Oldie

 

The Backpacker's Road - Oldie

"Hello, Ladies!"

From our table, our caretaker, the administrator herself of the Home for the Aged, came to greet us as my friends and I  joined together in the same table to chat and play cards.

There with me were my twin friends from a beautiful family story in Ika of My Heart.

(To read: Tap the Ika of My Heart link to the story).

Joining us too, our kidnap victim friend from her story in Survived.

(To read: Tap the Survived link to the story).

Our taxi daughter friend too was present, always happy and proud of her story about her father's story in Watched.

(To read: Tap the Watched link to the story).

And our journalist friend, another proud daughter of her father, from her story in Survived 2.

(To read: Tap the Survived 2 link to the story).

"Hello, daughter!"

We all greeted her at the same time then cracked ourselves into laughter. One by one we choked with our saliva and coughed, but we kept on laughing at our "oldie" status.

We were all in our seventy's of age. By God's mercy, we aged together and were still alive! One thing we were all thankful for.

All around us were other oldies in their groups of friends and at their own tables. We were all friends actually, but we just have a closer group of friends.

Some younger ones were dancing tango and others were listening to music in another room. Some were watching movies in the theater room. 

My friends and I always preferred to be in the game room. We liked to lose ourselves in the playing cards for adults to enhance our memories, if not to recover it. Others swim themselves between mahjong blocks. Yes, I have friends who like swimming! Ha! Ha!

We called our daughter, administrator and caretaker as we simply could not remember her name at all.

"Well Ladies, your bible preacher has just arrived."

Then we looked back at her and we saw first her younger brother who ran the Home with her. Another man came from behind him.

"Luke!"

Everyone shouted except me. I was shocked. How could they recognize him and I failed?

My friends saw my face and laughed with each other.

"This is our surprise to you."

Our friend, the taxi driver's daughter, told me.

"It has been a week since we were hearing from him in the other room when you got sick."

One of the twins added.

"He would not want you to know. He wanted to see your reaction himself. He has changed since he left the jail. He has already told us his story. Now it is your turn to hear it."

Our reporter friend added more.

Luke was very old but still looked strong. He came closer to our table and from across he looked straight at me. 

"How are you?"

I could not respond.

Then all my friends stood up and left the table for us. Luke seated himself on a chair facing me.

"How did you get here?"

Luke placed his bible book on top of the table, clasped his hand together and smiled at me.

Strange to me, I did not feel anything. Just dumbness. I could not believe to see him again after all the years.

"I was doing my preaching ministry on a stage one day and that woman administrator you appointed to handle your business and  you call daughter came to approach me."

I sighed as I came to understand.

"After hearing my story, she approached me and invited me to come over. She told me that she might have known the people I was mentioning in my ministry. And she was right."

Our attention was interrupted as one by one all the caretakers were calling the oldies to come to the Home's Chapel, our small church inside the Home.

"You were sick when I first came. I was afraid of what seeing me could mean to you, so I asked them not to say anything until you have recovered and I, myself, will tell you my story.

I started to feel better as I felt relaxed, feeling sure that nothing I should fear about him. But then, my adopted daughter and Home administrator came to us.

"Come on Mommy, let us start."

She came with her brother, my adopted son too.

"Let's go Mr. Luke."

Both of them came to help us to get up and walk our way to the chapel.

At the church, he preached and at the same time mentioned his life story. He talked about how he came to know Jesus through His words and how he was changed.

After he finished his preaching, I needed not ask for him to tell me his story. He was a witness himself of God's forgiveness, mercy and salvation.

He came to me.

"Do you need more to know?"

He asked.

"No."

I smiled and waved goodbye as his driver came to pick him up outside the Home.

Everyone went back to what they were doing before the preaching and mass by the church's priest.

I joined my children in bading farewell to both preacher and priest by the Home's main door.

We were actually outside the Home where in front lies a little garden with planted flowers of tulips and roses.

I was getting tired of standing there outside the Home though the beautiful sunny sky was giving me strength through its soft warmth on my skin.

