FREE PICTURES - The Waiting Mother and Child

CHAPTER 15 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?) The First Time

“ ….just like in a prima facie case where the minimum evidence is adequate to establish an inference about the accusation….” Atty. Lagum was sauntering around the classroom like a caged monkey.

“ If I were to accuse Mr. Lagaton of robbery…what do you think are the evidences that would be considered in a prima facie case?” he stopped right behind Benny.

Benny’s mind was half attentive and half preoccupied with the events of yesterday.

It was the first time he and Julia had a “fight”.

“ You are supposed to watch over him!” Julia’s voice was up by a notch.


“ I was. I just went to the other room to get this book.”

Andre was wailing and there was a big, ugly bump on his forehead.

Julia was near to tears as they both tried to rock Andre to appease him. But it was apparent that he was hurt by his continuous crying.

They decided to bring him to the nearby hospital.

They were both upset and terribly worried that they almost forgot to bring the house keys.

“Apply an ice pack 3 times a day until the bump subsides. Observe him for 24 hours. If he vomits or becomes febrile, you’ll have to bring him back immediately,” the Doctor instructed.

On their way home, they didn’t speak to each other.
Benny was thinking, "Did she have to shout?"
Julia was thinking, "He should have been more watchful."

Andre slept soundlessly after taking in his medications, unaware of the growing tension between his parents. That night - for the first time in their lives- Benny and Julia slept apart like strangers.

Benny had been stressed out with the assignments from school. He had to read several excerpts of a topic from 10 different books AND - baby sit simultaneously because Julia was busy cooking in the kitchen AND - washing clothes too.

It was how Julia shouted at him that Benny didn’t want. Nobody ever shouted at home. Every misunderstanding was resolved calmly. Andre falling off his high chair was an accident.

Granted that it was his fault, still - it does not warrant being shouted at. It was simply unacceptable to him.

“ Mr. Lomiwan…?”

Benny was alert in an instant. “ the prima facie evidence would depend on the charges…,” he answered.

“ I said robbery charges Mr. Lomiwan…” the Professor was eyeing him sternly.

Benny vainly searched in his mind the answer to the question at hand. “ The accused maybe indicted if the weapon used and the goods stolen are found in his possession.“ It was a shot in the dark but common sense dictated that it was the best he can come up with under the circumstances.

“Correct, but this fact should be established beyond reasonable doubt,” the professor was visibly not impressed.

Benny‘s breathing grew steady.

“What if I say Mr. Lomiwan , that you have a tail at the base of your spine because you’re an Igorot?” Professor Lagum just wouldn't give up.

Someone snickered at the back, but the rest of the class became deathly quiet as Benny’s back turned stiffer.

“How can you disprove the allegation through evidence presentation?” the professor threw the question to the whole class.

It was high school all over again, Benny thought. he could still remember the taunting he had received from his peers because he belonged to a cultural minority.

The air in the room was increasingly charged with apprehension as the silence grew longer.

Benny slowly stood up and towered over the smaller professor. “I can show you the evidence Professor if you can assure me that I have the permission of everyone here in this classroom; and that you would vouch I won’t be charged with indecency.”

Their eyes met and clashed. An interminable minute passed one after the other. The professor’s beaded eyes looked down first, and he moved forward like a squirrel scampering for cover.

Benny didn’t sit down though; “I want all of you to know that I indeed have a tail, but it’s not found at the base of my spine, but in front of me - between my two balls. If you want evidence I would gladly show you this particular “tail".”

Laughter erupted in the classroom and the professor went red in the face but he said nothing.

Photo by Lin Pernille ♥ ...


Just then the bell rang and Benny left without talking to anyone.

He went straight to the school library to research more about their assignment.

He knew now that the professor won’t make life easier for him after his unabashed pronouncement in class.

REMEMBER WHEN

By: TASHA BUD

I know that Father's Day is long passed, but as I said before in my Unspectacular Quirks post, I'm seldom punctual.

So, today, I'd like to dedicate this post to the love of my life.

Hon, I know that I haven't been a perfect wife, but still you loved me unconditionally.

