September 4, 2014
Our dear Parents:
Parents' Day is fast approaching (next week) and St. Mary Delacroix Academy would like to honor you with a special activity. We will be having Parents' Celebration Day on September 17, 2014. Please attend the said activity together with your spouse and children, as much as possible.
Sincerely yours,
Imeldita Cruz, PhD
Principal
I stared at the stapled note to my Reminders notebook. I used to look forward to this parent's day because Mom always came no matter how busy her schedule is. She's the most enthusiastic parent one can see especially during the games. I'm proud of her.
But the more Parents' Day celebrations in school she attended, the more it became clear to me why Mom appeared different from the other parents. She always came alone, without a partner. Nor it was new to me. I always have known that Mom is a single parent. That I have a non-existing father. I did not even bother to ask, I was quite afraid of finding out whatever I could possibly know about my father. She neither had boyfriends as well, or girlfriends for that matter. She raised me as well as any complete family, probably even better than most. I couldn't understand why my eyes suddenly watered upon reading the note that said "together with your spouse".
The school bus dropped me at our home. "Mom, I'm home," I yelled. She came out in a sunny yellow sundress, her hair wrapped in a towel.
"Why the long face, Maki?" Mom asked as I entered the house and plopped myself on the chaise. It was everyone's favorite seat at our home, (and home means Mom and I) and it gave me a little comfort even as I dreaded answering Mom's question.
"Mom?"
"Yes, Maki?"
"Who's my Dad? Where is he? Why isn't he with us? Is he dead? Does he want us still?"
Mom lost the sunny demeanor that matched her dress upon hearing my rapid-fire questions. She sighed, then unwrapped her hair. Hers was stick-straight and jet-black, without the need for rebonding. I got her hair. The rest of my features, I assumed, from my father. i looked at her. "Mom?"
"Why are you asking all of these questions, Marceline Klair? You've never asked me before."
"M-mom," my eyes watering, " It's Parents' Day again next week, and you're the only one who comes every year, without a husband. I'm the only one without a father." I sobbed uncontrollably. I could not understand what I'm feeling.
She gathered me in her arms and caressed my hair. "Knew this time would come. Still, I am shocked. You've really grown, my baby Maki. Now," she wiped my tears and looked me in the eyes, "are you ready for the answers to your questions?"
"Yes," I half whispered to her.
"First, your dad's name is Joseph. But I call him Pepe. He's no anywhere near us right now, but in a few days he will be with us. Just in time for the Parents' Day. He loves us, dear Maki, trust me, he does."
"Really? So I do have a dad?"
"Yes sweetie, you do."
"He's coming to see us? Will he live with us from now on?"
"We'll figure that out when he comes."
"What does he look like Mom?"
'You look more like me, but your ears are the same with his."
The eleven-year-old me was easily comforted by Mom's explanations. I was very happy to know that I have a father, that I forgot that she skipped answering one of my questions-if my father was dead. In history, he's dead. But in our timesphere, he was very, very much alive, as I came to find out the next week. I did not know that my mysterious father has more than a bag of secrets-he actually has a truckload of secrets that I would fully uncover by the time I turned sixteen.
Parents' Day came. I almost could not sleep from excitement of seeing my father in person.
I pestered Mom anew with questions.
"Will he come to the school alone?"
"Will he be bringing food?"
"Will he be joining the games?"
"Mom, what if he doesn't like me?"
"What if I don't like him?"
and many more I couldn't recall now. I was so tense, so tense I couldn't help but let on my best friend, Hilary on the highlight of my day.
"My dad's coming today."
"I thought you didn't have a dad?"
"Turns out I do have one!"
"Well, bet he can't beat my dad in the Sack Race".
"Let's see. He's gonna beat him."
"Not a chance, Marceline. You know it's the only game where your Mom, like, never wins every year."
"I got a Dad now, Hilary. They'll gonna win."