulingan and ate them.

While Doleh seems to be enjoying her picnic inside the whale's stomach, the baleen on the other hand started feeling sick. His stomach was burning and smoke was making him dizzy. So, after a few more hours the poor narwhal threw up and out came Doleh as well.

When Doleh realized that she was thrown out up in the air, she closed her eyes tight because she was afraid of heights! So, she didn't know where she was already. Her eyes were still shut close when she felt that gravity was pulling her down already. While falling back to the ground, Doleh was actually imagining that she'll end up in an island with nothing around her but coconut trees, mountains, and monkeys. Doleh fell hard flat on her face.

Doleh was a bit aghast when she lifted her head and opened her eyes. Instead of coconut trees, mountains and monkeys she saw container vans, ships, and feet! Apparently Doleh landed in North harbor in Manila. But when Doleh started to realize where she was, she became so happy that she shouted: "Hello Manila, Mabuhay!" People who saw and heard her thought that she was crazy but Doleh didn't care! What matters to her is that she is now in Manila.

After realizing that she is finally in Manila, and after shouting: "Hello Manila, Mabuhay!" Doleh, with her floral designed bag on tow, started walking and looking around. She was enjoying every sight! It was far from the island scene that she originally expected but it was fine with her.

Before Doleh knew it, she has reached Baseco compound already and it was there that she settled. She rented a small house. Then after a few weeks she ventured into applying for a Saleslady position in SM Shoemart. Unfortunately she was rejected because she was overweight. She was asked to lose weight and just reapply after six months or, once she has slimmed down already. Doleh was disappointed, but she wanted to be a Saleslady so much that she vowed to start a diet so that she could pursue her ultimate dream. But while waiting to slim down she needs some income. So, she made good use of the banana cue sticks and the taliasi that she brought with her. She put up the Banana cue stall in Baseco compound!

Her Banana cue stall was an instant success! Being the only one who sells Banana cue in Baseco at that time, Doleh's Banana cue stall became very popular! She had lots of customers! People love her Special Banana cue! In time, Doleh's name became a household name! And no one fears her! Infact, she is well loved by people in Baseco. People in Baseco loves her Special Banana Cue. People look up to her and started calling her: "Banana cue Queen"! With this title under her name, Doleh set aside her original dream of being a saleslady in SM for a while and focused on keeping her title!

Time flew fast, it has already been 6 months since Doleh arrived in Baseco! She has been working hard to maintain her title. There were other people who also tried putting up a Banana cue stall but none were as successful as Doleh. Doleh was unbeatable! Doleh maintained her title as "Banana cue Queen" and was undisputed!

Notwithstanding her success, Doleh still feels that there was something lacking in her life. She knew it was not "the dark side" that she misses. She has vowed long ago that she will never embrace "the dark side". There was something missing and she could not understand what it was. Until one day.

It was an ordinary day in the Banana cue stall. As usual, there were many people purchasing her Special Banana cue. She was busy crossing between cooking and selling Banana cue when a charming man came to buy from her. The very instant that she laid eyes on the man she knew she was in love. What really attracted her to the man was the kuntil. Doleh likes men with kuntil and there was, in front of her a man who has that. She was even more enamored when the man smiled at her and told her: "Your Banana cue is so delicious"! The world seem to have stopped. Doleh saw nothing around her but the man who has kuntil eating her Special Banana cue.

Doleh later on learned that the man was a new resident of Baseco compound. And he has no girlfriend. And he is living alone in a rented room. And that the man loves Banana cue. And that the man's name is: Icasiano Antonio.

In time, Icasiano Antonio became a regular customer at the Banana cue stall. Doleh was inspired! Every time Icasiano Antonio comes over, Doleh makes sure that she puts extra segunda mano sugar on her Special Banana cue! She would also put the Special Banana cue on sale. This made people in Baseco even happier! And as a result, Doleh's Banana cue stall became even more popular than ever!

Due to the continuous popularity of Doleh's Banana cue stall, she has to employ an assistant since she could no longer manage the Banana cue stall all by herself. She employed her industrious, hardworking, diligent, laborious, tireless, and beautifully sexy neighbor and close friend named Fanchita Isidra!

Fanchita Isidra was a big help to Doleh. Fanchita Isidra's presence in the Banana cue stall brought in more customers and so Doleh gave Fanchita Isidra a raise in her salary. They also became closer to each other as a friend! When they are both not busy in the Banana cue stall, Fanchita Isidra would play the FLAMES for Doleh and Icasiano Antonio. Fanchita Isidra always makes sure that the FLAMES ends with: "Marriage". This makes Doleh even happier and considered Fanchita Isidra her lucky charm!

Meanwhile, Icasiano Antonio still frequents the Banana cue stall and every time he is there he always makes sure to tell Doleh how delicious her Banana cue is. He also tells Doleh that she is beautiful and gives Doleh a flying kiss every time he leaves the Banana cue stall. After a few more visit in the Banana cue stall, Icasiano Antonio courted Doleh. The Banana cue Queen did not give Icasiano Antonio a difficult time. After 30 minutes of courtship, Doleh gave Icasiano Antonio her sweetest consent on love.

