A Little Push And I'd Fall

Push 20

“Mommy! Wake up!”

“Hmmm,” tanging sagot ni Saab.

“Moooom!”

“Hmmm’kay,’

“Mom I’ll be late for play school!”

Nagmulat ng mata si Saab, “oh my!” napabalikwas sya bigla sa kama, “go shower, baby! I’ll cook breakfast. Go go go go!” utos nya sa anak at tumakbo papuntang kusina para magluto. She made pancakes and milk and fresh fruits.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minute ay palabas na sila ng basement ng condo. She drove to Reese’s play school. It’s a Montessori school for early childhood development. Doon niya iniiwan ang anak hanggang sa matapos ang kanyang trabah.

She dropped Reese off to her play school, “bye baby! Will pick you up later,” hinalikan niya ang anak sa noo at umalis.

Papasok na si Reese sa building, “Reese!” tawag sa kanya.

Nang tingnan nya ito, “Daddy!” tumakbo sya papalapit kay Thirj.

“What happended to your hair?” nagtatakang tanong ni Thirj. Di pantay ang pagkaka-pigtail dito. Her socks are uneven and her lips are lined with chocolate syrup. His daughter is a perfect example of mess. Going to school like this ins’t forgivable for him.

“Mommy fixed them,”

Napabuntonghininga lang si Thirj, “let me fix you,” dinala niya ang anak sa malapit na study shed. Sinuklay niya ang buhok nito at tinali ng maayos. Kahit di maganda ang pagkakaayos ay mas presentable pa rin ang pagkatalin nito kesa sa pagkatali ni Saab. Pinag toothbrush nya rin ang anak sa outdoor sink. Pinagpantay din niya ang suot nitong medyas. He gestured her to turn around and she did while he sprayed her the tutti fruity cologne, “there! That’s better,”

“Thanks, Daddy!”

“Is that all? Where’s my kiss?” he complained bowing his head as he tap his cheek.

She gladly kissed her father and hugged him tight. Kasabay nun ay binuhat sya ni Thirj papuntang classroom bitbit ang backpack na may mga lamang toothbrush, suklay at iba’t-ibang autofix tools para sa kapalpakan ni Saab sa pag-aayos sa anak. Napailing na lamang si Thirj, “Saab and her mess,” he said to himself.

He went out for a walk. Kelangan nya munang mag-isip. Maya-maya pa ay nag ring ang kanyang telepono. The name flashed on his screen, a message:

See you tonight at the P**** 9pm

He placed his phone back to his pocket, “better erase some Saab in my vocabulary,”

Abala si Thirj buog araw sa pedia unit. Pasado ala una ng hapon tuawag ang play school sa kanya.

“Good afternoon Sir, we’ve been calling your wife for a while now. Can you please tell you’re her the event will start in an hour,”

 “Papunta na,” inis na sagot ni Thirj sa kabilang linya. ‘Another mess, Saab,’ buong niya sa sarili.