MISSY MUSES

Missy Muses

carmel villar

Missy is sulking. She does not want to spend summer in Zambales.  She wants to spend summer with her friends in the village. They plan to go on swimming in a resort hotel. But there is nothing to see but trees in this village.  She can get lost in this maze of trees. 

And what makes matters worse is that they are living now with the Aetas, the Negritos of Zambales.   All of a sudden she remembers the song about Negritos:

“Negritos of the mountain what kind of food do you eat?

What kind of food do you eat, Negritos of the mountain?”

Then she smiles as she remembers this song.  She knows what food the Aetas eat. She has been eating with them for days now. 

“Hi Missy,” an Aeta girl calls out.  “Would you like to come with us to the woods?  We will pick guavas.”  Missy looks at the girl. “My name is Layos.”

               

                “Layos? What kind of name is that?” Missy asks.

                “I was born during a heavy rain. So I was named Layos, meaning flood.”

                “Oh,” was all Missy was able to say.

                “So are you coming with us?” Layos asks again.  Missy looks around her and she sees 10 Aeta children.  They are looking at her with expectation. With nothing to do for the rest of the day, she decided to go with them.

                Along the trail, they come across a grove of guava trees full with ripe fruits.  All the children rush to the trees and each one picks guava fruits.  They eat guava with joy.  Missy just looks at the children.

                A child approaches Missy with 2 guavas.  “Have some,” the child offers.   After their fill of guava, the children move on along the trail.  Layos walks besides Missy.  “Layos,” Missy calls, “why don’t you bring more guavas with you?”

                “There is no need,” Layos answers. “If we get more guavas, there will be nothing left for others. Anyway, there are more guavas along the road.”

                Missy looks at Layos.  She does not seem to mind about what she does not have.  Instead, Layos could still look after the welfare of others.  Then Missy remembers the child who gave her guavas.  They who lack so much by her standard are able to give more.

                Missy joins the children in their trek to the woods.  She smiles as she listens to the children singing and exchanging jokes. 

This could turn out to be a very interesting summer, Missy muses.