Looking up at the sky again, I saw the same light blue sky and dancing white clouds I have always enjoyed. They gave me something I could not explain that made my whole being feel like wrapped by that same warm blanket again. I closed my eyes and felt like a Newborn baby again.

This time I did not see a dove. I saw the clouds, that same door formed white clouds again. It was not half opened, but wide opened. Then that bright shining star from the inside came near the door.

I smiled with happiness.

"I am ready."

I whispered to myself. Then I fainted.

I wondered what happened next. 

My reporter/journalist friend's face was the next thing I saw.

"Well then, backpacker,  I have your story completed."

Another face came in before my eyes. 

"But why do you call it Backpacker's Road?"

It was another friend who asked me.

I laughed before I gave my answer and am amused about my light feelings of myself. I felt myself as if I was a wind.

"Because each stage of my life story was written in a different notebook inside my bag, my backpack. Inside my bag was a bible which I used as my life's guide as soon as I got hold of it. It was since I was rescued from my stepfather's hand and every time I was rescued from the traps of hell. I believe in my Saviour. I just believe."

It was what I responded.

"Well then my friend, you'll get your story title."

Then someone from somewhere interrupted us as followed by two more.

"But how can you publish that story? We are all now but spirits roaming around the Home for the Aged's garden."

I realized it was true as I remembered being the last one to join my five long time friends in their Home for the Spirits Club in the Home's garden. 

We all laughed and our sound came like a refreshing strong wind that passed the garden of the Home. 

All we got? A smile from the closed eyes of all those who were left behind. 

End of story.

 

 

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Grown Up

 

The Backpacker's Road - Grown up

As always, the coffee shop, Starbucks, was full when I arrived. That was the reason why I made sure to myself earlier to our reunion. 

Fortunately, that little corner where my lifetime buddies and I have passed our update meetings was unoccupied. I went to it hurriedly and placed my two books on top of the six chairs table, as an indication to other customers that the table was taken. The table was just on the right hand side of the main counter where people ask for their orders, as the shop was a self-service business. So, I could order my coffee even before the arrival of my other friends.

I asked for my favorite coffee and seated myself on the chair against the wall so I could see whoever entered the shop. On my side, all the way to the main entrance door was a window glass. Outside the shop, there were also some chairs and tables for the customers who prefer to have their coffee and food by the street's wide sidewalk.

Getting myself comfortably seated while waiting, I smiled alone as I remembered the past.

It has been years since that tribute mass our friend who survived from human trafficking had left to live abroad. Every five years, she comes back to visit the country, relatives and friends.

"This is going to be the third time."

I commented to myself with happiness in my heart, anxious to see her again.

"What is going on inside that mind that makes those beautiful lips smile so sweetly?"

My sisters! The twins have just arrived and I did not realize it, as they seated themselves already with their coffees in their hands.

"I did not see you enter."

I replied without answering the question of one of them.

"You were looking outside the window when we entered. We saw you but did not call. We noticed you were deep in thought  while smiling."

Then the three of them laughed.

I hugged the twins lovingly. They have become my sisters as their parents have adopted me to become part of their family. Their parents Ika and Iko have sent me to school, just like the twins who later on became business women themselves, overtaking the successful family business. What their father loved to say aloud to us has been my favorite lines and left a memory in my brain. Ika of My Heart, was our father's favorite line.

(To read: Tap the Ika of My Heart link to the story)

While I was hugging my sisters, I saw two more friends entering the shop. They were the taxi driver's daughter and the reporter/journalist. I waved at them.

(To read: Tap the Watched link to the story series of the taxi driver's daughter)

(To read: Tap the Survived 2 link to the story of the reporter/journalist)

As both were going to the counter, the last friend who came from abroad just arrived.

"There she is!"

The three of us seated joined in chorus as we saw her. That made everyone in the shop turn their attention at the shop's entrance.

The protagonist of the Survived story, the survivor of human trafficking was stunned by surprise as to what her friends had done, who were then covering their mouth ending into laugher afterwards.

