By Ardy & Dave

There was an awkward pause when, finally, Mary Joy accepted the money. At that moment I wanted to shell out some more money as a gesture of appreciation for her artistry. I also wanted to extract more skills from her as I told her that I will buy any product of drawing she would produce, on the spot, and in front of us. 

And she produced another drawing. And I bought it again. Yes, I bought another small drawing. I personally tagged the price of P500 for that piece of art. 

I said, “Congratulations, Mary Joy. Akong paliton na pud nang imong bag-ong drawing ha. Okay ra ba ug P500 na?”

She smiled heartily and nodded spontaneously. 

As Dave saw what I did, he immediately quipped, “Galing ug wala na ta’y ipani-udto ha. Mura’g gigutom na ra ba ko.”

That reminded me that I should not let Dave starve, including my secretary, our driver, and our team.

As I smiled at Dave to signal to him that I understood what he meant, Laura blurted out a statement. She said, “Ingon ana jud na sya maghunahuna naho mam. Bata pa lagi na sija mam pero, mohuna-huna jud na sija sa among kahimtang.”

Then Mary Joy turned to me and said, “Daghang salamat kaayo ma’am ha. Daghang salamat doktora (referring to Dr. Mutya Macuno). Salamat ninyo ha sa tanan ninyong kaayo.”

And the next move of Mary Joy struck me. We saw her turning over to her mother, the little amount we just gave her. I wanted to shout and say, “Imuha nang kuarta, Mary Joy. Ayaw na ipanghatag sa uban. Ayaw na ihatag imong mama.”

But I kept my silence. My eyes rebelled against what I saw. 

And Mary Joy said, “Kuhaa na ri mama o. Idugang na diha ma sa imong kuarta.” 

“Gusto diay ka nga motabang imong, Mama Mary Joy? Abi ba naho ug imong mama maoy mutabang nimo,” I said. 

“Malooy man ko ni mama. Unja ingon man si mama nga magtigum mi aron mahimuan ko ug kamot,” she said.

At this juncture, Dr. Macuno participated in the conversation and said, “Tinuod na ma’am Ardy. Gi pa compute na namo ang kantidad sa matag kamot kay naa may maayo kaayong mohimo ana didto sa Manila.”

I immediately asked, “Pila pud, doc, ang computation?”

Dr. Macuno answered, “Mo range na from P500,000 to one million pesos.” 

I asked again, “Both hands, doc?”

“No, ma’am. Per hand na ma’am,” Dr. Macuno answered!

“So both hands, doc, mokabat na ngadto sa 2million pesos,” I declared.

“Yes, ma’am,” Dr. Macuno said.

I wanted to feel dizzy at the computation just mentioned. Where will this kid ever get the money? With all the things that happened to her, does she have the zeal and fervor to raise funds for her own benefit? I stood still and looked at Dr. Macuno and Dave and Ruth and Mary Joy who focused her looks on me.

“Naunsa diay ka, mam?” This was her question. Little did she know that I felt the world fall on me, for her. 

Then she approached me and whispered something to me. As I listened to her whisper, the more my heart was broken. I could not help but shed some tears at what she told me. 

Dave asked, “Ma’am, unsa diay iyang gisulti nimo? Nganong gahilak man ka? Unsa diay ma’am?” (To be continued)