Tuesday, October 02, 2007

by Rachelle C.

(This post is an entry to the “Back to School” writing project on Super Fundraiser!)


It was well past 10:00 PM when I came home from a grueling day of schoolwork and extracurricular activities. The wind was whishing overhead as I walked through the door of our humble abode. The harrowing news of my parents' marriage annulment began echoing in my head again. I immediately dismissed the thought and moved towards the nearest couch plopping myself down to rest. Defeat and exhaustion filled my frame as I laid back against the soft cushions. I was about to close my eyes when I remembered our Hematology project which was due the next day. I struggled to lift my petered out bones to get up and set out for the personal computer situated on the other side of the room. Just then, my brother Michael in his Osh Kosh overalls dashed out of his room and headed straight at me.

"Ate, can you help me with my assignment? Mama was here this afternoon but she was too busy packing her clothes to even take heed of me. I was just wondering if you...well...uhm..."

My brother's words didn't seem to filter through my mind at first. My attention was so riveted on the computer screen that my brother had to nudge me and pull the tip of my blouse just to get my attention.

"You see, it's about the seven wonders of the world and..."

"Look, not right now! I'm very busy," I snapped while ticking on the keyboard.

"You're always busy! You're always like that! You're just like Mama and Papa!" he wailed back as he turned on his heels and stomped back to his room.

For a moment, Michael's words fiddled in my mind. I felt a twinge of guilt as his words lingered in my thoughts. But feeling adamant, the urgency of my work seemed more important to me than my brother's. I sighed a few times and continued to polish my school work.

The next day, I went home late again. I went straight to my room and quickly changed my clothes. When I was about to turn the lights off, I heard thumping on the door. I went to see who it was. It was Michael.

"I know you are busy but there's something I wanna show you," he began. "I was just wondering if my classmate was right when he said that my assignment was wrong."

Without saying a word, I snatched the paper from him and pored over his written assignment. I really didn't care what he was saying. All I wanted was to get rid of him and finally get to rest. Suddenly, I felt a wave of jolt sweep over me. There, he wrote in gothic letters:

The Seven Wonders of the World

1. Love
2. Friendship
3. Peace
4. Joy
5. Wisdom
6. Fun
7. Family

I froze dead in my tracks as the words registered in my brain. I could not believe what my 7-year-old brother just scribbled on paper. I was completely transfixed. How could such an innocent little child fathom such things in life, I thought to myself. As I was trying hard to push back my emotions to the farthest recesses of my mind, I didn't notice that tears were already swelling up in my eyes and started flowing down my cheeks.

"Ate why are you crying? Is it really wrong?"

"No, baby brother, it's not. This is the other set of answers most people don't know," I said as I whisked the trickling droplets from my cheeks. I hugged him tight then gestured him towards his room. He didn't say a word and did as he was told. I paused for a moment and softly closed the door. I wish my parents were here to read what Michael wrote, I thought to myself. Perhaps someday they will.