Doleh was very much in love with Icasiano Antonio that she did not mind if she was the one spending for their dinner dates. She also didn't mind if Icasiano Antonio asked her to buy him an expensive Honda motorcycle as a gift for their First Weeksary; an original Rolex Watch for Second Weeksary; an 18 CF Two Door No Frost White Westinghouse Refrigerator for their Third Weeksary; and an original Ray-Ban Shades for their Fourth Weeksary. Doleh also wasn't bothered that Icasiano Antonio obliged her to give him 15 thousand monthly allowance. Eventually, Icasiano Antonio also began scheduling their dates and started making restrictions like: they should only go on date whenever there is a storm, they should watch movies in only Baguio City, have dinner in only Dumaguete, check in a hotel only in Davao, and go malling at any mall but only in The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao!

Spending for Icasiano Antonio was something that did not bother Doleh because Icasiano Antonio explained to her that their love affair is like two countries: "I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust and Love You) so, G.U.A.M. (Give Understanding and Money). But what Doleh did not understand is why Icasiano Antonio started scheduling their dates. At first Doleh suspected that Icasiano Antonio was not proud of her as his girlfriend. But when she confronted Icasiano Antonio about how she feels towards the many restrictions on their love affair, Icasiano Antonio just told her that: "I just want to make sure that no one would see us together because I get jealous every time someone else looks at you." Icasiano Antonio's reason was enough for Doleh to love the charming man even more! So things went on with Doleh and Icasiano Antonio. With a blooming love life and a Banana cue stall business that was a big hit, Doleh could not ask for anything more!

One Wednesday morning at around 8:56, in the Banana cue stall, Doleh was about to go to market to buy more Sagging an Saba for her Banana cue when Icasiano Antonio dropped by and said that she better go to Blumentritt Market instead of the nearby talipapa. Icasiano Antonio told Doleh further that the Saging na Saba in Blumentritt Market are better in quality and this would be good for the business. Doleh was touched with Icasiano Antonio's concern on her Banana cue business so she agreed to go to Blumentritt Market instead! Then when Doleh was about to leave, Icasiano Antonio said: "You know what? I think it would be better if you walk going to Blumentritt Market instead of riding a jeepney. You know I am concerned about your health. I want you to remain sexy". Doleh blushed with what she heard. She felt even more in love with Icasiano Antonio. Doleh felt that Icasiano Antonio was really so concerned about her. So, Doleh agreed to walk going to Blumentritt Market from the Banana cue stall in Baseco compound in Tondo! Before Doleh left, she still saw Icasiano Antonio giving her a flying kiss! Doleh smiled. She was happy to have a man who loves her a lot and a friend who will take care of her Banana cue business while she is away.

After 13 hours, 45 minutes and 11 seconds, Doleh arrived back from Blumentritt Market. She was very tired and was haggard looking. When she passed by the Banana cue stall, she was no longer surprise to see it closed. So she decided to go straight home. She was thinking that Fanchita Isidra would be waiting for her there to hand over the day's earning and that Icasiano Antonio would be visiting her later that evening. But when she was about to leave, she noticed a letter posted on the stall. She took the letter and started reading it. The letter reads:

Dear Doleh,

I, Icasiano Antonio do solemnly swear that I would like to ask you to forgive

me for making you believe that I truly love you. I am asking for your kind

consideration if I took with me the earning of the store today. I am also very

sorry if I ran away with Fanchita Isidra. Please be informed that I will not let

you know where we will be hiding. I will not give you a clue. I wish that you

will forgive me upon receiving this letter of mine. I, thank you!

Love,

Icasiano Antonio & Fanchita Isidra

P.S.

Your Banana cue is so delicious!

And remember: J.A.P.A.N (Just always pray at night)!

Doleh got shocked at what she read! She was speechless for a while. Her eyes opened wide. Her jaw dropped. Her heart stopped beating! She turned purple! Then she fainted!

After exactly 36 minutes, Doleh recovered. She was still in front of the Banana cue stall. She was still speechless! Her mind was filled with thoughts of Icasiano Antonio and their happy moments together. She also remembered her happy times with Fanchita Isidra and those times when they were playing FLAMES. Doleh started walking home speechless, expressionless and emotionless!

When Doleh arrived home, the first thing that she did was look at the mirror. When she saw how haggard she looks that was when reality struck her! Pain started to conquer her heart! She felt deceived by her Boyfriend and Bestfriend! Doleh could not bear the pain that she was feeling in her heart so she screamed and cried! While Doleh was screaming and crying, the neighbor's transistor was playing: "Kung liligaya ka sa piling ng iba by Imelda Papin". Upon hearing this, Doleh screamed even louder!

Devastatingly heartbroken, Doleh decided to go drinking. She bought 2 cases of Red horse beer and ordered Special Sizzling Sisig for her pulutan! She downed the bottles of beer all by herself. All the time that she was drinking, the neighbor's transistor kept playing the same song over and over! After Doleh gulped down the 2 cases of Red horse beer, she decided that she wants more! She wants to forget the pain that her Boyfriend and Bestfriend caused her. So she stood up and was on her way to the nearest store to buy 2 more cases of Red horse beer when she glanced at her image at the mirror again. She saw how haggard she looked like. She blamed her looks for her Boyfriend's deception. So before leaving the house, she applied Johnson's Baby powder original scent on her face, combed her hair with her yellow springmaid comb, and splashed Angel's Breath Baby Cologne all over her body.

