Fear of Freedom

Putin's Fear

Does anyone know why Putin is doing what he's doing? His version, a military action to curb neo-Nazism and genocide against non-Ukrainian nationals and to ensure his borders from a country he deemed a threat to Russia's sovereignty as a nation. Nothing could be further from the truth than what he is espousing with his rhetoric saying Russian citizens in the Donbas and Luhansk regions of the Crimea are being systematically targeted and executed. That this is genocide, and he is there to assist the Ukrainian people in their attempt to oust President Zelensky and his so-called Nazi Regime. 

As we all have seen by his most current actions, this man, this dog, has committed crimes against humanity only equaled to Adolf Hitler in World War II. To target innocent people, women, children, infirmed, elderly, doctors, nurses and hospitals in his ruthless attempt to force his will on an unwilling people, is irreprehensible, incorrigible, and psychopathic and needs to be stopped by any and all means at our disposal, up to and including his death. Am I out-of-line to express these thoughts? In Russia, I would be, but fortunately and by the Grace of God, I am an American and a Proud American at that. And it is for that very same reason I can say what I just did and not worry about retribution from some non-elected bureaucrat who knows less about his responsibilities than the person who appointed him, to be threatened, detained, arrested, convicted without due process of justice and imprisoned. In other words, I have the freedom to say it. Therein lies Putin's fear. 

Freedom, "the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint", or "absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government", and finally, "the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved". 

I would like to see a Russian dictionary's definition to freedom or if the word freedom even exists in the Russian diction. It has been proven that it definitely doesn't exist in Putin's sense of logic. The word freedom never entered his thoughts, much less his words when he launched this atrocious action against a free and peaceful people of Ukraine. Ukrainians learned from Russia, learned their languages, their dialogs, customs, way of thinking, studied at their universities, trained on their military bases, operated their military hardware, and then, they remembered all that they had learned, taught those after them, all the while Russia ignored them, treated them like expendable liabilities not worth the worry, first in any conflict, first to die over something Ukraine would not benefit from. 

Then it happened, Ukraine tasted freedom, and in that freedom, they found a voice, and that voice rang throughout Ukraine, from border to border that now they could choose their own destiny and choose who will take them there and choose their successors, in other words, they were going to govern themselves, based on a democratic society. They were going to choose who they listened to, who they would ally themselves with, who they would trade with, not be told. And it was in their discoveries of even the most basic of freedoms we possess, Ukrainians had been denied, as most enslaved peoples are. 

They built an army, knowing one day they may have to turn them towards Russian men, and trained them in the ways Russia had trained them, with Ukrainian improvements, built an air force, a navy, a lot with western technology, Ukrainian technology and Ukrainian improved old and still in use, Russian technology. The Ukrainians understand Russian war tactics, how they move, their vulnerabilities tactically and their weaknesses mentally and know how to exploit them. A mistake on Putin's part to attack an army his Russia helped train a long time ago. Great foresight there Putin.

In their struggles to maintain their freedoms and defend their country, their people, a new voice rises to their struggles, Volodymyr Zelensky, an actor, a comedian and educated man, and understood the people he called brothers and sisters. A man used to a stage, comfortable in crowds, enjoyed socializing with countrymen and loved showing his country off to the world. He is a proud Ukrainian, a Ukrainian who understands the needs of Ukraine and its people, a Ukrainian who not only stands behind his people, but he also leads his people. He places himself between his fellow countrymen and Putin's crushing power to defend his people, his country. At no time in my memory have I witnessed the strength, the determination to withstand such an invasion of this magnitude and with such fierceness to overwhelm a country and its government and to try and decimate an entire people. 

So few Ukrainian soldiers compared to what Russia is throwing at them, but resistance strength is growing as Russia pushes harder, he chooses to stay, rather than fighting Russia in exile. He will meet Putin head on, such as a true leader would do. He is a True Leader, a Hero for the People, he is not only a man for the people, he is a man of the people. 

This is not the Ukraine Putin expected, or is this war not going as Putin expected, or did he expect it, did he plan on using it as a part of his propaganda to support his accusations that the Ukrainian citizens are acting like Jihadist and blowing themselves up and driving by in cars shooting soldiers and civilians? As Putin's men and allies kill civilians as they try to flee  through so called safe corridors provided by Putin. Sounds like Hitler sending Jews to the showers to me. Is this the excuses, the lies he will tell the mothers' of the young untrained boys sent in first, that these Jihadist citizens killed your son and he died a brave death defending Mother Russia?

