Contribution
'Come home Dad'
(The following article was submitted by an eleven-year old boy who goes by the name Brave One)
I'm a taekwondo jin, and a cry baby. I started taekwondo at age 6. I was a mama's boy so I was a little weak... Each game brought butterflies in my stomach and made my knees tremble. I couldn't kick, I was scared, so scared. Now I'm 11 years old, stronger and braver but still a mama's boy. I don't mind though. Thanks to her. If it were not for her patience and support, I would still be weak and scared for everything... of Life.
Our life is not an ordinary life... it's a life full of struggles, hurts, heartaches and pain. It's just me, my brother, and my mom. But thank God mom is so brave and strong. And now, I am too! I have been winning more games, more golds. Thanks to my kuya, a good family friend who's a blackbelter and a knock-out player that taught me great power. And his sister, my secret crush and inspiration. A beautiful grey eyed blackbelt. Coaches that taught me skills and techniques. And of course, the love of my life, My Dad. He's the strongest, the bravest man I have ever known. A 5th dan blackbelt, undefeated champ, a referee and most of all, the best dad! I love him, MORE THAN MY LIFE... I seldom see him for some personal reasons, he can't work, live and be with us. And he works in Manila, far from us. But when he's home, we're inseparable.
We do things together morning till night. In the morning we go around the city and at night we sit on a road side, "inuman" on the table, having talks with him having a drink and his favorite "talaba". We talk, joke, and laugh... Lots and lots of laughters! Moments and talks that I cherished in my heart.
Life got too busy for me with school and lots of practices at the gym and tournaments. But It didn't matter. I enjoyed going to the gym, reminds me of my dad, a strict instructor. Big man with thunderous voice. But at home, oh my! A very maharot and maalaga daddy that cooks a lot. But of course, his being UNGOT is always there. But it didn't matter to us. As long as he's around, nothing else matters. His being UNGOT is funny and made us love him even more and miss him a lot too.
Months passed, he's still busy, and I am too. But then, I miss him, with all the golds, I now long to see him, talk to him, see him smile in reality and not only in texts... But he is still busy.
A couple of months ago he told me he would come home when he's free. That made me very happy. But he got so busy again that he can't come home... Or even text.
There was a time when I saw mom crying but I said to myself "Oh she just missed dad". Days passed, still no texts... Is there something wrong? No. HE'S JUST BUSY.
I kept waiting patiently, everyday. Then one day, my most awaited day came, DADDY TEXTED. He will be home soon! My daddy... Home soon... Days passed, still no sign of daddy. I just told myself, "he's busy". After a month, he texted. Gee, this time it's true! HE'S REALY COMING HOME! He told me, it will be a surprise, He will be home maybe tomorrow, or the next day.
I started fixing my room. I am 11years old now, I will show him, I can now fix my room all by myself. I dusted my favorite picture frame -- me,my brother, mom and, of course, dad. I hung my medals on the wall, 13 golds,9 silvers, and 3 bronzes, LOOK AT THAT. He surely will be proud! I started to wait in the window. A bus passed. 9 p.m. 3 buses passed, but no sign of daddy. "Oh maybe he's on the next bus. It's okay, it's still early." A bus passed then another and another. But no sign of daddy. I felt sleepy and it's already 3 a.m. No more buses, but still no sign of daddy. I was so sleepy, so I decided to sleep and told myself "It's okay maybe he had a last minute schedule that he can't miss. I'll wait again tomorrow."
Morning came. I went to school and waited excitedly for night to come. Night came, as usual I waited. A bus passed, and then another and another. Dawn came, everyone already asleep, the whole world silent. I laid down, closed my eyes and said "MAYBE TOMORROW"... Every morning, when I wake up, I always pray. My tita taught me that. She said, "PRAY HARD". Days came, months passed. In the morning, I pray. Each day my prayer more intense, more tears falling down eyes. "LORD please oh please hear my prayer". Each night he never came. I still waited patiently. My heart never giving up, my love never fading... Up to this day waiting, staring outside with a prayer in my heart... "DADDY, MY GREAT LOVE, PLEASE COME HOME"... (braveone_1@yahoo.com)