Lady from Caluma Street

The Lady From 26 Caluma Street

He stumbled into her house -

bare concrete blocks,

corrugated sheets for a roof

without a ceiling.

"Mahal?*" she wondered, and cupped

his young stubbled chin with her

plump hand.

She was a widow of an

iron sheet factory worker -

his life stamped out by a machine.

Her two daughters had left -

married early by necessity,

four months between ceremonies

at the backrooms of the local court.

He stood weary in front of her,

towering two inches above

her crown of permed hair.

He was a student at the local college,

sometimes a drunk

and patron of the local sari-sari** store,

but more of a student;

she had demanded it.

"Have you eaten? Haven't you slept?"

She felt the sunken dark skin

beneath his eyes and rubbed his hands.

She felt the warmth of youth

in him

and she smiled

warmly in return.

"I have an exam tomorrow."

"Then you must sleep."

"I may not be able to take it."

Her eyebrows met in an unexpected frown,

and his hands tightened on her hands as he

stared at her pedicured feet

while he weakly voiced,

"I have nothing for tuition."

She looked around her house then asked,

"How much do you need?"

"I can't..."

"But you must. How much do you need?"

"Three thousand," and his hands tightened more.

"You must sleep."

"I can't with this burden."

"It's no longer yours," was her assurance.

"Sleep in my bed. Today you are

my son," she whispered softly in his ears

while she combed his hair with her fingers.

"When you wake up tonight," she embraced him,

"be my lover,"

then kissed him.

ievm Nov. 25, 2001

* Mahal - (Filipino) "Love", a term of endearment.

** Sari-sari store - (Fil.) A small store.