Doleh was wobbling as she walked out of the house to buy some more Red horse beer. She could still hear the same song, when she tried singing along with the song she noticed that her mouth was reeking with beer. So she grabbed into her pocket and pulled out a small rounded object that she thought was Halls candy. She quickly put this in her mouth. As Doleh was about to pass by the door, she suddenly tripped over and fell flat on her face. The fall made her swallow the small rounded object. While she was lifting her face from the ground, a bull frog suddenly leaped in front of her who made her shout: "Ay! Palaka"! Upon saying this, magical lights suddenly surrounded Doleh and she felt revived! She felt strong! She was no longer feeling dizzy! The pain in her heart was mysteriously gone as well. And instead of pain, Doleh could feel intense hatred towards Icasiano Antonio and Fanchita Isidra! She could feel hatred slowly taking over her whole being. Doleh's heart was filled with so much anger that she could not think of anything else but settling of score!

While Doleh was thinking of how to get even, she felt her body morphing! So she ran back into the house and looked at herself at the mirror. The reflection in the mirror confirmed her great fear! She now looks even more ghastly! Her hair is all messed up and she has warts all over her face! She has now been initiated to the dark side! And she is not just an ordinary Mangbubutbot! She has also inherited her whole family's power! She is now a Mangbubutbot con Mangkukulam con Mangbabarang con Manananggal con Mangtatawas!

This time around however, Doleh welcomed the power of the dark side! Without second thoughts, she right away set out to conduct her first Evil Deed! Using the lana that her father gave her, She applied some of it all over her body so that people would still see the image of the old Doleh instead of her witch self that reflects back at her in the mirror! Then she also used some of the lana on her Banana cue so that even if Fanchita Isidra is no longer around to help her, people would still buy from the Banana cue stall! Finally, summoning all her power and asking for help from the Diwata, Engkanto, Itim na Duwente, Kapre, Nuno sa Punso, Tikbalang and Tiyanak, Doleh using the voodoo doll that her sister gave her, placed a curse on her ex Boyfriend and ex Bestfriend!

Doleh's curse however was not directed towards the two people who deceived her. She actually placed a curse on the first child of her ex Boyfriend and ex Bestfriend! Her curse states that: "Death will be the reward for whoever gives true love to the first born child of Fanchita Isidra and Icasiano Antonio Ragoza"!

"He who seeks vengeance must dig two graves: one for his enemy and one for himself" - A Chinese Proverb

The Terrible Teacher

2010-05-24T22:11:00.000-07:00

Here and now you must know that Elsa has a teacher. Just like any ordinary schoolgirl, Elsa is under the tutelage of a pedagogue who is most concerned about the welfare and well being of all her students! The kind teacher always makes sure that all the students under her care are properly guided!

The school mistress likewise makes sure that she prepares her lessons well so that her students become well knowledgeable! She also treats her students with utmost love, care and understanding! The teacher does this specially to those students who shower her with costly gifts during Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Foundation day anniversary, Linggo ng Wika, Nutrition month, English and Book week, United Nations Day, Halloween, Birthday and even during Rizal day bombing anniversary and Eid ul fitr!

Unfortunately this does not include Elsa! In as much as Elsa would like to buy her teacher some gifts, she could not just afford the teacher's taste! Once she bought one dozen of China manufactured ponytail with assorted colors as a present to her teacher but her teacher did not accept the ponytails because according to her it was bought for a song! The teacher even took a pair of big red scissors and shredded the multi colored ponytails into several pieces while Elsa looks on with a slight hint of tears at the corner of her right eye!

Anyway, our story in point of fact started on August 14 in the year when military destabilization was the monthly agenda of some selfishly motivated politician who were in cohorts with some members of the armed forces who have been grudging silently against a government who remunerated them meagerly reason for why they live their mortal life in extreme destituteness!

The same day was actually Elsa's birthday! Elsa was already at that age when girls would normally be looking forward to going home so that she could play with her doll. But do remember that, in Elsa's case of course this was not a possibility! One reason why this is not possible is because Elsa owns no doll. The dolls that she plays with are owned by her sisters. And two because Elsa does not go straight home from school! She still has to go to the gotohan in Binondo where she works and stay there up until past midnight. And once she arrives home, she still does the dishes, clean their house, does repairs, and serves her parents and three sisters and only after finishing all those household chores could she cop some z's.

Anyway, as I have said earlier, our story began on August 14. It was Elsa's birthday and it was a rainy day! It was also the day when Elsa was caught sleeping again inside the classroom for the 108th time!

Upon learning from the bootlicking class monitor that Elsa was again caught napping on her chair inside the classroom, the teacher, without asking for any explanation at all, got on the warpath and punished Elsa! The teacher kicked Elsa, dragged her out of the room and made the simple schoolgirl hunker down near the stinky john while carrying a heavy teacher's table! After 3 hours, the teacher called Elsa back inside the classroom and this time ordered Elsa to shine her jet black 3 inch stiletto! Still not contented, the teacher shoved Elsa hard on the wall then hit her face hard 4 times with a thick oxford dictionary wrapped in pink stationery! Then, severely scolded Elsa for what she called: "laziness" and "stupidity"! At this point the school mistress still has not even considered asking Elsa why she was slumberous inside the classroom!

Had the teacher asked Elsa the reason why she was lethargic, She would have found out the truth about Elsa's life! She would have learned that Elsa was multi employed, was working hard and barely had enough sleep every day. Something that a young girl shouldn't be experiencing! Anyway, there it was! Elsa was gravely castigated for sleeping inside the classroom on her birthday! Elsa did not however, complain despite it all. Elsa did not even feel bad that no one even remembered that it was her birthday. She just smiled, stared blankly on the wall and silently sang the happy birthday song to herself. She, with optimism, accepted the teacher's punishment and was in fact a bit happy that her teacher finally paid her attention!