Photo by Sabrina Campagna

Out of the young and gorgeous women in your life who wanted to be with you, you chose to be with me instead.

Young, naive, and poor as I was, you took me into your life and showed me the world.

You loved and nurtured me, patiently, until I blossomed into the woman I have become who can truly give and reciprocate the love you so deserve.

We've had our ups and downs along the way as many married couples have. But I admire you in your steadfastness and commitment to our marriage, even when, at times, I'd like to leave and just throw everything away.

Within the first year of our marriage, I asked you to send me back home to the Philippines.

Having never been away from home and away from my family, I felt homesick and despondent.

Even at 22, you had the maturity to tell me to give ourselves a chance, before resorting to what I'd asked of you.


Photo by E-Rocks

From different cultures and backgrounds, you and me, you thought we needed time to adjust and to get to know each other better.

When you first learned that we'd be parents, you were ecstatic, beyond comprehension.

As much as you loved hunting and other outdoor sports, you gave them up to dedicate your time to fatherhood.

The children's activities with school, martial arts, basketball, volleyball, and soccer games had replaced hunting and other outdoor sports you loved doing with your friends.

Photo by …†∆†¡∆µ∆ 

Almost thirty-one years of marriage, two children, and one grandson and a granddaughter on the way later, you're

still standing by me, loving me and supporting me while I achieve my dreams and goals in life.

I dedicate this post to you, my love, along with this beautiful song by Alan Jackson--Remember When. And if the time of my demise arrives before yours does, I'd like for you to play this song at my funeral to remember me by.

With All My Love,
Tootie


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


"I'm a dreamer, a risk taker, an adventurer, a hopeless romantic, and a Taurean who hopes that one day soon be a successful published Romance Novelist."

This is what TASHA BUD has to say for herself.

She has never written a novel but you wouldn't know this because she writes beautifully; her current work has faithful readers from all over the globe. She maintains two blogs namely;
The Big Picture (her home blog for her novel with the same title) and Tasha's Take ( where she writes her other thought provoking posts).

She knows how to put her heart into her writing that leaves readers clamoring for more. She is a rising star worth watching out for.

Let's put our hands together for a superb romance novelist - Tasha Bud.

The Hut in the Mountains

UPDATES ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSPIRATIONAL BOOK

Well folks here's an update on the stories submitted for the inspirational book.
As of this moment there are 3 (three) official entries:

1. INSPIRATION by: NICHOLAS CHASE
2. SHE DIDN'T DANCE by: ROY DE LA CRUZ
3. REMEMBER WHEN by: TASHA BUD ( Not published on this site but will be published soon)

I need at least 25 stories, and my target publication will be August 1, 2009.

I'm inviting all writers for this book as I know it would be a good book for people who are willing to take time to read. I still offer the 5,000 credits as incentive. It may not be much but "money is not everything."

Wish me luck. I invite all of you to be a part of my quest in fulfilling this dream of a lifetime.

Thanks for all the support and encouraging words.

She Didn't Dance - Conclusion

By: Roy dela Cruz

(You may want to read Part 1 & 2)

Whew! I was glad that was over. Next would be the talent portion. But my baby was number twenty-eight. Would she be able to hold and wait for her turn? Meanwhile, friends and relatives had arrived to support Angel. Everyone - wanting to hold her, hug her, kiss her, or play with her while it was not yet her turn.

Angel (older now) in one of her "model" poses -10 yrs.old

As we watched the proceedings of the program, other children performed without any problem.
I had hoped the same would be true with my baby. It was almost nine o’clock and candidate number twenty or twenty-one was performing on the stage. My wife asked me to talk to Angel; she wanted to go home.

Not again! I didn’t know what happened, but Angel was cranky. Maybe her aunties and cousins unwittingly pressured her young mind by telling her to do well. Or maybe she just got impatient and didn’t want to dance. I took her backstage and tried to talk to her.

Number twenty-five was on the stage. I asked her to do it just once and promised her that I would never allow her mommy to put her in a contest like that again.

The Author and Angel -May 2008


It was harder to talk to her this time, but through patience and daddy’s charms, I was able to convince her. Candidate number twenty-seven was almost finished.