(To read: Tap Survived link to the story)

The other two friends on their way to the counter were the ones who recovered themselves first and went quickly to welcome and hug the friend who just arrived.

They brought her to our table to greet us then the three went together to ask for their coffee. 

Between laughs and excitement, we showed our happiness toward each other. Until each one managed to calm down and be seated.

"You look great as always. What have you been up to?"

Our friend, the taxi driver's daughter,  asked the first question as she looked at our friend. Our newly arrived friend was wearing a formal suit of women's attire in light grey.

"I just came from a meeting held at my mother's foundation for human trafficking survivors."

She answered our friend's question while smiling at her nice compliment.

"Do you still work as a financial consultant abroad?"

Our reporter friend asked.

"Yes! I work hard to finance the foundation. You all know what the foundation means to me."

All friends ascended to her in agreement as all sipped their coffees.

"How about you? What's your latest?"

She asked the rest. She was looking at me. I was seated in front of her. The  twins on her right and the other two were on her left.

"I run a Home for the Aged."

I responded.

"Great! We already have a place to go in our Oldies."

She exclaimed.

All of us laughed at the idea and started to joke with each other about what old life could be for us.

Then our reporter friend continued the story.

"The owner of that Home for the Aged was my father's friend."

She informed us.

"Yes, that's true. I have been lucky to have known all of you and have you all as my friends."

I continued.

"My husband, Peter, was a close friend of our reporter friend here. She and her father had helped with the story and case I got involved myself with, being a girlfriend of a drug lord's son. Thanks God it has been over."

I narrated as my reporter friend hugged me as she was seated closer.

"He gave me a new life after Luke was jailed along with the drug lords."

I paused. Then continued.

"I started to work in their family's Home for the Aged. I worked as a cleaner until I learned about the business and fell in love with him."

I said it with giggles that my friends laughed with me before continuing the story.

"His father, Jesus, was such a great father-in-law to me. He was a great man. He had helped many helpless old people, like that old man Jeremiah."

(To read: Tap the Believed 2 link to the story of Jeremiah)

"His first wife died of cancer. Then he married again. His wife's story was written too in my memory."

All my friends laughed at my last statement.

"Tell us how you titled that story?"

One of the twins asked me.

I paused for a while before giving them the answer.

"Yes. She was my mother-in-law. I titled it The Six Candles."

(To read: Tap the The Six Candles link to the story)

All of them clapped their hands to my title. As I paused, our taxi driver's daughter friend spoke for me.

"My father was still alone when your father-in-law died after Matthew, that's why I was convincing him to go for your mother-in-law."

Everyone laughed at her idea. Our friend was just showing how much she loves and is proud of her father.

(To read: Tap the Watched 3 link to the taxi driver's daughter story)

"It has been years since your son died."

One of the twins commented.

"Your son died?"

Our friend from abroad asked with sadness.

"A stepson, Matthew. He died in a car accident. Then my father-in-law followed. Now, my husband, Peter, is dying of cancer."

I responded to her.

(To read: Tap the  Believed link to the story of Matthew and Peter)

"Next!"

That was the reporter friend who broke the silence and drama in between us that shook everyone.

"What's next?"

One of the twins asked.

"Next story."

Our friend responded.

Then everyone laughed again, taking her comment as a joke.

The taxi driver's daughter cut it, though.

"No! Enough of stories for now. Let us talk about our men, our love story and our sexiest moments. Okay ladies?"

She raised her coffee cup in the middle of everyone to ask for a united cheer on her suggestion.

With giggles, excitement and laughter, we found a common agreement.

Then and there, the writer friend took her notes about everyone's till the next episode of their friend's Backpacker's Road story. 

Meanwhile, I was watching how a white dove was moving around on top of an empty  table outside the window, looking for pieces of food to pick on. Most of all, those clear blue skies with beautiful clouds have filled my heart, once again, with hope and happiness.

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Teenage

 

The Backpacker's Road - Teenage

The sun's heat, fortunately for us, wasn't giving a burning sensation to our skin as we waited patiently outside the church for the mass to start. A tribute mass to the mother of our firend, the once victim of human trafficking.