Now allow me this opportunity to detour for a while and bring to your knowledge that, it was just a very normal thing for the teacher to ignore Elsa's presence! This is so evident during the start of the day. The teacher, who only has the heart to affluent kids and basically ignores those students who are financially challenged, would deliberately skip Elsa's name during the class roll call. The teacher also makes sure she doesn't include Elsa in any school programmes! She does not allow Elsa to join any extracurricular activities! Her reason for not allowing Elsa join school activities is that: "Elsa is poor"!

Let me also tell you about the time when Elsa joined the Teatro Club. It was actually Elsa's dream to become a stage actress. But when the teacher learned about her inclusion to the league from one of her favorite rich student, the teacher got really livid and told Elsa to bow out! She even threatened Elsa that if she doesn't quit the Teatro Club, she will flunk Elsa and would make her take summer classes! Elsa got frightened on the thought of failing and much more on the idea of taking summer classes! She could not afford to pay for summer classes and would want to use summer vacation as an opportunity to earn more money for her family. So the very next day, Elsa approached the Club adviser and despondently told her that she is bowing out! The Club adviser was saddened because she saw great potential in Elsa. She convinced Elsa to stay in the Club. But Elsa still insisted that she needs to leave. When the Club adviser asked Elsa the reason why she wanted to quit Elsa told her that she just wanted to follow her teacher's orders and she doesn't want to flunk and take summer classes. Upon learning these, the Club adviser told Elsa that she would talk and convince the teacher to allow her to stay with the Club.

Elsa thought that everything would be fine once the Club adviser talk with her teacher. But it only went from bad to worse because her teacher got awfully piqued. As a result the teacher yelled and humiliated the Club adviser in front of the class. Then, during recess, the teacher approached her while she was snacking on her three pieces of boiled kamote and sipping her unsweetened am under an amugis tree and blipped her two times! The teacher also pulled out a bente nueve and held this in front of Elsa's face while she threatens Elsa further saying: "Hey you dirt poor! Never ever join any league! You have no right to join one because you are flat broke! Empty handed girls like you has no right to be in a club! Much more to dream and have an ambition! Don't dream! They won’t ever come true anyway! Especially with a pauperized girl like out! Quit! Give up! Did I make myself clear?" Elsa was very shocked at what the teacher did and all that she could do was to nod and grief-strickenly utter: "Yes Ma'am."

And so, after that incident, Elsa gave up her dreams of becoming a stage actress someday. She also quit from the Teatro Club much to the Club adviser's disappointment. When the teacher learned about Elsa's decision to bow out from the club, she became very happy and even whistled to the tune of "Bongga ka day". She even gave her rich students plus five in their quiz that day! And from that day on, the teacher vowed never to include Elsa during any school activities! The teacher did not allow Elsa to participate in the school's feeding programme, flag ceremony, class monito-monita, and even during the class gardening! She just keeps Elsa inside the classroom and makes her clean! This by the way is one reason why the teacher still keeps Elsa in her class. The teacher permanently appointed Elsa as the cleaner! And, being as optimistic as ever, Elsa considered this as the teacher's way of showing her utmost love, care and understanding!

Now please forgive me if I already said so much! I hope that you understand that it is my obligation to narrate in full details the entire dossier pertaining to the life of Elsa. Also, I really have to tell you all those details about the teacher so that you'll get to know her more! So, picking up from where I ended and going back to the original story: After being severely scolded in front of the class, Elsa was ordered to clean the Music Room which was right next to their Classroom. What the teacher meant by "clean the Music Room" is: Elsa must get some matchbox from the school canteen, catch some spiders, keep the spiders in the matchbox, clear out the cobwebs, repair the broken roof, paint the cabinet, wax and scrub the floor with a bunot, polish the trumpets, wipe the dust out of the drums, tune the ukulele, and finally collect the trash from every classroom and dump these at the dump site across the street! The teacher did not even gave Elsa a chance to rest and eat her lunch of 2 pieces of fried galunggong and half a cup of rice which were wrapped in a transparent cellophane. Not eating lunch that day left Elsa lightheaded with hunger and fatigue!

While Elsa was busy cleaning the Music Room little did she knew that her teacher, who was busy in the other room preparing the report card of her class that day, accidentally discovered from the school records that it was her birthday. And so, when she went back to their classroom after cleaning the Music Room, the teacher was mysteriously clammed-up! Elsa was expecting her teacher to ululate at her and bemean her in front of the class. But, for some reason, the teacher did not say or do anything. This actually made Elsa feel more special. She thought that her teacher already loves her. Elsa felt more special when the teacher sweetly called her by her name and asked her to come near her. Elsa approached the teacher nervously. Then the teacher gently held Elsa's hand and in a hushed tone told Elsa: "Happy Birthday!"

Elsa could not believe what she heard! Her eyes brightened up and she smiled. When the teacher noticed Elsa smiling she harshly pulled Elsa close to her and whispered: "Foolish! Who told you to smile? Now go and buy me food! It's your birthday right? Hurry! Go! " Then she pushed Elsa so hard that Elsa fell flat on the floor. The class broke into laughter. But, Elsa just stood up, pretended that she didn't hear the laughing, and quietly left the room.

