Unexpected Visit

by Jocelyn Ramiro

Okay 123 Smile! Closer Ma’am, Sir, Closer. Look at each other sweetly and sincerely. Okay 123.Oh right! Here Ma’am, 120.00 only. There you go ‘till next time.

 Haist! How I wish all of them who were asking for pictures were liked this couple, not asking for any discounts, if they only knew my situation.

Ougrrh! Jack’s back hurts so bad .Alternately standing and sitting holding his camera while waiting for the costumer everyday was extremely exhausting and wearisome. But Jackie Chanly also known as “Jack” for short, 24 year old 4’9 feet photographer don’t have any choice since this was the only thing he knew in order for him to survive.

Why? Why is it me? Out of 1.4 million Filipinos? What have I done wrong? Is it that big enough for you to give me this kind of life? That if there is no one who wants to be photographed I would have no money to buy foods, to pay for the house rents. You happy seeing me like this? I hate you! God? No way stupid.

Urrgh! Jack shook his head while rolling his eyes after having those thoughts. He drinks water to quench his thirst and close his eyes to clear his thoughts. There is silence.

Jack! Jack! He was awakened by the call of his co-workers on the other side. He never noticed he fell asleep.

He took a deep breath to clear his mind. After refreshing his thoughts, Jack felt something behind him, its feels weird. The scorching atmosphere becomes algid. It sends shivers to his spine. As he turned around he saw the little boy with hydrocephalus.

He was sitting on a wheelchair wrapped with some dirty senescent clothes. He was wearing white shirt, pitched dark shorts and sneakers. He often caught him staring at him from a distance and every time he did that he felt something different about him but it was his big head that is remarkable. He looks at him smiling but Jack can see in his eyes his pain that he was trying to endure. He has a bunch of sampaguita in his hand. Jack was about to take some but the bells starts ringing which means the mass has ended.

 People began streaming out of the Cathedral .They seems very happy maybe because the priest gave them good homily that fills their emptiness, their spiritual hunger.

Do I sound like one who does not believe in God?

I don’t know either. Because if he really cares for us, for me, why am I like this? If he really loves him why did he let this child suffered this kind of pain? this child carry this kind of burden?

I must get ready. I must catch costumers this time. I badly needed it for the house rent because it was the end of January and the land lady keeps on asking about his payment.

Ahmmm…. Can we just-…. He turned around at the child’s place but he found no one. Where is he? Looking around trying to get some sight of the boy who pokes him but he was gone. Anyway I must hurry now. Jack hastily gets his cameras moving toward the people coming out of the church.

Twenty minutes later he already has enough money. Feeling his backs aches again, Jack decided to take some rest across the parking area near the statue. There are still people walking back and forth to the Cathedral. Vendors along the sidewalks are busy serving their customers

Starring at this busy town, the cold air blew again and the noisy place suddenly becomes gloomy. Those people walking back and forth were gone.  Jack felt the same weird feeling he felt thirty minutes ago. He can feel his head getting bigger and bigger. Jack want to scream but it seems his jaw was stuck together to no words come out of his mouth. And even if he did no one will hear him.  Horrible thoughts embarked through his mind. Scenes from the horror movies he watched were playing inside his head. Suddenly he hears sniffs behind him. Someone was poking his back. He wants to run but his feet won’t move. It’s cold that makes him quiver. But this time he managed to turn his head to take a look and he saw this child with hydrocephalus smiling at him while waiving his hand.

Those smile help to ease the creepiness he had a while ago. The noisy place was back again, so Jack thought he was just hallucinating. The child was still staring at him which made him feel uncomfortable again so he planned to have conversation with him.

Hi! I’m Jack” He said energetically extending his arm to the boy. The boy reached his hand. It was pale and cold. He is liked dead.

            Huh! What a terrible idea Jack.         

How about you? “What is your name?”  

            Instead of saying his name the boy extend its hand pointing at the other boy  wearing black shirt with the picture of Harry Potter on its chest.

            Oh” I get it. Your name is Harry. The boy nodded.

So…Harry where are your parents?

 Looking at him his smiles disappeared from his lips and his eyes become teary while shaking his head. I got it he was alone. I was so stupid to ask that question. It’s obvious no one was looking after him. Jack murmured silently.

And again the anger arose in Jacks heart. How cruel and heartless those parents had come that they can leave their children alone?  That’s why Jack promise to himself he will never have children because this world is not a good place for them.

“Me too, I was left alone.” Jack sadly uttered. Anyway, I am a photographer. This is my job. And I wanted to be famous someday. I want to build my own studio. But I think that dream will never come true. Only the people here know my talent. I don’t even have enough materials unlike other photographers.

Life is unfair, isn’t it?  He looks at Harry who was still listening to him asking for confirmation. However, instead of agreeing to him Harry point at himself nodding and point back at him shaking its head.

Jack got confused about Harry’ s action. It point back again at himself then point his head and his wheelchair meaning he was weak and ill then it point back again to him putting its arms up in the air with its fist close telling he was strong and normal.

Jack doesn’t know what to say .He was amazed of how Harry who was ill was seeing everything around him positively unlike him who has all the hates in his heart and in the world..

Later on, Jack asked Harry if he can take a picture of them together and they did. He also took a solo picture of Harry . Then suddenly he heard his tummy clamored. So he decided to go to 7/11 to buy some food to eat for himself and Harry.

Jack was excited to give Harry food to he hurried back to the place where he left Harry but he found no one there. He search and search for him but he can’t find him so decided to ask the vendors who were selling mango near the gate who was watching him since he sit beside the statue. But the vendor said he saw no one there except me that is why he was wondering whom I am talking to.

Jack got confuse with the statement he heard. He shows the vendor their pictures and his eyes grew bigger while starring at the picture.

 It’s Harry! The vendor shouted.

Yeah. Have you seen him? I left him there and I told him to stay but his gone.

Until now Jack still can’t believe what he heard. His body was still quivering. The vendor told him Harry died a year ago because of the stampede happened last lent season and no dare help him.

So all this time I am talking to ghost? That’s maybe the reason why I have this weird feeling and his looks so pale and cold. His dark eyes that I just thought was because of the not having enough sleep and enough rest are wrong. Jack uttered.

Walking home, Harry was still in his mind and the things Harry acted a while ago. Jack decided to upload Harry’s story and the picture he had with him in social media. It gains lot of comments and reactions from his followers like #ratedk. Days later he was contacted by Miss Korina’s team and featured on tv. She even recommended him to his business friends who own a photography studio in Manila. There his life has changed. He already owned a studio and that’s because of Harry who taught him to be grateful always and to see situation with silver linings, to be positive always and to pursue his dreams and turn the impossible to possible.  Thanks for visiting ghost friend, my inspiration.