Ukraine's quest to have a democratic society and a free nation dedicated to the improvement of their infrastructure, human rights, social services, defense and their government designed to support the rights of the people who freely elected them and gives them the voice to decide has sent a shiver of cold fear down Putin's spine. To see the Western Alliance and NATO as well as the European Union welcome them and seek their entry into the E.U., NATO and the Western Alliance and Ukraine has every right to accept. Only Putin sees this as a threat, not even the countries Putin trades with sees his action as illegal and unjustified, as they too traded with Ukraine.

Why should Putin see this as a threat to Russia's security, unless he plans to further his idiotic dream for a New Russian Empire that he likes to hint to, just as Xi hints of a New Chinese Dynasty, those days are past, and Putin fears his future. As Xi imagines himself more as an Emperor likens to Putin imaging himself as Tsar. What he needs to understand they world has had its share of Tsars, Czars, Fascist, Dictators, Zealots, Emperors, Tyrants, and those who profit from the suffering enslavement of others, and they are tired of it.

Freedom and all it implies scares Putin, with freedom, he loses control, with freedom, voices are liberated, with freedom, choices are made and with freedom, changes are made. He loses his people's trust. He loses respect and no one will have faith in him. His fear will defeat him.

Later, 

Smiling Pig

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Goodbye and Good Riddance

Goodbye McDonalds, PepsiCo and Coca Cola

It is sad to think that companies who built their riches and success in a country that supports human rights, of its citizens and their rights to live without fear of reprisals from their governments when they see atrocities being committed against a people who want to govern themselves, make their own decisions as to the path they want to forge in the defense of democracy, the same as American citizens fought for in every major war we have been involved with, a people's right to self-govern themselves and choose without outside interference and political influence that would not benefit the citizens, but rather support some foreign dictator's inane ideologies under the guise that he is protecting the sovereignty of his country and his people, that you do not stand with the beliefs that it was a democratic belief that America was founded on, to be properly represented by people of our choosing and not that of some rabid demonic dog bent on creating a New World Order with him and China in control. 

Shame on you! You do not deserve to profit from the American people, you do not deserve to enjoy the same privileges that the companies who have heeded to the American government's plea to cut ties with Russia and its allies and support the people who helped you get to where you are at now. Instead, you choose profits over democracy. You are feeding the enemy, those bent on destroying the democratic way of life. You support oppression, slavery, human rights abuses and atrocities against man, with only your profits in mind. You are choosing the wrong path, looking in the wrong direction and believing in something the world will not put up with, not just the American citizens. 

You seem to forget how strong the American consumer is, you seem to forget those before you who placed profits over the needs of the Americans who you thought needed you, they were wrong, just as you will be reminded of soon once your coffers are being depleted trying to regain the status you had before you made the ridiculous decision to keep doing business with tyrants and rabid dogs. It is then you will understand the true meaning of that old American adage, "you have made your bed, now lie in it..." I am sure the Russian dogs will appreciate the American fleas willing to lie with him.

You' re infected now, infected with something much worse than what we have already been put through with the pandemic we are suffering, to which there is no cure for, and that is the ire of the American consumer, the most powerful weapon in the world. We drive the economy, and we dictate who can and who can't do business and who choose where we will spend OUR DOLLARS and who will profit from them, not you or anyone else, including misaligned governments. You seem to forget who has the final say, it's not the American government, any foreign government or any one individual, much less a greedy corporate infrastructure, the American consumer will bring you to your knees and then the world consumers will finish it. It is the beginning of your demise.

Who has the most to lose, Americans? I don't think so, fortunately we live in a country of the most powerful weapon a government, or corporation has ever encountered, the power of the American consumer and his choice of where he spends his money and who will profit from it, and it will not be you. You've opted to turn a deaf ear to the call to cut all ties with Russia and its allies, you can suffer for it. Your name will leave a bitter taste to the American consumer's pallet, and it will last for many decades to come. Your profits will decline, your shareholders will sell off stocks, your Wall Street backers will walk away from you once they see the will of the American consumer. Americans won't suffer, you will suffer, and you will suffer dearly. Welcome back Royal Crown Cola, America will rise and place you back where you belong, standing with democracy and the American way of life!

Later, 

The Smiling Pig (he's laughing today)

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

RABID DOGS

Rabid Dogs

In Texas when a dog is considered rabid and is a danger to the public, it is shot or put down. It seems there are a few global leaders who have gone rabid and have become a threat to the world's people, their safety, their livelihood and much more important, their freedom!