Standing under a shady tree on the side of the church, I was waiting with my other teenage friends.

Our friend friend from her own story in:

(To read: Tap the Survived link to the story)

had invited our mutual twin friends with their own story in:

(To read: Tap the Ika of My Heart link to the story)

and our sweet friend, the daughter of the taxi driver in her own story in:

(To read: Tap the Watched 2 link to the story)

and myself, in this story of my own.

While waiting, we were telling each other about our own story. Until the woman reporter, a journalist herself and became a  close friend of our teenage friend, whom she interviewed, came to join us.

She herself, the journalist, added her own story of:

(To read: Tap the Survived 2 link to the story)

Then came my turn to share a part of my own story in:

(To read: Tap the Disgraced 3 link to the story)

I was still in the process of recovery. All my friends came to hug me.

"Luke's father has led me to prostitution. It was the condition if I wanted to stay with Luke. And so I did whatever he asked me. Luke found out. He said he would make his father pay."

My narration was interrupted by my journalist friend.

"Where is he now? Where is Luke?"

I was released from the hugs of my friends as I faced to answer the question.

"Right after he found out, he disappeared. The next thing I knew, there was a raid by the police authorities. The business of his father was dismantled and he was arrested along with the others."

One of the twin's finished my story.

"And Luke was also arrested, because he was a drug dealer."

The woman reporter/journalist knodded to give her understanding of the story.

Then someone from the church made an announcement to enter as the mass would start soon. So we went in.

Then we saw the journalist friend moving toward a coming car. A man came out. She talked to him about something while grabbing his arm to walk together to the church, while turning their faces to us. She waved and smiled. The man looked at us, I believe especially to me for a moment, then tapped the hand of our friend with him.

I asked my friends.

"Who is he?"

The taxi driver's daughter answered my question.

"That is her father. A well known, good and honest police officer."

We continued walking towards the church. Looking up at the sky, I notice a white dove on top of the church's cross.

I sighed a heartfelt relief and smiled looking at the light blue sky with its beautiful dancing clouds as always. 

I said a line as I closed my eyes to see the face of the Lord.

(To read: Tap the Thank you, God link to the story)

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Girl

 Backpacker's Road: Girl

"You can survive anything by striving to come out from anything that enslaves your soul. Take courage and seek the Light to freedom. And that Light is Jesus, the Son of God."

Those were the words of our religion teacher that rang and have stayed in my brain. Luckily for me, no one among my classmates had noticed my stunned self as the school bell announces the time for recreation for all.

I believed no one realized how I felt but my three closest friends, who were seated close to me, the twins in front and the other one beside me.

Our teacher has just taken the story of The Deep Blue Sea. 

(To read: Tap the The Deep Blue Sea link to the story)

She also have incited some articles from The Bible Journey

(To read: Tap the The Bible Journey link  to the stories)

My friends and I were left alone inside the classroom as everyone else went out to play in the school's playground. We are all in our twelfth years of age.

As soon as the teacher left the room and only the four of us on our own, I bursted into tears. I could not hold it anymore. 

"What happened? Now you can tell us."

My friend beside me, a taxi driver's daughter, who had shared with us the story of her father when he was robbed and considered himself being watched by God, hugged me so tightly.

(To read: Tap the Watched link to the story)

"I was raped!"

I almost could not say the words. It happened a week ago already. I have been so afraid to tell anyone about it as I was threatened by my stepfather. Not even my mother knows. I have been scared to death what she could do to him.

While I was crying on my friend's shoulder, my other two friends, the twins, came to hug both of us with an incredible shock on their faces.

"Oh my God! That is why you have been acting so strange the last few days. Why did you wait this long to tell us?"

One of the twins, whose parent's store is located just a few blocks from ours, had also shared in the day's class the story of their parent's fights.

(To read: Tap the Ika of my Heart link to the story)

Suddenly, someone entered the room.

"Teacher!"

It was our religion teacher who came in and locked the room's door. She went straight to me and hugged me tightly.

