An Old Man's Story

I was sitting at the kitchen table peeling squash for my mom's pinakbit(i), while doing so the old man who rented our basement came up and sat down at the table as well, and started talking to me.

(translated)

I see you have a talent for music. he says to me
I look at him and smile.
Your sister too, she plays the *pretends to play a flute* what is that neh? (ii)
A flute. I reply

It was silent. I didn't feel like talking. But he continued, and this is what he had to say:

The power of music is unbelievable. You know I had an auntie. She loved music. She was rich, her family. She had many men lined up to court her, many rich men.
One day when they went to the church, the pianist was sick.
But it was okay, because there was a new boy in town who knew how to play the violin.
That day at church he played the violin.
He wasn't much to look at you know.
His face was covered with.. you know those boils...

You mean pimples? I say. I tried not to laugh at his lexical mistake. He was truly serious.

Yes the pimples, he continues. But he was very talented. My auntie, she fell in love with this boy. She talked to him everyday. You know he wasn't much to look at. All those pimples.
Her family was so confused why she loved this boy. There were so many other rich men wanting to court her.

Did they get married? I ask

Yes, yes they got married.
That is the power of music.

(i) pinakbit a Filipino dish/ vegetable stew with fish or pork served with rice
(ii) neh: a way of saying girl if one doesn't know your name

What's inside a thirteen year old's diary?

aside: I just keep finding all these little things that make me laugh. I just copied some of these entries straight out of my old diary; I didn't bother to change the grammar errors. I can't believe I was so weird!

entry 1:
I'm moving on November 12, 2004

I'm scared of starting in new school. People are different.

Tuesday June 1st 2004:
I think we're wasting money. We went to the Dollarama and China town. We kept on saying sorry and nanay called us "bolang" (i)
I had no homework yeah!

Wednesday June 2, 2004
Dear private journal,
We painted our last set of bricks today (for the talent show). Tino called me a "retard" and I chased him around the stage. I hope he doesn't like me. He's so short but has nice hair. I think he likes Nila. Anyways I'm bored and you can't buy eternal life at Loblaws. (ii)

entry:
Hi today I like nanay. I don't like Charles.(iii)

Wednesday Oct, 26, 2004
Today we went to church. I bought some stuff for my edible cell. Anyway I helped Van on her homework, I am so brilliant. I also met a guy named Carlos. He's pretty cute. I think I'm starting to like that guy. He plays piano! He actually talked to me! Anyway hope you have a great day.

entry:
Today is June 16/05
I AM REALLY ANGRY! SOMEONE STOLE MY GEOGRAPHY NOTES AND I WORKED SO HARD! AND WHEN I FIND THEM I'LL KILL THEM GRRR ERR !

February 24/06
Yesterday I wore my glasses and hair up and eyeliner and the stupid 550 year old annoying Stephanie said I looked old. You know what? She looks a million years old.
ARRGH!
I wish I had a disease so that I could be worth something and no one to insult me or bother me.


(i) translation of "bolang" = stupid/annoying
(ii) The eternal life sentence was a really lame joke our minster told us at church.
(iii) nanay means mother