Family Values

I. Human Dignity

"What if we just drag all of the blind people out of the way? All the ones we see on the streets?" my dad asks. We're in the car on the way to church. He's driving, and I'm on the seat next to him.

"What?"

"They're traffic hazards. And I don't know if you noticed -- there seems to be more of them on Sundays. Taking advantage of how some people behave better on church day than on the other days." He checks the traffic light and the car ahead of him. "Running over one would be a hassle too. I bet it takes a longer time to get things processed when you hit somebody. They'll take my licence. Have this impounded. Type up reports in the precincts. What'll you do if ever we run over a blind man?"

"Call Tod?" I say. Tod is Dad's right hand man. He knows everybody who's anybody in City Hall. I figure he could get us out of any sticky wicket. Or so I thought.

"Tod's nothing. Call a lawyer. That's what we'll need."

The road's slick and glossy. It has stopped raining, but the thin sheet of water can still make the pavement slippery. Perfect day for an accident.

II. Blood and Water

John hands me the wad of cash. It's in a white envelope. "Don't forget the receipt."

If someone else said it, I would have taken it as a thoughtful reminder. But it was John. Anything my brother ever said hinted at a complete lack of trust. Now, what he means without saying is he wants to make sure the money goes to whatever it was I said I was needing the money for.

I shut up, but I want to give him a piece of my mind. I'm your sister, damn it.

III. Freedom of Choice

My legs are still numb. I can't feel my belly, even if I poke it with my finger. I look around and see Tod sitting on the chair next to me. He's reading the Sunday paper and looking for familiar names. The obits page.

I knew it. I shouldn't have brought him along.

The doctor comes in the room (it's the spare in his house which he turned into a recovery room) and tells me that I should be fine the next day. The womb's clean, as far as he could tell. Every bit's been scraped and taken out. There's no way an infection would start, that's his promise.

I can't help it but I cry for hours. I miss my mother.

Wish Me Luck

Just sent off a story to an open call.

Time to get some sleep.

Vignette:Josephine & Marcia and the Missing Silver Hairdryer

"The hairdresser was chatting away about some nouveau riche madame getting her hair fried when suddenly the lights went out and everything, everything in the parlor! went up in flames!"

"And how did you escape?"

"I was on the chair by the door, reading the latest OK magazine, the one that featured Regine and Ogie and Ruffa and Yilmaz."

"Did anyone get hurt? I mean, when I saw the parlor this morning, it looked like charred black things. There wasn't a flicker of pink anywhere."

"The hairdresser -- sheem's dead! And that's strange because the place was small, it was easy to get out of. Even the manicurista who was washing her tools in the corner sink came out with nary burn nor bruise."

"Sheem's gone! How awful! I have an appointment booked for the wedding on Friday! Where can you get a stylist at this late a time?"

"Hear, hear. Sheem was a rather talented one, wasn't sheem? I mean, sheem had hands like Franck Provost. Sheem can make Lotlot de Leon look like Keira Knightley."

"Or poor ol' me from a wilted spinster to a dashing debutante."

"Aye, me. Sheem will be missed."

"Fancing cracking the mystery?"

"Of the exploding parlor?"

"What else, dearie? Heaven knows I'm not going to go after whether the naked photo that's going around is the real teenage girlie from High School Musical."

"Hmm. Let me get my thinking cap on."

"Where should we begin?"

"Let's go to ground zero then. Number 45, Severina Avenue -- the building with hideous yellow accents and pink pink walls. It is too horribly loud for even a gay man to work in."

"Ahh, dear. Let's not get our personal preferences for classic and tasteful design in the way of good ol' fashion sleuthing."

"Hear, hear."

Whatever Happened to... First Love?

It's here! It's finally here!!!

Get a hold of FIRST LOVE, the latest anthology from Cozy Reads Publishing. Features 11 new stories from prizewinning authors as well as new and exciting voices.

Here's the TOC from the official website:

Project Uno - Elyss Punsalan
That Familiar Hand - Celestine Marie G. Trinidad
Room 101 - Belen Morabella
Summer Interlude - Chona Suner-Narvadez
A Certain Quality - I. P. Goze
A Kiss Is a Kiss Is a Kiss - Karen Manalastas
Whatever Happened To...? - Sally Magdiwang
Meeting at San Agustin - Ana Maria S. Villanueva
Love Digitally - Jason Paul C. Laxamana
The Seatmate - Raymund P. Reyes
Note to Self - Isabel Reoja

The book was released at the 28th Manila Book Fair. I'm not sure if there would be a formal book launch anytime soon... Anyway, if there is going to be one, it'll be posted here.

Like Cozy Reads says, Curl up with a good book. Make it First Love, ei? :-)