The other twin stopped her and planted her question.

"How long have you been there by the door?"

The teacher straightened herself up and explained to the girls.

"I came back because I forgot the report I had to give today to the administration's office. The door was not totally closed and I halted from entering as I heard her cry."

She gave me a sympathetic look. They were all sad for me.

"Who did this to you?"

The teacher asked me.

"My stepfather. As you knew, my father died even before I was born. My mother got married again. He was drunk when it happened. My mother wasn't home."

I cried and my teacher hugged me again.

"I promised I will help you. It is good you confessed it to your friends. But now, we have to report it to the police."

I was frightened by her suggestion, thinking about my mother. But then, she assured me that she would come with me and help me to explain it to my mother. Besides, my other friends were also urging me to listen to our beloved teacher. We adored her because she has been a very good friend as well to us all. 

I agreed, though confused about it, but felt relief having people who cared and then helping me.

After the class, we went to the police station. It seemed there was no one at the station when we arrived. The reception desk was empty, but not too long, a policeman came from the inside. We heard someone shouting at him. 

"That sounds like Luke."

I said it to myself. Luke is my childhood friend. Him and Jason were best friends. 

(To read : Tap the Disgraced link to Jason and Luke's story) 

My mind stopped thinking about Luke as my teacher started to talk to the policeman and my friends holding my hands tightly. 

After the report, we left the police station. Outside, I saw once again a dove. This time on top of the teacher's car. We left the school in her car. I went to the white dove as I felt peace inside of me as I saw it. I passed my hand into its back and it let me.

"Hello my friend."

I said it as everyone with me came and tried to do the same. But it flew. So we all laughed and left.

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The Little Girl

Backpacker's Road: The Little Girl

Seated on a little chair and playing with my dolls laid on top of a small table, I was waiting for Jason and Luke to come and play with me.

I was already around five years old. My mother was not able to give birth again. She dedicated most of her time attending her little grocery store, where infront of it she placed my little table and chair.

Then I saw Jason, behind him came Luke. Both of them ran to the store and looked very nervous and afraid.

(Jason's and Luke's: Tap the link DISGRACED to their stories)

"Hello! Let us play again!"

I greeted them with my sweetest smile but they ignored me. Jason stepped on top of the long wooden chair below the railed window of our mini store to buy a beer.

"Not now. We are in a hurry. Jason has to buy a beer for his father or else he will receive punishment."

It was Luke talking to me. Jason was pleading with my mother to give him a beer. She was refusing. So I cried.

My mother knew how much I love Jason and Luke. They were like brothers to me. She appreciated them a lot for how much they take care of me and how she could count on them to protect me against other children. So she gave in to Jason's beg.

Then my friends ran as fast as they could. I was left alone to myself again. I looked at the window store and my mother was not there. 

I helped myself up on top of the chair to look inside the store. Once again, my mother was with both hands in prayer before her little altar on the right side of the window's inside, to pray. She had her eyes closed praying. I realized she does that everytime that Jason and Luke come to the store. She must be praying for them.

Meanwhile, a man dressed in black shirt called my attention quietly. He could not be seen by my mother. He was calling me to come to him. I wondered what he wanted. I did not come down right away. I was about to do so when another one called my attention.

Someone came out around the corner on my other side. Another man dressed in white shirt. He smiled at me, but looked angry at the other man. He stood by my side. So I shouted at my mother.

"Mommy!"

Right away my mother was alarmed. She opened her eyes and came to the window. I looked both to my right and left, there was no one.

"Yes, my baby."

"I want to go inside. I am hungry."

"Sure, my baby. I am coming."

I helped myself to step down and to pick up my toys. There on top of the table, I saw a bird. A white dove with my dolls. The same dove that always come around to entertain me. I giggled trying to catch it but it flew again to a distance. I looked up and saw it resting on the street's post cable wire, where I always see it. Then once again, I saw the light blue colored sky with beautiful clouds dancing before my eyes.

My mother came to me and got me inside. Later on, I told her about the two men I saw. She was alarmed. Since then, she never lets me get out of her sight. Much more, I had seen her praying more than before.

