Six Ways in One Road #38

Inside in her room, Luisa could not believe what she saw when she opened the bag where she, her money and bankcard kept. She wanted to do groceries and needed money but there is no more. Money and her bankcard were gone. If her bankcard were gone, it could only mean one thing, maybe her money on the bank was also taken as the paper where she noted the pin code if withdrawing money from the ATM was also gone.

It is possible that Karel did take her money?

Another week gone; Luisa still had not seen Karel. She wanted to call where Karel work, but she and Karel have an appointment, no minding each other business. And she cannot just accuse Karel taken her money and bank card, she must be sure. First, she must ask him.

Luisa really had a problem. She has nothing to eat anymore. The refrigerator was empty. Two days she drank only coffee but the bottom of the bottle of the instant coffee can already be seen, two cups more and its gone.

She was hungry but there is no food. No money. Thelma was also away and the person she could asked for help was Carla, but Carla was far away and besides she felt ashamed.

She remembered there were empty plastic bottles of softdrinks inside the cabinet in the kitchen. These bottles have deposits of 25 cents per bottle. She opened the cabinet and counted how many bottles were there. There were eleven bottles equivalent of two guilders and seventy-five cents. She quickly came out from the apartment with the empty plastic bottles and went to the Chinese grocery and returned the bottles for money.

With the money she bought two per kilo repacked broken rice that cost ninety-nine cents each pack, meant two guilders and she had still seventy-five cents left. Seventy-five cents precisely enough for three packs of instant noodles that cost twenty-five cents each. Two kilos of rice can feed her for almost two weeks if she only would eat once a day. She could eat her rice with bagoong she still had.

Back in the apartment she quickly cooked rice and the instant noodles. After thirty minutes she was already eating but in the middle of her meal she stopped eating. Tears in her eyes rolled down on her cheeks, she remembered her father.

Her father that rain or shine roaming the busy streets of Manila, collecting bottles to fed them, she, her mother, and her siblings. Her father that died on the street by doing it and now, the empty plastic bottles had rescued her from hunger. Luisa felt pain in her heart, she wept.

Luisa wanted to sleep early when the telephone rang. She thought it was Karel, but it was Carol, the Filipina that lived in Katendrecht. Carol invited Luisa to the birthday of her son and if Luisa could come early on Saturday to help her. Luisa did not hesitate to accept the invitation. A day in the house of Carol could fed her good food even if it is only for one day, she really needed it. Mingling with fellow Filipinos could also divert her mind away from all pains and problems and worries. Early on Saturday Carol will fetch her up.

While they were working together in the kitchen, Luisa had opened to Carol about her situation, that she lost her money and she had nothing even food.

"Why did you not call? You cannot just sit there in your apartment and suffer hunger?"

"I thought Karel will come home at any moment, but I am wrong!" Luisa answered Carol.

"He is an irresponsible husband! And you are high pregnant, I think few weeks more you will deliver your baby. Is it a boy or a girl?"

"I don't know. I never had a prenatal consultation." Luisa was telling Carol that she never was to a doctor for prenatal examination. About the deal she had with Karel she kept it secret. Her marriage with Karel on papers must be a secret.

"It is your first child. Why not? You have health insurance, everybody here in the Netherlands have it." Carol was concerned that Luisa was never been to a doctor about her pregnancy.

"I am not worry. Everything will be alright."

The party was as usual, happy, and chaotic. Luisa just observed everybody, listened to those who sing karaoke, then Carol sings a song, (Hindi Ako Laruan) I am Not a Toy. Carol can sing, she had a nice voice, but as she sang the song with lyrics as, '

(Pangako mo'y walang natupad, pagkat pag-ibig mo pala sa aki'y huwad, Bigo ang puso ko sa 'yoy naghahangad, O kay sakit naman sinapit n'yaring palad, Hindi ako laruan na iyong iiwan, Matapos angkinin at pagsawaan, ako'y may damdamin marunong masaktan, Tulad mo rin ako puso'y nasusugatan).

None of your promises was fulfilled; because your love to me was fake; my heart that yearned for you was broken; So painful I am hurt; I am not a toy just to be left; after having me and you had enough; Like you I also have a heart that could be wounded.

The lyrics and the emotional singing of Carol stabbed again the heart of Luisa. And so that nobody can see her crying she hurriedly went to the water closet or comfort room and there silently cried. She remembered Herman and the lyrics defined what Herman done to her. Herman really had hurt her.

Carol seeing that Luisa entered the comfort room, quickly told the Filipinos present that Luisa was in problem and needed financial help. The Filipinos upon hearing that the husband of Luisa was irresponsible, without question everybody present in the party gave money what they could missed.

After composing herself, when Luisa came out the comfort room, everybody was looking at her.

"Luisa, please forgive me but I told everybody about your problem. Here!" Carol gave Luisa an envelope that contained money from all of them. "A little help from all of us!"

Luisa who had just composed herself again had tears. She was touched.

"Accept it, Luisa! It is heartily given from all of us!"

"Don't cry, you are pregnant, it's not good for you!"

"Here abroad, we Filipinos are helping one another!"

"And learn to be emancipated!"

"Ask help from the government. Look for a social worker!"

"Don't let be abused! Stand for your right!"

Who said which, Luisa did not know. The voices she heard were all concerned about her, advising her and she was really touched. And she was very thankful to their empathy and generosity. Whether she liked it or not, she must accept the envelope. She really needed money.

The party always lasted until the next day, but then after 10 o'clock no karaoke anymore. All windows were closed so that if there's noise it would be hardly heard outside, this to not disturbed the neighbors but Luisa was brought home by Carol at about 9 o'clock, so that Luisa could rest after the hectic day. From the trunk of the auto, Carol takes out two big black plastic sack and a big grocery bag.

Luisa learned that the two black plastic sack contained empty plastic bottles.

"Nobody brought those bottles back for their deposits and always were just thrown away. When you told me about that you only had eaten because of the bottles, I thought you can have it. If you do not like, I will just bring it back." Carol explained about the two sacks.

Luisa again was stabbed in the heart. She knew, Carol meant it good, yet it hurt her, but she composed herself. It was so painful, what is happening to her now seemed letting her to remember her father. Her father that fed her and the whole family from the yield of the many empty plastic bottles her father picked on the streets.

"Thank you, Carol. You'd helped me a lot!" Luisa thanked Carol suppressing her emotions to not have tears.

"And on this bag are foods. You can keep the cooked foods on the freezer, and I also put some canned foods. And Luisa, please if you need help, do not hesitate to call. I hope your husband will come home soon and remember when you're alone and it's time to give birth and nobody could bring you to the hospital dial 112." Carol gave some instruction to Luisa. "Your apartment is on the 2nd floor; I will help you to bring all these upstairs."

When Luisa was on the door of her apartment, Carol left to returned home to Katendrecht.

Inside, there is no light. Luisa thought Karel still was not home.

Luisa went to the kitchen to arrange the food she received but she was surprised from what she saw inside the refrigerator. The refrigerator was full of food, which meant Karel had been home. She thought then Karel maybe was in his room sleeping.

Luisa knocked on the door of Karel's bedroom. ****to be continued****Remedios Dorio