Chapter 20

1. All around them the huge pine splinter torches had been igni ted and they cast aredglow over the crowd; it was time to do the final ceremony and they rose just him and her family, and they formed a small procession to the side of the mountain where a hole had already been dug, They let bimshove hercoflawithin the they pushed aboulder at the entrance to the burial place and covered IK with earth. Waywaya's mother planted before it a few strands of ramos- they would grow, tall and purple. He was a Taga Daya he must show them that he could dam his feelings but as tears streamed down his cheeks, he shuddered violently and cned. The chieflaid an arm around Dayaw's shouider and took him back. The gongs were louder now and above thrir rhythm mse the squealing of pigs being butchered. They went up the hall, its floor of hewn wood, and frum the roof dangled lamps of iron, ablaze with light. 1 have asked my father." Dayaw said, that they do not cross the nver anymore, that if they do, they bear gits of life. t pray that you do the same This is what Waywaya would have wanted... The old chief , squtting on his deerskin rug, did not reply; his gaze went beyond the bonfire outside the wide open door, leaping now, lighting the sombrous sky. In the yellow embroidery of flames, it seemed that his cyes were glazed and when he finally spoke , his words were slow and they bore great feeling "There something about an old tree, he said, it grows no more At the same time, it isdifficult to cut it down Its roots are deep although it candraw no more sustenance fromtheearth Maybe, it is right that the new trees should grow." Heate little when the food finally came. Partangon ate nothing for hehad falilenasleep. They brought Dayaw wine - sweet slightiy bitter and he wondered if it would be in the wine But it was not. It was late and he must rest so they left him while the feasting and dancin g contined outéde. He slept fitfully until dawn- that deep and tranquil quiet when just a tint of purple appeared in the est and stars still studded the sky like gems Now, thoughts crowded his mind like drunes and he was filled once more with regret that he had not heenkinder to her. He could see her now in this time of day, her hair glossy and black, her precious face the luminous eyes, the moist lips- the image of her alive and breathing and touching pottering in the kitchen, preparing his meal. And the baby yes, their son, how wouldit be when he firally b became a man? And Parbangon, would they enslave him order him return as be had hoped they would so that he could tell Taga Daya? And how wauld it end for him? He had beem trained not to fear death and though he had considered fighting, there was no sense to it as there was really no logic for his being here, just as the lo said. No logic. but since when did love have any? Marning and it was time to leave the ald chief was at the door and as he approached, Dayaw gianced at Parbngon who was stillasleep. "Don't wake him up" the chief said softly. "He needs rest: we will take him back to the river."A wave ofjoy engalfed him. They went down the broad steps, into a brilliant moming where some of the warriors had aiready gathered The old chief put an arm around his shoulder, murmuring "Hushand of my daughter- my son""Father of my wife- my father," he returned the farewell. In The Clear, everything stood out now - the bamboo houses with their grass root, the corrals for the pigs, the chicken houses, the vegetable patches, the orange trees. He knew almost everything around him just as Way had described it; why, he was almost home at home They walked him to the edge of the village. He must utter now the important word. "Way," he sid in reverential prayer. "I loved her. The fruit of our union- a boy. Your blood is in him he is across the river. Will you let him grow in peace ignorant of a time like this? "Will you" The chief did not answer and if he spoke. Day did not hear. The ones started again and then from the women in the distance came a sound of wailing Was it for him? In his heart, though he was afraid, he was glad. The forest awaited him as sunset, he lmew that he would not reach the never.

2. One time when I was like six I was in Walmart and I was eating a tube of Pringles and I ate them while my mom paid but I forgot to let the guy scan my Pringles so I walked to the door and an alarm went off and I just started running because I got scared and then my mom couldn't find me because I was hiding behind the newspaper things and the Walmart people called the police because I was missing and when I heard them show up I thought I was a criminal so I left my mom a note on the newspaper that said I went to Mexico to start a new life and not to come looking for me and then I took off running with my Pringles can and I ran for like an hour and then the cops saw me walking down the road so they pulled over so l started running again and then they were using the like car intercom thing and they told me to stop running so when I did I thought they were gonna put me in handcuffs and take me to jail so I was crying and I slapped the officer in the stomach and tried to run again but he ju st held me back and when he asked me what happened to me and I told him he started crying he was laughing so hard. And he just gave my mom two dollars for the Pringles and he was stll laughing when he left. And that's the time I was a wanted criminal.

3. A man was passing through the forest. He was very tired and decided te take rest under the shadow efa bigtree. He beardasound which was coming from the bushes. Hesawa oystal bottle under the bushes. The sound was coming from the bettle. He opened the betle in escitement and lookedinside. Soon a big red ghostappeared with a lot ofblack smoke from the bottle. He screamed, "Cive me some work or elselwilleat you The man was frightened. "W..What kind of work should i give you",he asked the ghost."Any kindof werk You let me out from the bottle, now you have to give me work", replied the ghost. The man told him te drop him te his heuse. Again, the ghost asked for work. The man told him to build a palace. laa few minuter, it was ready. The ghost again asked for work er else he wouldeat the man Heordered him to get plenty ef jewels and gold. Soen the jewels and geld were there. The ghost again said, "Give me some work or else i willeat you"Me told him te get aice dethes. At once, the ghost brought the clothes. Again, the ghost asked for work. He teld him te get food. And in secondsa table full of delicious food appeared. But the man did not get time to eat as the ghost was after him and wanted Werk Work Work! The man kept on giving work as he was afrald that the ghost woudeat him. He could neither eat nor sleep the whole night. Soon, he came pwith an idea. He told the ghost to beild a pillar as high as the sky and climb up and down till the earth repeatedly. Now, the ghost was very happy that he had lots of work to de. The man finally ate the food and fell anleep Next moreing, the man got up and went outside. The ghost was climbing up and dewn the pillar all the time. Many days k months passed. Now the ghost started feeling a little tired. He requested the man to make him stapas he was not ableto dimbanymere. The man agreed on a condition that he must go far away from here and never come back. Heapreed and premised the man. The ghost picked the pillar nd ran as fast as he can and never came back .