I kissed and hugged my baby for the last time. As they called her name.

I handed her to the usherette and tried to rush to the front to take her picture. I had only taken a few steps when I heard the ushers and usherettes calling me.

When I looked back, Angel was crying! What now?! I rushed to Angel’s side trying to talk to her. She was still crying.

In the meantime, the emcee kept on calling Angel’s name, I was asking for two minutes.

Then, out of nowhere, the daycare teacher came urging Angel to dance on the stage.

Angel in grade school (11 yrs.old)

Imagine that! My baby was crying and all this teacher could think of was the talent portion!
Then came Angel’s aunties and cousins, all convincing her to perform her talent.

I was literally pushed-out of the picture. My baby was crowded! My baby was mobbed! And she was crying! The talent portion was called off. My baby never got to perform her number.

Then there was an intermission. The gown portion followed.


I was able to convince my baby to wear her gown, which she personally picked, and continue with the contest. She was on the stage together with the other twenty-seven young ladies.

Waving and smiling to the audience, although there were still traces of tears in her eyes.

We knew she won’t get anything for all her efforts, but we still want her to finish the contest. The finalists were chosen, special awards were given, until all the winners were announced.

For all those proceedings, I wasn’t really concern; I just wanted it to be over with.

Finally, it was all over. It was time for us to get our baby back and go home.

Angel, Christmas 2004

On the way home, everybody in our group was quiet.

Well, not really quiet, but they were not as enthusiastic as they were three or four hours earlier.

Each one trying not to talk about the contest and the talent portion.

I was carrying my baby, she was happy and smiling. We were kissing and hugging each other along the way.

She didn’t win, but in my heart she’ll always be my little princess. One thing we learned on that day is that, my baby’s charms, talents and wit, was only ours to behold.

My baby didn’t dance. She didn’t have to. She’s my Angel, and I love her very much.

Wordy Wednesday, A Meme From Eric of Ruminations of a Small Town Mountain Boy

I picked up this Meme from Eric of "Ruminations of a Small Town Mountain Boy" and "Chihuatude".

Eric is a great, generous and dynamic blogger who have introduced new concepts into the world of blogging. Read his posts: Monday's Writers of the Web, to understand what I mean. It's only him who has this series of visiting blogs and writing about them in his blog, every Monday.

This Meme that Eric has created is good for writers because you can learn new words and enjoy the challenge of putting it into use. It also allows you to interact with other writers in the blogging world.

The idea is to pick a word from Eric's list, and leave a comment informing the author of the word. The author then must use the word in the commenter's blog. The comment using the word should be related to the most recent post of the blog. (Did I get it right, Eric?)

Just like Eric, I won't pass this on. Anyone who wants to be tagged is welcome.

Just copy the Meme and rules on your own site and leave a comment on this post so I can come and visit you with the challenge of commenting on your latest post- using the word you've selected.

I decided to use Eric's choices as I find them good words and saves me from searching for new words.

Happy blogging !

Words of the day.

1. chichi

\SHEE-shee\, adjective:
Affectedly trendy.

2. enervate

\EN-ur-vayt\, transitive verb:
1. To deprive of vigor, force, or strength; to render feeble; to weaken.
2. To reduce the moral or mental vigor of.

3. provenance

\PROV-uh-nuhn(t)s\, noun:
Origin; source.

4. exalt

\ig-ZOLT\, verb:
1. To praise, glorify, or honor.
2. To heighten or intensify.
3. To raise in rank, character, or status; as, "exalted the humble shoemaker to the rank of King's adviser."

5. tittle-tattle

\TIT-uhl TAT-uhl\, noun:
1. Idle, trifling talk; empty prattle.
2. An idle, trifling talker; a gossip.

6. vexillology

\vek-sil-AHL-uh-jee\, noun:
The study of flags.

7. asperity

\as-PAIR-uh-tee\, noun:
1. Roughness of surface; unevenness.
2. Roughness or harshness of sound; a quality that grates upon the ear.
3. Roughness of manner; severity; harshness.