Good News

Alvin B. Punongbayan

It was early in the morning, Paulo ran to their nipa house.

Father, wake up!
Oh! Son, whats that?
Mr. Lopez passed by, hes looking for you. It seems hes mad so I didnt
say youre here.
Huh? Arr
Why itay?
Never mind son. Go on, youll be late for school.
Alright itay
Just study hard.
Yes itay, goodbye! I love you!
Paulo got his bag and went to school. Its hard for him to study because
his father became sickly after an accident and his mother was gone. She died
upon delivery to Paulo. Hes now a second year student. In order to study, hes
selling ballot and chicharon at night.
Jose, his father was left home. Hes thinking of the problems they have.
How idiot am I? My son is working for me.
He blamed himself for the situation of their life until he remembered that
it was only few minutes that he heard from his son the words I love you. He
smiled. He got the boiled banana to eat. While eating, he just remembered that
today was Paulos birthday.
How I wish I have a gift for my son?
In school, Paulo got from his bag the piece of boiled banana for his
recess. He had no choice; he couldnt buy anything in the canteen for there was
no even a single centavo on his pocket. Beads of tears slightly fell down from his
eyes. He had no control of them.
No one remembered my birthday, even my father. Maybe hes just not
after with the date. I love him for hes the only treasure I have.
He wiped the tears on his cheeks, but his eyes produced more tears
because he felt pity for himself after hearing this sentence from his classmates
who were talking at the back.
God created us equally.
He just asked to himself
How is that so? For I didnt even experience the life of a normal teenager,
I didnt even receive a hug from a real mother. I didnt experience to sleep early

at night or to spend times in watching television. And then my father hadnt

recovered form the accident. Is that really equal?
After that, he went to the comfort room to wash his face. Their teacher
might arrive and would see him crying. He just passed by on his classmates
without answering their questions.
Paulo?
Paulo, why are you crying?
What happened?
Their teacher arrived in the classroom. She noticed that Paulo wasnt
inside. The students said that he went out of the room crying. Mrs. Reyes
asked them the reason but no one knew about it. Paulo returned to the room in
silence. Mrs. Reyes approached him and asked him about his strange attitude
today. Hes mute, he just looked around. Mrs. Reyes realized that he didnt want
to be heard by his classmates. They continued their conversation outside.
Maam
Again, tears fell down from his eyes.
Yes! Tell it to me Paulo.
Im tired
Tired of what?
Tired of the kind of life I have. God is so unfair. I want to die I want to
die right now. Could He not make me smile even for this day, for my birthday?
Hes already crying. Some students stood up upon hearing Paulo as he
shouted. Mrs. Reyes hugged him.
I know how it feels. If crying will help you ease the pain then cry as you
want. However, this is just a challenge my dear! You should be strong. Youre
good, never loose hope.
But maam I have received nothing but pain only bad things. Not
even a day I heard anything good
My dear Life is not a movie that you will know the ending in just an
hour or more. Life is the longest literature in this world. Have patience my dear.
It will help you grow.
He had wiped his tears and entered the room. All of his classmates were
looking at him but no one had the courage to ask what happened.
---------Jose... Jose!
Jose, Paulos father, was alarmed when Mr. Lopez shouted at him.
Mr. Lopez opened the door promptly as he was a police in pursuit of a criminal.
But no criminal was inside this house. Only the creaking of the rotten chair
where Jose was sitting answered Mr. Lopez until he approached Jose.
Oh! Jose, you must pay me now. I need my money.
But but please pity on me. I dont have money right now. Please
give me two days as extension and I shall pay you.
Oh! Here we go again. How many times I heard those words from
you ten, fifteen, twenty? You shall pay me this day or else

your debt.

Or else what?
Ill get your son to be one of my workers in the farm for you to pay

But hes studying!

Its not my problem anymore.
After Mr. Lopez left the house, Jose was crying and thinking of
where he could find five thousand pesos to pay Mr. Lopez. He saw a rope near
the window.
---------After class, Paulo went home. While outside the house, hes calling
his father but no one is answering inside. He shouted again his fathers name.
Upon opening the door he was surprised. His whole world stopped for a
moment. He couldnt move nor talk for a while. Few minutes after, he shouted
and moaned.
Itay!...Itay!
His father committed suicide. He used the rope to kill himself.
Their neighbors helped to get the corpse of Jose. Paulo embraced his father
while moaning until he saw a small paper on the rotten chair. Theres a note
saying
I love you son! Sorry! Study well!
It made him cry again. He shouted that God is so unfair. Hes too
exhausted right now.
At the wake his teacher came. She placed her arm to his shoulder
but she didnt know what to say. What she only knew was that Paulos life was
full of miseries. Until Paulo said in a soft voice
Hes gone he left me I think I cant continue life.
Dont say that Paulo. God loves us. He has plan for us.
Really? He loves us. How come? I cant feel it! What plan? To ruin
my life?
Paulo
What else? To let me die with these sufferings? What sins Ive
made to Him? What?
Hes already shouting. Mrs. Reyes knew that Paulo was really in
pain right now. It was so hard for a 14-year old to lose a parent on his birthday.
Paulo, therell be good news. Just trust God.
How could I do that? Maybe, I dont believe in Him.
Dont say that! You are just looking on the bad side of things.
Come on my dear, you are just looking on the negative sides that you even forget
how good He is.
huh?
He stopped and closed his eyes for a while. He tried to think what
good things God has given to him.
Ill enumerate some.
Ahm maam?

You have a father who loves you and I know wherever he is now,
he still feels that way. Youve been top 2 in our class though you are a working
student. You are gifted. And there are people who care for you.
Who are they maam?
Look at these people in the wake. They are here for you, because
they love you. Im also here whom you can lean on.
Ah Thank you maam! Ive never thought of those things you
said. Thank you for waking me up for Ive been sleeping on the negative side of
life.
Welcome Paulo! And now, Ill give you good news.
Good news?
Youre father left you, so I think itll be hard for you because
youre too young.
What do you mean maam?
Ill help you. Ill support your studies. Just promise me youll
study hard.
Oh! Thank you so much Mrs. Reyes! I promise Ill do my best for
my father. He has lost but his memories will never fade like my love for him.