While walking away, Elsa felt warm tears cascading down her cheeks. But no! She was crying not because she felt humiliated. She was crying because her teacher greeted her happy birthday. And because of that, Elsa sacrificed her one week allowance of 5 pesos to buy her teacher a stick of Special Banana Cue from the vendor named Aling Doleh.

After purchasing the Special Banana cue, Elsa excitedly went back to their classroom. She was happy to sacrifice her money for her teacher. She was glad that she spent her money with someone who remembered her birthday. On her way back to her room, she was imagining that the moment she steps in, the whole class would be singing the Happy Birthday song to her. But sadly that did not happen. When Elsa arrived back at their classroom, the whole class was busy taking an exam. No one even noticed that she came back. No one except her teacher!

The teacher was already waiting at the door when Elsa arrived back with the Special Banana Cue. When Elsa gave the food to the teacher, the teacher instead of saying thanks, even knocked Elsa's head seven times with a broom! Then in an angry but hushed voice the teacher said: "You ungrateful moneyless child! Why only this? Why didn't you buy me Goldilocks Black Forest Cake and Rocky Road Selecta Ice Cream? Why only this cheap deep fried sugared banana on stick? I deserve something better! Now run and buy me Sago't Gulaman!" Elsa, with eyes fixed on the ground, nervously said: "Ma'am, I have no more money". Upon hearing what Elsa said, the teacher tightly grabbed Elsa's arms with one hand while holding the Special Banana Cue with another hand. Then she dragged Elsa back inside the classroom and pushed her near the desk.

Then the teacher threw a manicure set at Elsa and ordered the simple schoolgirl to give her manicure and pedicure.

Elsa obliged. But let me point out that while this was happening, it was already past 3:07 PM. Elsa was already very tired, very sleepy, and very hungry! And so, as a result, she mistakenly pulled out the teacher's toenail instead of the ingrown! This caused the teacher to shriek in pain! The class who was at that time taking an exam, thought that the teacher was just vocalizing and so they stood up, clapped, and gave the teacher a standing ovation! Elsa, not realizing her chafe, was surprised when the teacher suddenly screamed and so she accidentally poured the Merthiolate on the teacher's murdered toenail! Making the teacher scream even louder and making the class applauded even louder as well! Elsa, still very much dizzy, thought that the reason why the class was euphoric was because she did a magnificent job at giving the teacher manicure and pedicure. So, Elsa stood up and curtsied in front of the class. The teacher, seeing Elsa seemingly unmindful of what happened, got greatly enraged! And so, she dragged Elsa out of the room and ordered her to clean the Science laboratory! The teacher wanted to kick Elsa but she was in so much pain that she forgot about it. She wanted to hit Elsa's head with the broom but she forgot about it as well! She wanted to slap Elsa but she forgot about it too!

Elsa was only able to realize her mistake when she noticed her teacher limping and when she noticed spots of blood on her white uniform. And so, she hurriedly cleaned up the very dusty Science laboratory. After she was done cleaning she hurriedly went back to their room, intending to say sorry to her teacher right away. When she went back inside their room, Elsa noticed that her classmates were still taking an exam and they were very quiet. Her teacher was also quiet and doesn't seem angry anymore. Elsa considered this a sign that she was already forgiven. But little did she know that the real reason why the teacher seems forgiving was because the teacher took 5 tablets of antibiotic making her groggy. Had the teacher been in her normal sense, she would have beaten up Elsa!

After class at around 6:28 PM, Elsa stayed on as usual to clean the room. Elsa was already expecting her teacher to hurt her or to scold her but the teacher didn't! In fact, the teacher just ordered Elsa to clean up the chalk board then instructed Elsa further to smear the chalk dust all over her body as punishment! Elsa considered this another sign that her teacher has forgiven her already. Elsa still doesn't have a clue that the teacher was just overdosed with antibiotic!

Before Elsa could even leave her classroom, it started to drizzle! Elsa rushed at the school garden to get a San Fernando leaf that she could use as an umbrella. After choosing the biggest one, Elsa sped her way out of the school to go to the gotohan in Binondo so that she could finish off her obligations there. As Elsa started too sped off, she noticed that it has become muddy due to the drizzle. So, she took off her yellow slippers with Betty Boop design and carefully placed it in her bag. Then the rain started to pour heavily. Her San Fernando leaf umbrella could no longer protect her from the rain. The rain continued to pour down heavily and this time there was thunder and lightning! Elsa continued to walk. She must get to the gotohan. She doesn't want to lose part of her salary. Thunder continued to clap and lighting continued to strike! Until a generator got hit causing power outage! Now it was dark! But Elsa needed to go to the gotohan. So, despite the rain, the mud, and the darkness, Elsa continued to walk along going to the gotohan.

Suddenly, out of nowhere Aling Doleh the Banana Cue vendor came into view. Then a lightning strike at the background. The sudden flash of light allowed Aling Doleh to make out an apparition of what seem to be a ghost! A girl whose skin is greatly ashen, dirty, and with blood all over her body! The eidolic sight caused Aling Doleh to get a heart attack! Aling Doleh collapsed and fell straight into a shallow but filthy aqueduct. At the very same instance that Aling Doleh fell into the gutter, the teacher was also limpingly walking by! As Aling Doleh fell into the culvert, filthy water splashed all over. Some of these bacteria carrying water soaked the teacher's murdered toenail. The teacher, after getting wet with the polluted water screamed with pain and anger! Then another lightning strike! The temporary illumination caused by the lightning allowed the teacher to make out Elsa's figure! The incident along the muddy road on that rainy night saw two people being rushed to the nearby public hospital. Aling Doleh was confined for cardiac arrest and the teacher...for leptospirosis!

