One Sign to Death

 by Margie Guerra                                         

It`s Sunday afternoon where everything seems crowded. The trees are torrid. There`s no adequate air out of the area. The sunset is florid comparing the blood manifesting its rest. The multitude seeming irritated. The bleating of babies, until… bell started to rang “ting! Ting! Ting!” simultaneously. He started to stand holding his camera. The multitude stand, looking in front. The ventilator waving its body to dissipate the sultry inside the chapel. Until the whole area was covered by its smell. He creasy his nose out of the flower. He look at the clock turning to 5:30 PM. seems so afraid, worried and nervous. The boy 7yrs of age sitting behind him. But his eyes seems so optimistic beyond the beat of his heart, burden his camera simultaneously the sweat started to drops and drip on his face. His eyeballs that awaken his self. He started to remember the sadness of his life. He is jackinson Fernandez also known as “jack” a bachelor who`s dream is to be famous photographer. Somewhat tall but medium size to notice. He is 24 yrs. old an enthusiastic man and somehow clever. He is the owner of his own photo shop located at Sabang Lipa City Batangas across Sabang Bridge. His father is Samuel Fernandez an outstanding photographer but suddenly died on July 27, 1989 because of tumor. He`s enthusiasm that brought him to be more confident and optimistic in every challenge might bring him to success. But, we will see how he handle his self without his father. he`s mother is Corazon Fernandez also known as “Cora”. She left jack when he was 7yrs old because of his father`s disease. She couldn`t handle the loneliness that she had. So that she decided to leave jack in an early age. She is vulnerable mother but a religious one. She is dependent mother believing that God has plan for them to be sturdy. But, she decided to leave jack over his righteous beliefs because of her hopeless heart that her husband will leave them soon. She cried when she leave jack and hug him tightly saying that “someday you will understand me”. Jack asked her what she wants to convey but, she left jack burden her black coat and 1 baggage. Jack cried hardly and shout to his mother saying that “he won`t do this the same though he found the answer!” she wipes her teardrops on her face wondering that when she left him alone there`s someone can give them convenient life for jack`s future.

(At cathedral chapel)

Jack: Good morning Sir! My name is Jackson Fernandez but you can call me jack at your service. (Smiling to the customer)

Costumer: Good morning as well jack, I`ll just want to inform you that our wedding will start as early as 9:00 am. So, will you manage to have us a picture taking after the wedding ceremony? Maybe by 10:00 am we need you to be there.

Jack: No problem Sir! It`s ok. (Shaking hands to the costumer)

Costumer: So, I have to go now Mr. Photographer.

Jack: ok sir! Thank you!

(While separating the wedding pictures, Baptismal pictures and communion pictures. from the far place a boy 7yrs. old sitting near the torrid tree. his head was not normal like other children. He is silent while wiping his eyes. His tears unfortunately drip to his face and bow slowly. He is harry a boy suffering from a serious disease called “hydrocephalus”. Where in 

They are just poor and somehow couldn`t afford sufficient food for their daily lives. He seems so optimistic believing that one day he will be cured by the doctor.

But unfortunately the doctor asked to have 300,000 as a replacement for Harry’s operation to lessen the fluid inside the brain.

Jack pucker his forehead thinking what happen to the boy. After a moment he decided to approach him. He asked the little boy what happen to him, and why he is crying.

Harry: I`m crying because I want to be a normal children wherein I can play without worry in my condition (he bow his head and cry in front of jack. Jack comfort him by hugging him tightly)

Jack: God has plan for you harry. Everything seems so difficult but we have to be brave despite every challenges that we face. (Jack cried as well because he remember his father)

Harry: (staring jack) how I wish that my disease fade away and let me feel free from this struggle.

Jack: you can manage it harry (holding Harry’s hand) be brave and everything will surely resolve.

Harry: Thank you Mr. Photographer! Eel comfortable with each other

Jack: its ok (smiling) but unfortunately harry feel dizzy)

Oh? Are you Ok?

Harry: yes sir! Maybe …I have to eat my lunch

Jack: ok…ok... let me join you?

Harry: yes! Of course! (Feel comfortable with each other)

-every time harry and jack spend their time with each other while jack is working in his Photoshop. He treat jack as his youngest brother because of his love and consideration with harry.

Every time that they were together harry compliment jack to his work as a photographer because of jack’s way of management. He was a great photographer and somehow multitude idolized his work.

Most of them patronized his Photoshop because of his enthusiastic deeds.

One time one of the manager from the acquainted company took him as a photographer for magazine.

He feels glad and excited from it. He called harry to inform good news to make him glad from his victory.

Jack: harry! I have a good news for you! (Feel excited)

Harry: what is it? (Wondering)

Jack: Mr. DelaCruz took me as a photographer in his company! (He shout and feel glad from it)

Harry: God job bro!  Congrats! (Thumbs up as a sign of approval but unfortunately he feel dizzy again)

Jack: what happen to you bro? We have to go to the doctor, to check your condition. (Feel worried while his face seems upset)

Harry: it`s okay bro, I can manage this illness. We don`t have enough money to have special treatment for my brain. (She cried to jack and feel sorry because he feels so encumbrance)

Jack: No harry! I don’t let you to down yourself! We can!

Harry: No, I can`t jack!

(Jack brought harry to the hospital to check his illness. Until… the doctor go outside to tell something to jack about Harry’s condition)

Doctor: Sir! I have something to tell you. The patient needs to have a special treatment for his brain.

As much as possible he has to move to a surgeon and do the operation as much as possible.

Jack: what do you mean doc?

Doc: the illness of the patient is a common condition and we have to implant CSF diversion device to absorb the fluid inside the brain. So that the patient should have to take a therapy for this condition.

Jack: ok Doc! Please do everything for harry!

Doc: yes we will! Ok, excuse me…

Jack: thanks Doc (thinking how can he get that kind of payment for the therapy and feel worried)

(Harry called him from the room where harry lying)

Harry: Jack! Jack! Where are you?

Jack: I`m just here outside harry (out loud while walking toward jacks room)

Harry: where have you been?

Jack: I`ll just check something over there

Harry: ok (smile to jack)

Jack: Harry I have to go to the cathedral for a moment to check my shop. (He can`t look at him straightly because he have to lie him and ignore to say the truth)

Harry: Ok jack be careful

(Jack left him for a moment to do some way how to gain money for his operation. He goes to his photo shop to see his money if this will be enough for the operation But, he failed.

He decided to go to the jeepney driver and ask favor to have this voluntary contribution to their passengers to ask their help and beg for Harry’s operation. Somehow over his enthusiasm some of the passengers refuse to give instead, they think that it`s just a scam nor emergency purposes.

After a moment he decided to go to the chapel to do the worship and ask God why everything seems so near from his past.

He cried hardly bowing his head and wiping his teardrops .he asked God again that if this is the answer from his mother about what she does, he will obey him to search the answer. He ask God a sign that if harry will leave him please! Give him a sign to make him ready! And that was the smell of Sampaguita flower. His teardrops fell again because he was afraid to be alone because of his background from his father who suffered from tumor.

After an hour he decided to fetch harry out of the hospital but…

Jack smell the sampaguita flower. The teardrops fell. (…………………………………………………………….)