Putin has decided to invade Ukraine based on a very small division of Pro-Putin Ukrainian traitors that have aligned themselves to a Tyrant bent on creating a "New Russian Empire" and enslaving entire countries to further his aggressive vision on a future Russia. Traitors who oppose self-will of the people, who cow toe to Putin's demands like cowering dogs licking at his feet, while their people suffer the inhumane treatment and atrocities by Putin and his army. Putin claims this is to protect the people of the Donbas and Luhansk Regions, land belonging to Ukraine, not Russia as well as the Crimea Region which was illegally taken by Putin. The President of Ukraine, Vladomir Zelensky never invited or requested Russia's help in the Pro Russian separatist that have been attacking Mr. Zelensky's people with Putin's help and blessings. He, (Putin) has attacked cities and condones the death of citizens, women, children and the elderly. A coward's tactic to instill fear in a free people to control them, enslave them and as in the days of the "Great Russian Revolution", to disappear in a Gulag somewhere in Siberia to be forgotten and struck from Russian history as if it never existed. 

To ostracize Putin with sanctions is nothing more than a slap on his hands, deal with this RABID DOG as anyone would do in Texas, put a bullet in his head and drop him where he stands. Let anyone who stands with him to be considered as a part of his pack of rabies infected ideologist, fall with him, (Trump is on the list) and suffer the same fate as he will suffer. Even his own Russian citizens are rallying against him along with the rest of the world to put an end to his maniacal, egotistical vision of his empire. There will never be another Russian Empire that Putin dreams of.

To impose his will stating to secure Russia's future on the world stage and to see Ukraine as a threat to Russian National Security due to Ukraine being invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to secure their own country against such attacks by Putin and using Donbas and Luhansk as an excuse to validate his invasion of a Democratic Country is beyond ridiculous, it's sadly pathetic on his part. He fears free will of his people, afraid to let them voice their opinion as to his actions are setting his own people up to suffer the repercussions of his inane act of war on a people who want nothing more than to govern themselves and make their own choices as to what is best for them, not some Rabid Dog that sees them as nothing more than expendable in his efforts to regain what the rest of the world broke apart with the Russian Communist Government in the 1980s. It is apparent Putin failed to take notes. It won't work anymore.

It is time to stand as one, not as individuals, against Putin and his aggression against a FREE NATION GOVERNED BY FREE PEOPLE and put him DOWN before his ego causes harm to innocent Russian citizens. He started a war he can't win, there are too many who see democracy as more than a political platform, they see it as a way of living their lives. 

PLEASE SUPPORT UKRAINE AND THEIR ENDEVORS TO REMAIN A FREE NATION!

Later,

The Smiling Pig

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Seriously?

I received a call recently from a holding and investment firm interested in talking to me about an available IT position they are needing to fill. I thought all was going well, a good raport was developed and things seemed to be clicking off fine as to my experience and knowledge. I kept hearing perfect, awesome, great experience, etc...etc...etc. I really started feeling excited about this position. I mean pay was acceptable, benefits looked good, i.e.: health package, dental, vision, 401K, short term and long term disability, FLA, FMLA and regular reveiws, what more could one ask for in a starting position. They then starting telling me that they were the exclusive recruiter for this firm and they thought I would make a great fit, asking how soon I could start to work, would I submit to a drug screen (which I made add in Texas you are supposed to be on the payroll when submiting for a drug screen) and full background check? 
So I said "Sure, I wouldn't mind at all. This is a normal requirement, set me up." 
Then came, "Would you mind taking a typing assessment test? We require 45 words per minute to qualify for the position. If you are still interested I will send you the link as soon as we finish this interveiw." 
I informed them I wouldn't mind at all taking an assessment test. 
"Great sir, I really appreciate it. I will get you the link within five minutes of the conclusion of this interview. One more thing though, we require a credit report on you that you will need to obtain and supply. Do you have a problem with that?" 
"A credit report for what?" was my reply. 
"Well the position is with a holdings and investment firm and your credit worthiness is very important to our client." was the reply.
"Does the position you called me about require me to complete money transactions?" I asked.
"No sir. it doesn't." was the reply I received.
"Please repeat the position again that you called me about." I requested of the caller.
"Network support and connectivivity." they asnswered.
"Will I have access to customer accounts and financial information?" I queried further of them.
"Oh no sir, not at all." came their reply.
"So I won't be cleared to view the client's information at all?" I continued.
"No sir you won't. You will just make sure they can connect to their accounts." was the reply.
"So at some time in the future will I be asked to submit to any line of credit or investment opportunities?" I drilled.
"No sir, it is against company policy."  came their reply.
"So please tell me what my credit worthiness has to do with you asking me to fill the position you called me about. I would think my lack of ever being prosecuted, charged with or convicted of embezzlement, larceny, fraud, failure to disclose, theft or even a traffic ticket offense would be more than enough to satisfy my "worthiness" in obtaining this position. Wouldn't you agree?" came my somewhat cynical answer.
"I understand sir. If you are not interested in the position, would you happen to know three or four other people that are looking for a job that has the same technical background as you?" they asked.
"Oh, so now you want me to do your job too." I came back with. "Seriously?"