The next morning, news spread like wildfire! And as the story is passed from one loquacious mouth to another, it was no surprise that an ant hill eventually became a mountain!

Poor Elsa, without due process and on the basis of hearsays, she was expelled from school the next day for allegedly murdering a teacher...and a vendor!

Oh! By the way, I almost forgot to mention the name of the Terrible Teacher who has the reputation of being a mentor to the rich and a tormentor to the poor! Forgive me! Anyway, the teacher's name is: Mrs. Clarita D. Castor!

"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth." - Dan Rather

The Simple Schoolgirl

2010-05-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

Most fairy tales begin with: "Once upon a time". But if you noticed it, my story started with the word: "Most"! Now, you must understand this firstly because the truth of the matter is this is not a fairytale - infact this is a sad story! Secondly, I have to remind you that the reason why I wrote this sad story is to narrate the grieviosly melancholic events in the life of a poor young girl whose name is in the main tittle. Having used the words grieviously and melancholic would only mean that: I have no intention of making my readers feel spellbound or enchanted, which normally is the case with a great number of fairy tales! Third and - actually if only to tell the truth - the most important reason why I had to start my yarn the way I did is because the poor young girl's story is like no other and so it requires a beginning like no other as well!

And so before I go further into details, let me once again remind you that this is a sad story! A narration of a poor young girl's life that has nothing in it but pure misery! If you are expecting to read about a Prince Charming with a transcendental kiss, a Fairy god Mother with a magical wand or a Winged White Unicorn who would rescue a Wizard in distress, then this is not the story that you should be reading! I am sure that there are other stories out there that you might want to take hold of, but not this.

Again, not this!

But, If you take extreme indemnification in reading stories about how doleful a poor young girl's life is because it makes you feel that your life is not as sorry as you think it is, then by all means - read along!

If the above reason however is not your sole basis for being here still reading this part of the story and your real aim really is to be entertained, then again, my apologies! This story is not at all enthralling! In fact, at some point it may even be bromidic.

Bromidic or - to use an alternate word - drudging because it is my bitter duty to put into words all the circumstaniality leading to the lugubrious life of that young girl. This of course - in the process - would oblige me to give exact details of all the how's, what's, who's, where's, when's and why's of the poor young girl's very sad story! A process which, for most Grown-Ups, is absolutely boring!

At this point allow me to say that: "Unequivocal trivialities are sometimes a source of vexation to the Grown-Ups!" This personal opinion, if only to be really honest about it, is yet another thing that I don't fully understand about them! Grown-Ups - when in distress and sometimes even out of it - usually demand explanation but never really listen to all chapters and verses specially if it's a child giving them reasons!

Having said all that I have said above, If you are a Grown-Up who abhors having to listen to exact details of all the how's, what's, who's, where's, when's and why's of the poor young girl's very sad story, or if you are someone who feels that you are not geared up to peruse such kind of a story like this one, then leave. I would understand and be assured that I would definitely not take it against you. But if you decide to stay, then it is for you that I shall introduce the luckless little girl - whose name is in the title of the story - of this allegoric chronicle.

The name of the main character of this sad story is: Elsa. Elsa Ragoza!

Elsa Ragoza is a resident of Baseco Compound, Barangay 649, Zone 68 Port area Tondo Manila, an Urban Poor Settlement Community near the Port Area in the Philippines.

Elsa - to begin with - is an ordinary girl. She is a girl like all others! She enjoys playing with dolls and dreams of being a princess. She loves wearing pink dresses and adores the smell of flowers. She likes the refreshing feeling of the rain on her skin and blushes every time the sunshine kisses her cheeks. She loves eating ice cream just like any ordinary young girl and gets thrilled with the thought of staring at the twinkling stars in a dark cloudless night.

But unlike other girls her age, Elsa must wake up very early each morning then go back home very late at night! This is because of her employment at Estrella's gotohan and special mami store in Binondo Manila whose owner requires her to work twice as hard than an ordinary grown-up person.

Elsa must report to work at the gotohan and special mami store before and after school. This means that she must wake up before the neighbor's rooster could even crow and go home at around the same time as the She and He Whores would roam the dark streets of Ermita. This situation leaves Elsa with just around 2 hours and 54 minutes of sleep everyday.

To those who knows what real beauty is, Elsa could be considered beautiful! Her eyes are almond shaped, her cheeks are the color or the cherry blossom, her lips are as red as a polished apple, her nose is impressively high bridged. Her brows are arched perfectly and her hair... aahhmm, her hair is... Oh! how could I say this? Her head is... Okay, She is bald headed! Elsa is bald and the reason for this I shall explain anon in the story.

I wish to inform you further that, Elsa has 1 mother, 2 fathers, and 3 sisters. Elsa loves them. But, they don't love her. That situation of course makes Elsa again, quite different from other girls her age. While most young girl are taken well cared of by their parents, Elsa is treated otherwise. One time Elsa even thought that the reason why her parents and 3 sisters doesn't love her is because she is bald. She was almost convinced of this way of reasoning until she saw a cancer stricken young girl around her age on TV being well taken cared of and loved by everyone. So, after seeing the cancer stricken girl on TV and after realizing that even if one is bald she still deserves to be loved, Elsa was left with no other idea why her parents and 3 sisters doesn't love her. And so she just convinced herself that in this world, there are those who are born who are meant to be loved and there are those like her who was born to be ignored and neglected! Even by her own family.

