Broken Strings novel Chapter 41

WRIGHT AGONCILLO

"Looks like we've reaped a lot today, huh?" Mang Heronimo asked me while adjusting his hat.

"One hundred ark, Mang Heronimo."

I wiped the sweat dripping down my face.

"Not that bad huh." The old man touched my shoulder. "Take a rest, son. We harvest until nightfall and tomorrow we will sundry the rice."

I took a deep breath. "Thank you, Mang Heronimo."

The old man left and I entered my own hut. When I was able to rest, I took off my clothes and went out to bathe in the poso (poso is an old style water pump). I just took a quick bath so that I don’t get sick.

After I got dressed I went to the nearby store to buy sardines for my food tonight. I paid for it and went home to my hut. I ate and then lay on the pallet.

"Rested as well." I whispered to myself.

I looked at the bamboo wall and smiled when I saw a photo of wife and son. Another day passed without them in my side. I miss them so damn much. It's been a year since I left them and chose to go to an unknown province here in Visayas to prove them that I can live without luxury.

I was stunned when the door to my hut slammed shut. I only slept for a few hours. "Wright! Wake up!"

Even though my back hurt I still got up and opened the door. "Pucha, Yulo! It's still morning." (Putcha is a tagalog curse word)

"Today is our fishing day. Have you forgotten?"

"Ah, shit." I could only say and massage my aching shoulder.

"Come on. We'll run out late." He authoritatively said and turned his back on me.

"You look wide awake, a. Who did you eat last night?" Yulo told me when we were in the boat while laughing.

I stared at him. "Stupid. Mang Heronimo and I was busy harvesting grains ‘till nightfall, and we will sundry all of it later.”

"Mang Heronimo has a lot of people. You can stop helping them sundry the grain and just rest."

"I need to earn money." I said and threw the fishnet into the sea.

"Who are you running to? You're already in Manila, why do you have come to the province."

"I’m not running."

Mang Heronimo taught me how to farm and Yulo taught me how to fish. I met both of them when I got lost in search of a place to live. Mang Heronimo lent me the hut where he used to live. He was capable of life so he was able to build a stone house.

After I went fishing with Yulo and left it in the market, I went to Mang Heronimo. His jeep was about to leave with only a sacks of rice that going to be sundry.