Staff of hope

Lolo Rio noticed Prinah's yearning's. When he turned away carrying a bundle of firewood in his shoulder he noticed that Prinah stare's at him as he turned his back. He feel's Prinah's loneliness and longing's as he continue walking. He is still thinking of what she was asking about his father and her determination to find him. About a hundred meters away he turned his face and he saw that young Prinah still standing in her place looking at him. He then stop for a while, he smile at her, he raise his staff while firmly holding it and slightly push it in the air showing to Prinah that she can do it. When Prinah saw what the old man was trying to say, she was about to cry but the old man shake his head and forcibly push his staff in the air to and fro showing not to give up. Prinah feel relieved and understand that the old man was giving her hope and continue to reach her goal. While Prinah is watching and remained standing the old man gradually lost in her sight in the midst of the trees. Prinah then turned her back to the house. As she walks toward the house the old man's signal remains in her mind telling her everything will gonna be okay. After a while, Prinah realize that her dream is what also the old man told her. She sense that every moment her father is keep telling her.

"Father, I feel that you really speaks to me, please do not delay me in searching you," Prinah speaks while carrying the strainer, water jug and the lamp that 'lolo' Rio gave to her.

In a little distance from the house, Prinah catch a glimpse of sweet potatoes rapidly growing from the other side of her father's garden. She walks faster, grateful that she had found something to eat for that night. She quickly delivered the house hold items into the house and go directly in the garden. At the site, she diligently pick up the sweet potatoes while her sweats are like grains of corn dropping from her face. The sun is about to set while Prinah keep picking the sweet potatoes. Each potatoes weighs about kilo and Prinah loaded it to a basket the exact weight she could carry. She is on her way home carrying the basket full of potatoes after a while felt the heaviness but somehow manage to whistle with her favorite melody. Prinah managed to pass the grasses full of 'dapaw' (tiny hair of plants that cause itchiness). It's dark already when she arrived at the house, she immediately put the basket full of sweet potatoes and take a bath from the well for she was wet of sweats and her body itching. After wearing her dress she then washed a potato enough for her dinner. She filed three large rocks in triangular position that can exactly lift the pot, kindle a fire and boil the sweet potato in it. Prinah spread a mat on the ground and sat on it facing the fire under a big tree. While waiting for the sweet potato to cook she lit the lamp that 'lolo' Rio gave to her and open the book of her father in her lap and read it while the heat of the fire warm her.

"Hmm, I hope I could find that place that 'lolo' Rio talks about," she turn her head side by side in reading the book while thinking the Paglaum City.

She notice from the book that her father also record some scheduled events, routines and list of purchased items. He organized everything he do and budget of the month and for the whole year. He indicates some names of stores and mostly on the hospital expenses. While reading, Prinah pushed the woods to further ignite the fire as the water boils the sweet potato. The cover of the pot is slightly raising up and down as it blow smoke and create a slight clank sound. Prinah then open the cover of the pot and check if it is already tender but still needs more time to cook. She puts the cover back and continue reading his father's records.

Prinah talks as if somebody is with her, "Father, why is it that you don't have a record indicating that you eat in some particular restaurants?" she continued, "Who are these list's of children? Is this your sons and daughters? But wait there are groups that of the same age so it is impossible that these were yours. Who are they and why are you listing them?" These are the questions that Prinah wanted to know the answers.

After a while, she notice the cover of the pot as it is not clanking anymore so she open it and found out that it's already cook. She took the sweet potato from the pot and put in a leaf of banana. While waiting for the heat of the potato to dissipate she continue turning some pages of the book. On the other page, her father indicated the price and the brand of a certain guitar.

"Oh! Really? Do you know how to play guitar?" she's talking while facing the book. Suddenly came into her mind, she put down the book then she extended her right arm side ward, imagining doing the chord pattern, closed her eyes, slowly shake her head and sweep her thumb up and down as if playing the guitar and sing her favorite song.

"la..lalalala...lalala..," In that moment, she felt the song very well and suddenly the bark of an owl and the sound of the crickets chirping startled her.

With a furrowed forehead and knitted eyebrows, "Hey! Why are you disturbing me?..this is my moment," she's angrily talking in the air but the sweet potato grasp her attention when she notice that it's not smoking anymore. She grab the sweet potato and eat.

She look at the stars while chewing her delicious mouthful potato, "Father, what else do you prepare for me aside from this potato?"