Springing forward from what I mentioned above, Elsa, needless to say is an optomist...to a fault! She always thinks that no matter how bad a situation may become, there is always something good behind it. Once her mother, for no reason at all, slapped her face very hard for 11 times in front of her classmates until her lips bled, she thought that the reason for this is because it is only her mother's way of showing how much she cares for her. One time still, while she was passing by a neighbor's house and when all of a sudden the neighbors dog got loose and chased her and bit her all over until she was bleeding then no one helped her, she didn't complain. She didn't feel bad, she just thought to herself that one day she'll own a dog and take care of it well so that it wont bite others and that the reason why people didn't help her is because she must learn how to take care of herself.

Another proof of Elsa's extreme optomism showed up the day when her mother forced her to work at the gotohan and special mami store of Aling Estrella. Being made to work from sun up to sun down means she must give up her playing time and be faced with an adult obligation. But despite that, she still managed to make out something good of the situation. She said that her mother made her work only because she needs to learn how to be independent.

Working at the gotohan in Binondo by the way was not the only employment that Elsa is engaged in. She also has part time jobs! Elsa must also sell Pandesal every Labor Day, Taho every Town Fiesta, Sampaguita garlands every Piyesta nang Nazareno, Kamoteng kahoy every Easter Sunday, Cotton candy every Christmas and Thunder Lolo every New year!

With Elsa's very busy time table, she has no more time to make friends. Making her again, different from other girls her age.

Making matters more lamentable, Elsa has dog bites all over her body. This is because every time she sells pandesal, she must walk along Asu Asuhan Street. The street is so named because of the furious dogs roaming that area. The truth is, if only Elsa has a choice, she wont pass that street anymore. But she has no choice because most of her suki or patrons are living in that street.

In addition to what already seem like a life so full of misery, Elsa always has goto residue all over her clothes. This is because she always gets wet with the hot goto from the gotohan and special mami store where she works.

And to top it all... Elsa only has one pair of yellow worn out slippers with Betty Boop design that she wears only every time she goes to school.

"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

The Appalling Announcement

2010-05-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

Ateneo de Manila University is a sweat inducing 10 minute walk away from where I live. Near one of the gates of the school is a gigantic billboard with changeable letters where announcements about up coming curricular and co-curricular activities could be readily seen! I read those announcements every time I pass by Ateneo! The announcement sometimes changes almost every week! Letters keep changing.

Messages differ from one given time to another. So, I make sure to read those announcements everyday! I should! And I do this on a regular basis! It doesn't matter if I have to sweat and walk for 10 minutes from where I reside! I have to be updated.

There was a time however when I started wondering how those letters got up there. I became very curious at who places those letters on that big billboard. I couldn't stop but wonder at what super powers would be required for someone to be able to position letters up there on that huge billboard!

Until one night my question was answered. I was passing by Ateneo late one evening from a friend's house when I saw a man wearing faded blue shirt up on a ladder patiently taking off letters from an old announcement and carefully putting in new ones! I stopped to observe. That was an opportunity for my question to be answered without asking any Grown-up who might think I am once again asking "Stupid Questions"!

To my surprise, the man wearing faded blue shirt was like all ordinary man! He has no super powers! Being all mortal, it took him about half an hour balancing himself on a ladder just to put in the words: "Classes starts on June 15"! It was a hard work! A job so laborious that it is not fair for that man in faded blue shirt if those who were suppose to read those announcements just don't read it and have chosen to ignore what was written there!

From that day on, I vowed to read those announcement! And, I made it a point to tell my classmates to read the announcements too! Some did, but a great number of them didn't! When I asked them why, they said their parents told them it was not necessary! I was again disappointed with the Grown-ups for this! They obviously don't know how it is to be up on a ladder without super powers!

Anyway, going back to the main point, now thinking about it, I think people of the olden times are luckier because they don't have to climb a ladder and spend 30 minutes to finish off one announcement on a billboard with changeable letters. I learned from my History class that during the old times in China, soldiers of the imperial palace blow a trumpet like musical instrument or crash a cymbal to get the attention of the people who should then gather around to listen to the announcements from the Imperial Emperor! Sometimes, Gongs could also be used.

Announcement from the Emperor may range from: "The Celestially August Emperor Yung-Loh Lord of Peking and son of Heaven sends this message" to "The Huns have invaded China"!

At modern times, for an announcement to be public one simply has to pay for an advertisement. It could be on TV, the Radio, or even in Newspapers! Announcement of great variety may be done! It could be for a promotion on a brand new product, an upcoming concert, a movie premier, the birth of a celebrity baby or the death of a democratic icon who has inspired the world over to be united in the face of adversity and to give peace a chance!

But my teacher told our class before that an advertisement may cost millions of pesos!

Since I don't have a gigantic billboard with changeable letters, a horn to blow, a gong or cymbals to crash, and millions of pesos to pay for an announcement, I have chosen to use this blog to make my announcement!

Elsa's story will officially begin on August 14! This is Elsa's birthday!

To celebrate her birthday, I bought 9 balloons with different colors! But, now I am very sad! I am in doldrums because 4 of the 9 balloons flew away! They are never to return.

