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BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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Monday, October 16, 2017
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VII. OLD GOSSIP
“Where have you been?” is not the easiest question for someone who does not want to be reached. The advancement of communication technology has nothing to do with it. Sometimes, the answer to the question requires a lifetime.
*
The shopkeeper tapped the store bars between them.
Called out louder, Lola Metring, do you know Mercedes Luces? The house of Mercedes Luces?
Don’t scream at me, shouted the old woman.
But maybe she needed to be screamed at.
She was as deaf as a doornail, or as an elephant ear mushroom.
*
Lola, this man is looking for the house of Mercedes Luces. Do you know any Mercedes Luces?
The old woman paused, tried to remember, Mercedes… Mercedes Luces? Wait, that sounds familiar.
Matt jumped the gun.
My grandmother is a storyteller. She wrote the legend of this island.
*
The old woman smiled with old age recollection, Oh, yes! You meant Ceding Luces. She was the originator of this Bakunawa Festival.
She is! said Matt excitedly. Do you know where she is now, Lola?
Why, she’s three years dead already, the old woman said.
Who are you? she asked.
I’m her grandson. My name is Mateo Luces Feliciano.
*
The runaway?
Oh, my God, hijo! Why did you come back just now?
Your Lola Ceding passed away three years ago.
Do you remember the horrible typhoon “Frank”?
How terrible, that super-typhoon destroyed most of the island including your grandmother’s house.
*
We found her dead and buried in the ruins of her old house.
None of the books survived.
The flood scattered them all over the island.
Nobody could read them—wet, torn, and in English, too.
The old gossip went on and on.
*
We didn’t know where you were so we could not send word.
About a year ago, the local government built a public library on the unclaimed land.
We thought Ceding would be so happy wherever she is now.
She was a writer, thus, the library. (Even if nobody reads at all.)
What greater tribute could we give?
Matt forced a smile.
*
I’m sorry about your loss, hijo.
I’d like to stay and chat, but I have to make a living.
The economy is so slow on this island.
We are just thankful that we have the festival every summer.
What I earn in the week of the festival can make me comfortable for the rest of the year.
Matt could hardly speak. Thank you for telling me.
*
The old woman continued, Oh, that’s nothing compared to what your grandmother has done for this island.
I’m sad that her memory is often left out during the festival. I really am.
I think it is a political thing.
Although I can’t understand it because the Luces family tree became extinct on the island when your grandmother died.
Matt was silently teary eyed, sad about losing his grandmother.
Sorry about politicians neglecting culture and literature, or perhaps threatened by it.
*
Really, hijo, I have to go. I have peanuts to sell.
She handed him one bag, Here, a welcome present.
Welcome back to Isla PulangPasayan.
Matt just nodded melancholically, smiled to the peanut vendor, and gave her a funky salute.
*
She let out a sigh, finished her packing, and pushed her cart of goodies out to sell.
She screamed at the shopkeeper, obviously her granddaughter, Hey, Perla, take charge of the store. Keep open at least until midnight.
It’s not like we have good sales all the year through.
This is our only chance to make a killing.
*
Not looking up from her komiks, the lass dumbly said, Yes, Lola.
The old peanut vendor took off.
Matt ordered from the shopkeeper, Can I have a Pepsi, please?
For here or to go? she asked.
*
Huh? The question surprised Matt.
The shopkeeper, annoyed, explained, well, if you drink it here, I can give it to you in the bottle.
If you want to take it with you, I have to pour it in a plastic bag.
To go, then, Matt said to simplify things.
He took out a twenty-peso bill as she poured the drink from the bottle into the plastic bag.
She handed him the drink with a straw.
*
He paid her, leaving as she made change.
Hey, you forgot your change! The girl called out, but Matt did not look back.
Hmp! If he said he didn’t need change, I could just have let him take the bottle, the girl murmured to herself.
Then called out to Matt, Thank you! (To be continued)/PN
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