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Newborn

 

Backpacker's Road: Newborn

I opened my eyes and wondered where I was.

Remembering myself tiny, warmly covered by a warm blanket and wearing my newborn baby's clothes. I knew they were all in white, because I felt pureness enveloping my body.

Looking up I saw the sky. I believed it was heaven. There were beautiful clouds dancing before my eyes. The color surrounding those white clouds were light blue in color. Beautiful!

I giggled lightly.

Curiosity inside made my eyes look on both sides. My eyes rolled to the left and right. My head even turned to my right. There was nothing strange, different from what I was looking at before me. The same white clouds and blue colored sky. But, yes, I noticed something. 

The white clouds were formed like a half opened door. Looking better inside, there was a distant color of yellow gold like the color maybe of the sun. It gave me a good feeling. My heartfelt joy and unexplainable admirations to what I saw inside- Something is happening in there.

I have SEEN it!

(To read: Tap the SEEN link to the story)

Suddenly I felt a sound in my stomach. Whaaa! I cried aloud.

After a few cries, someone heard me and came to my left side. I saw her. A beautiful face of a smiling woman. She talked to me.

"Oh my baby, are you hungry?"

"Hungry? What is that word?"

My question did not receive an answer. I believed she could not hear me nor I doubt if I ever spoke. All I knew was that I have a complaining stomach. Next I felt myself being lifted from wherever I was. 

I realized there were arms embracing me and a skin full of food with a reddish round little point where a white liquid was leaking. It was finally pressed into my mouth.

"Food!"

I sucked the food so hungrily.

"My poor little one."

The woman talking to me asked me a question I did not understand nor care about. I was just hungry.

I had my eyes closed savoring my food, but opened them when she started to talk. As she was talking, I saw a dove flapping its wings on top of us. Yet the dove wasn't a bird. I saw a face. A smiling, so beautiful and  brightly glowing face.

I stopped my breastfeeding session, laughing to my heart's delight as I was entertained and talked by the dove. I could not remember what it said, much more my abrupt action made me choke.

My choking made my eyes roll and the woman holding me lifted me up against her shoulder to make me burp, while patting lightly my back. It worked.

Against the woman's shoulder and having myself be in a vertical position, I noticed something. A different surrounding. Instead of an open sky of white and light blue colors, I saw a mixture of colors I could not remember and named about. Besides, I was inside a closed room.

"Hello Mommy!"

Someone else came beside the woman and called her Mommy. He was a man. He came to kiss her and turned to kiss me on my head.

"Hello Baby."

He called me Baby. So that was my name.

Then Mommy put me down back unto her arms and looked at the man.

"We are fine, Daddy."

She said to him Daddy. So that was his name. Then I got it. 

"We are Mommy, Daddy and Baby."

That was me confirming who we were. Then said something more.

"Now, we are a Family."

Daddy said so. We, a family. 

"What is a Family?"

I wanted to ask, but Mommy interrupted my own question.

"How was your trip?"

Mommy asked as Daddy put down his bag somewhere and his coat. Then came close to us holding a book.

"You may not believe what happened." 

He responded and seated himself besides Mommy as she took a seat on a chair nearby. Then Daddy started to tell Mommy what had happened to him.

"I met someone on the plane who gave me an inspiration, telling me about his own experience at the hotel. He, too, attended the symposium. He saw a woman with a baby and it made him remember how he was babied by his own wife."

Then Daddy laughed before sharing the story to Mommy.

(To read: Tap BABIED link to Daddy's story)

After the story, Mommy noticed the book that Daddy was holding in his hand.

"What is that book you are holding?"

Mommy asked him.

"The stories of The Little Ka."

(To read: Tap THE LITTLE KA link to the stories)

I wanted to interrupt him asking who was Ka. But he continued talking.

"I bought it for our child's bedtime stories someday."

Mommy smiled at the idea and they kissed.

I was full already. My stomach got filled up and gave me another feeling.

Sleepy. And so I slept.

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