"No matter how lonely you get or how many birth announcements you receive, the trick is not to get frightened. There's nothing wrong with being alone." - Wendy Wasserstein

The Dreadful Dedication

2010-05-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

Death is a topic that most Grown-ups refuse to talk about. The reason for this is simple! A great number of the Adult populace would prefer to live forever than live a short but full life! This is actually another thing that I do not understand about them! Grown-ups are incomprehensible! They call themselves learned and wise when they know all so well that dreaming of living forever is beyond the bounds of possibility!

At this point I again hail the wisdom of the Children! Unlike the Grown-ups, Children knows that living in everlastingness is contrary to reason! Children knows that even the Dinosaur has to die as some point!

Why are Grown-ups so drawn into the idea of living a mortal life in perpetuity when they could live a brief but meaningful life?

What goes on in the mind of an Adult when, if given a choice, he would readily choose to live for billions of years?

Who would they live their long and sad life for?

When then would they say that it's over and that they are ready to depart their life?

How, once they say they're ready, would they choose to die?

I guess, just like most of the time, I would never know the answers to these uncomplicated questions because Grown-ups would never really want to answer these queries! I know I wont because I once tried asking some Adults! They didn't answer me of course! In fact, they just looked at me intently and then scolded me heavily for asking what they call: "stupid questions"!

But, I am not losing hope! I still wish and I know that someday I would meet a Grown-up who will be eager to answer all my "stupid questions" about death and other things that bothers me!

Right now, having no clear idea about the worthy reasons why people should live forever rather than embrace death, I shall then write on this page my last will and testament!

If, for any reason I pass on to the next life, and considering that I am all alone in this world, I want Kerwyn Jadraque to inherit my very much valued blue feathered notebook collection! I want him to take care of those small and seemingly value less jotters because those are all that I have got! I have no money! I have no property that is of worth to me other than those sky colored notepads!

For Francis, Armando, Lorenzo, Catherine, and Janus I want to give them all my art works including those that I shall be using as I trace every woeful step in the life of a young girl named Elsa!

To Gavroche and Hyacinth, I give all the toys that I have! I want to give him my toys because I know he would be a wonderful playmate! And once I'm gone I am sure he would make other children happy!

To Beethoven and Ephraime, I give them my dreamcatcher! The very same one that I saved money for and that has been hanging near my bed since I learned about the magic that a dreamcatcher gives to the dreamer!

To Christmas and Treasure, I give them my lucky bracelet! The very same bracelet that brought me serendipity whenever I set foot on an unfamiliar land!

To Yoshiro and Kondwani, I give them my DVD collections! I give them those in the hopes that through the films that I love watching, they would be able to understand the pain that resided in my heart!

To Vincent and Amigo, I give them my inexpensive mobile phone so that they could take a picture of the world and continue to warn children about how cruel this world really is!

And most importantly, to all the children of the world, I give them this blog! Elsa's Story! I do this with the wish that they will continue to relive Elsa's sad story to other children who has lost hope!

I hope that they would cherish the little things that I gave them! I also hope that one day, when they grow older, they will never forget how it was to be a child! I also pray that in the future, If a child goes up to them to ask "stupid questions" about life and death, they would be willing to give an answer!

"The greatest gift is a portion of thyself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Sorrowful Salutation

2010-05-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I would perhaps never really know how you got to this page today. Though I have 4 guesses! First, the kind wind might have blown you here. Second, a friend of yours might have told you about this site. Third, you might be one of those pure souls who heeded to my invitation! Or fourth, maybe it was plain luck that brought you to this page on this fateful day.

Anyway, whatever it is, whoever it is, whichever it is, you could either blame it or thank it eventually!

Now be it known that on this page I shall narrate a story. A story like no other. A story about a young girl named Elsa. A story about Elsa and her agonies in life.

This early however, let me warn you that this is not going to be a pleasant story! This story would not be about castles and fairies, spaghetti and meatballs, sandy beach and sunshine, and iced tea and chocolate mouse! This story would definitely be not like other stories with heroes and happy endings!

And so, I am reminding you that, at this point here, you still have time! You have a choice!

At this very moment, you can read along until the bottom part of this sorrowful salutation and then come back another day to see how Elsa's story unfold, or you can leave this page hastily and forget all about what I said. Pretend that you didn't know about all these! Just like what I said earlier, you have a choice!

Now, allow me to say that: I have been with the sad company of the Grown-ups, and I know how they think! I know how they look at things! Sometimes a Grown-up knows that something exist but they refuse to acknowledge it! Grown-ups does this because they don't want to get involved! Grown-ups are good at pretending! Grown-ups pretend because they are very busy earning fame, name and money to even care for things that pains other people, specially those who are weak! A Child on the other hand, looks at things and begins to wander at what lies beneath! A Child observes and asks questions! A Child is pure at heart! That is why, I am writing this story for them!

Thus, this story is not for the Grown-ups to read! I do not suggest for Grown-Ups to stay longer and read! If you are a Grown-up, then I politely ask you to leave now! I only allow Children who are pure at heart to be witness to Elsa's story!

But.

If you are a Grown-up who still knows the Child that lives inside your heart, then I welcome you.

I am Adnos Uyañe Plein. and I wrote this story.

This is The agony of Elsa ( an allegoric chronicle of a regrettable affair ).

"The beginning of faith is the beginning of fruitfulness; but the beginning of unbelief, however glittering, is empty." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe