Fifteen

Author's note: These chapters are NOT stand-alones...The story starts here.

What it all entails...4

My time here, each day now, is precious. I feel the need to savor and count each one less they slip away unappreciated.

We are up early, at least by my normal standards. All are assembled and ready for the day long before seven. I give each two thousand pesos. I would have given more but Lyn has cautioned me against that. This, I am told, is plenty. But even with this amount, there is a problem. Lexi is freaking out. It is way too much!

We resolve it by having her take sixty pesos with her and keeping the balance in a cabinet at the house.

Lyn and Jana will be checking on what they need to enroll in college. I gather they will be leaving after I leave with Lexi and before I return from her school.

Mel will be taking care of washing the clothing and cooking.

Sometime after I drop off Lexi, I will investigate if it is possible to get internet into the house.

So begins the seventh day of my adventure. It is January 29^th, 2003.

The General Santos National High School is far from our house. We are in Brgy. City Heights. Her school is in Brgy. Calumpang and that is one heck of a drive. I really don’t think this is going to work, but Lexi says, Just two more months, Craig! Then it is done. Next year I in college! No problem.

As I ride along, I am getting an idea for how large this city really is. It is far larger than I thought. In a way in knew it, but I guess I wasn’t paying attention. My dear Boston is two hundred and thirty-two square kilometers. GenSan is over four hundred and ninety-two square kilometers. It is more than twice the size of Boston!

Calumpang has got to be a real ‘low rent’ area. Pesos here are dear and few. It’s obvious just by what I see as we ride along. Here, my riding up with Lexi causes a stir for all sorts of reasons. But, coming to school, on a what for them is a really big motorcycle behind a white guy, in this most depressed of areas, is prime among all the reasons.

For me it is unreal in another way. These kids are all wearing a uniform. All the girls are in deep pink skirts, which typically come down mid-calf, with white ankle-high socks, black leather shoes, and white sailor shirts with pink piping. Not every girl is pretty but good lord almighty, plenty are.

Yes, plenty are and I am surrounded by them. Lexi is ‘showing me off,’ as it were. I don’t understand a word of what is being said, but it is clear that the conversation is about me. I hear her mention City Heights and that causes a stir.

As I am about to leave, Lexi gives me a kiss. I am not sure that is a smart thing to do. We do have an audience. Still, it is done.

I hear a number of girls saying ‘Goodbye, Sir’ as I get ready to leave. And on those faces I see something that is just plain sad in one way and lecherously exciting in another. I see faces of girls who are sad that it is not they with whom I am connected. These kids are thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen. Say that to yourself and look around where you live. It just isn’t possible, right?

Those faces shake me a bit. How many were willing, no, not just willing, but anxious to climb aboard? Too many. It is clear to me that I should not make a return visit while I am here these next two weeks. By the time I return, in May or June, the school year will have ended and Lexi will have graduated.

I start up the bike and roll away from them. I figure I can get back to the house without losing my way. Yes, losing my way… that concept is front and center in my mind and not because of the directions I must take on the bike. There are other ways to lose your way … and those faces…

It takes a good forty-five minutes before I am home again. It’s a long way and I am feeling pretty crumby for what I have done to Lexi.

I mention it to Mel, who tells me it’s no big deal. Lexi will ride a jeepney to where she will get off, at the Fair and Square Pharmacy, and take a tricycle up to the house. The total cost of the transport will be under twenty pesos. As to the time it takes, Mel just laughs and tells me to not worry about it. I guess it’s just something I need to recalibrate in my brain.

A trip downtown with Mel plus three hours of investigating brings the information that DSL Internet is available from the telephone company. It won’t be fast, but it is not expensive. I can only get a 512KB connection and that will just have to do. I won’t get it until I get back, but it is nice to know I can.

Following that, and before we return home, we have lunch of fried chicken, and I decide to spend the couple of hours at an Internet café. … Mel gets her introduction to the net.

All in all, things are falling into place. And, in a weird way, things are slowing down. Things have been nonstop until this afternoon.

I gather there are some people I need to meet now, and so it’s not like I can sit at the house and chill for seven days. That isn’t going to happen. I will have time to chill without Internet and, as the TV is only local channels and they are all in Tagalog, there is nothing to watch.

I do have a few books I picked up at the book store yesterday and so I have something to do with my idle time. But I want to see more of the town and, like I said, there are people I am told I need to meet.

Mel has said something that I need to get my head around. She started to talk about her family. I had understood that it was truncated to just a poor mother, which was the reason that she and Lexi were on their own, though I know Mel’s mother exists somewhere. Still, she has not been mentioned but once. When she mentioned her father, it had seemed like she had nothing to do with him.

Now I am getting a different read on the matter. Mel’s father and others of his contingent are coming Saturday to meet me. We will need to feed them. It seems like this is going to be a party. I am not going to be roasted; they are going to be honored guests. She said we should expect about twenty of them! Yes, I need to wrap my head around that. But that is not all.

Mel’s mother is coming on Monday, two days after her father…. And Mel is making noises to the effect that she will be staying. I have not agreed to this and I don’t say a word. I may have misunderstood and need more information.

Mel has also mentioned that some of Jana’s family want to visit. I ask her if Lyn’s family was coming, but she has no information to share related to that.

We have gotten back home. Mel wants to start cooking and sex, even should I want some right now, is not on the menu. Mel is evidently a bit sore from last night’s activities.

It’s warm outside. Too warm to sit on the first floor terrace or the third floor balcony. There is a sort of parlor on the first floor and an ‘in-the-window’ type air conditioner. I turn the thing on, grab one of the books and settle back to read the Red Rabbit. I have always loved Tom Clancy books. This one came out last year and I never got around to picking it up until now.

I get only about ten pages finished when Lyn and Jana come exploding through the door and land on top of me. Evidently their day searching out what is needed to enroll in school must have gone well. But, rather than tell me about their day, they are asking me about mine. I am the important one, don’t you know?

It’s sweet and I have no doubt that this is just a phase that will wear off in a while. For now, however, it’s…

How was your day? You find you can get the Internet? Maybe it too much money? How much? When you get this? How we use it? Did it go OK getting Lexi to school? What you do the rest of the day?

It takes quite a while to get through all these questions to their satisfaction before I learn about their day.

Both of them can get degrees from Mindanao State University and they proudly tell me that, while they could have gone to Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, MSU is much less expensive! It is better for us! Lexi can attend too! They have an education degree for English instruction.

I am taking this in and hearing how great this is as all three of the girls will be able to go back and forth together. Mel is listening in for a bit before smiling and saying, Craig, ask them where is MSU.

I think I am about to learn something important. Maybe Lyn and Jana have no clue why the question carries weight, but it seems Mel has a reason to insert herself at this moment.

OK, Lyn, where is MSU?

You know where you go this morning with Lexi?

Yes.

That the way to the airport. You remember this, correct?

I have to laugh. It seemed familiar but, no, it hadn’t clicked for me. OK, and?

A little more to the airport. That where MSU be. Maybe if we have a motorcycle we all ride together to school, Lexi too! What you think?

A motorcycle?

Now Lyn is laughing. The money we save for you not going to NDDU … that more than the cost of a motorcycle, Craig. Truly.

We will need to move. It is too far from here.

Why that. It OK. We like this house.

Do you agree, Jana?

Yes, Craig. This best.

I am not sure about Lexi. Are you sure she will attend MSU with you, too? Mel, what will Lexi’s choice be? Will she really want that long ride each day next year?

Maybe, yes. You ask her tonight.

I am not sure I want the three of them on a bike five or six days a week. It just seems far too dangerous.

OK, so Lyn, Jana, how much do you three need to do to get enrolled in MSU for the next semester?

Craig, we have to take the SASE exam. For me and Jana, we do all we need before this, today! It done! Lexi need to do some things. She can talk to her school guidance counselor.

Explain. What is the SASE?

It mean Systems Admission and Scholarship Exam.

So enrollment is not guaranteed?

No, but I sure we will pass. Today we give them the proof we graduate high school, we give them the two photo IDs, we pay the one hundred and fifty pesos testing fee and we fill out the application form. It done, Craig.

When is the exam?

It next month.

Sweetheart, next month is in three days. When next month?

February 12. It a Wednesday. It good we do this now!

That’s the day I fly back from Manila. We chat a little longer. They ask about the book I am reading but, as I have just started it, there is little I can tell them. After a bit, they excuse themselves to go clean up before supper.

They are not gone for more than a few minutes, and I have only gotten a couple of more pages read when Lexi appears. There is a big smile on her face as she parks herself on my lap and asks me,

How was your day? You find you can get the Internet? Maybe it too much money? How much? When you get this? How we use it? Did it go OK getting back here from school? What you do the rest of the day?

Maybe I should have recorded the previous discussion and just played it back.

I go over it once again before mentioning the college plans of her co-mistresses. She takes it all in. Then, without a word from me asking if it OK if she wants to go the MSU next year, she tells me how great it will be that the three of them can all go together.

You sure you want to do that?

Yes. Then I not be lonely. Yes, this is best.

I get a kiss and she leaves to change out of her school uniform.

I must admit, I am a little surprised. From all I have read, it rains here a lot. Travelling on a bike the distance they will have to travel in the rain seems a pretty dumb idea, but they don’t seem to be daunted by the concept at all.

I am the clueless foreigner, and so I guess I’ll let it go. I don’t know enough; time will be the teacher.

This time I get fifteen pages read before all assemble for supper.

The meal is good, if not recognizable in my index of foods I have ever eaten. It works well with the mountain of rice which they have piled on my plate. Once again, I decide not to ask questions. Let time unravel the mysteries.

The conversation seems to be involved with something they are afraid I will hear, because it is in their language and I am getting furtive looks.

What are you talking about?

Silence.

Lyn, what is this about?

Nothing, Sir. It is not important.

I don’t care if it isn’t important. What is it?

I shy to say.

Tell me.

Not want you to be mad. Not want that. Better we not say.

Lyn, I am getting angry now. Tell me.

OK, OK, Sir. … Sir, we wonder — maybe sometime we will have a karaoke machine. We know we not to ask now. This embarrassing. Sorry, Sorry. We already stupid to ask for the motorcycle. We not want you to be angry with us.

I get the fear. It is true that I was taken aback a bit earlier by the request for a bike, though it does make sense. And so, to ask for this does seem a bit too grabby, too much like the sugar-daddy’s money tree needs a good shaking.

On the other hand, I saw karaoke at the resto-bar we visited the first night. I have heard the neighbors here with their karaoke. It seems to be a national vice of sorts.

How much does this thing cost?

We not sure. Maybe it OK if we check? Nice to have before we have visitors I think.

There it is. Yes, indeed, there it is. That was the rest of the conversation I never got to hear.

You mean Mel’s father?

Yes, that what I mean. Many come with him I think. What we do if no karaoke? Maybe we rent one? That cheaper.

These things can be rented?

Yes. It true.

But maybe there will be more than one party, right, Lyn? … and then, having to rent many times? So maybe it’s better to buy one?

Yes, that what we think, Sir.

Lyn, are you expecting any of your relations to visit?

No, Sir. They not come.

But Jana’s family may come?

Yes, I think it true. They want to meet you.

Who? Her mother and father?

Them yes, plus the others.

Who?

Jana have many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. Many will want to come.

This is not what I am ready for. Are they going to string me up? OK, maybe not Mel’s father. He has two wives. But I don’t know shit about Jana’s family.

Jana, does your family know that I am with four of you?

Yes, I tell them.

What did they say?

They ask if you treat me good and with respect. I tell them you do. I tell them about college. They say then this is good and they will come and celebrate with you.

I see. How many will come?

Maybe thirty. Not sure. I only chat with them today.

When will they come?

They say they come on February 8. That OK?

Mel, your father is coming this Saturday, February 1^st, correct?

Yes. Correct.

So two weekends in a row there is a family party. Do I have that right?

Mel is squirming. Mel, I know you mentioned your mother. You did not say anyone would be coming with her, correct?

Yes. This is true.

And you don’t know exactly which day she will come? I thought you said Monday.

Maybe not. She want me to tell her when to come.

OK, I will speak with you tomorrow about her. Not now.

Yes, Sir. Thank you.

As to the matter of the Karaoke, please get me some pricing tomorrow. Is there anything else we need for a party?

Sir, you not be angry if we tell you how it done here?

I will not get angry. Please tell me.

We need a lechon. This a roast pig. It important. Also best if we get dirty ice cream.

Dirty? What do you mean?

That what we call it¹. It made with carabao milk. It good, it not expensive and we all love it. It come in big container, but we have to order it.

What else?

Just extra food from the market and the supermarket. It not too bad. I think we can do this with our allowance money.

No, I will pay for it. Do you have time tomorrow for all of this, or do you have other things you need to be doing?

We OK to do this.

None of this is how I planned to spend my time here, but I am getting the feeling that these gals come with family attached. It is best to make nice. It is just another thing I had not considered as I never considered gathering even one girl, and now I have a harem.

No matter how well developed a plan is, there are always unintended consequences.

§ § §

1 - It’s not dirty and, though every Filipino calls it Dirty Ice Cream, if you type that phrase into Wikipedia, the stuck up folks who guard Filipino respectability have removed the name and point you to this.

§ § §

What it all entails...5