Needless to say, I was no longer interested.   


Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Lives Matter

So much on the news lately seems to revolve around how a certain ethnicity or race matters and trying to pit the views of the viewers in that what they are trying to get across matters to their race, culture and/or ethnicity stating that either white lives matter, black lives matter or brown lives matter and to me this just doesn't add up or as my father would say, "Just doesn't cut the muster in what truly matters.". Why would one race matter over the other by touting how much their lives matter over that of anyone else's lives? 

What is it that truly matters? I would think it would be overcoming our prejudices that would be a good start in understanding what truly matters, not their race, culture or ethnicity as being what they feel matters. Should we believe that it is those things that separate and defines us, that all that matters is agreeing with their idioms and jumping on board? No. Then that would redefine that individual and change more than just their beliefs. 

I was raised in a very devout and hard-line Southern Baptist family where my father was a minister of the faith, but in all my talks with him he never used his faith in a prejudicial  manner or to solidify his prejudices except against hate, bigotry or moral cleansing. He used his faith to educate and overcome those ignorance's we seem to harbor and hold to and in some cases to nurture until it consumes our beliefs so much that the chance of seeing something in a new or different perspective is shunned because we feel it is a personal attack against us and due to our own ignorance we feel there is no other way, but our way.

By the mere statement that a specific race, culture, ethnicity is what matters is already painted by a prejudiced state of mind. I'm reminded of President Abraham Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg, VA. and the opening  line of his address to the people of this young country, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." It doesn't mention any specific race, but rather he uses the word "all" to see us as one people, not one race, culture or ethnicity. Until we understand what really matters there will be very little or no change and we will keep struggling against and battling those things we cannot accept in order to plant seeds in those ignorant to the truth.

I am not saying we should not be prejudice, we should be very prejudice. If we weren't Adolf Hitler's idea of a so called "master race" would not have been protested against and he would have gone unchallenged, then an entire race, culture and ethnicity would have been wiped off the face of the earth. I encourage people to be prejudiced, prejudiced against ignorance, hate, immoral beliefs, ethnic cleansing and the list grows daily. And it is that list we need to shorten and remove those things in our lives that pits one against another due to race, culture and ethnicity.  

It doesn't take a racial, cultural or ethnic cleansing to create a superior race. It only takes understanding and love to do that. Seeing others and accepting them as we expect to be seen and accepted. Stop closing doors to protect our prejudices against others and welcome them in our lives and not trying to change the other, but to change together. Overcoming ourselves is where the change begins.

It is not our race that defines us, it is our race we let separate us and until we understand that it is our prejudices and ignorance that define and separate us, there will never be a change, but rather a constant struggle to change. It's time to stop struggling and realize it is lives that matter.

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Where Does it go from Here?

 I can remember when all it cost me to get a job was the price of a Sunday newspaper, a cup of coffee, an ink pen or pencil and experience. You found a nice corner booth, settled in, started perusing the wanted section and circled the the job you were interested in, then wake up early Monday morning, sat by your phone and started making phone calls to prospective clients and the really nice thing about it is that you actually kept to talk to a real live person and expressing your desire to interview with them, wow, what a concept.

Now you have a computer running an algorithm and parsing your resume that may have taken you hours or even days to compile, depending on your age and at my age days would be the norm, only to rip it apart picking out bits and pieces just to send back an email from "donotreply@youwantthisjob.com", to be told, "We received your resume." and then all you are  supposed to do is wait until someone finishes the donut and coffee on their third morning break to try and decipher the parsing trying to figure out what position you are applying for.

Then comes the long awaited email, "Hello, we are in the process of reviewing the information you sent in consideration for the position of whatever it was you applied for. Please be patient as our globally recognized talent recruitment team members goes over your information that really couldn't be worth a hill of beans to us and matches your skills and experience in our awesome $3 billion dollar building overlooking the most serene landscape you've ever seen. We should get back to you shortly in about three to six months, give are take a business quarter. From your over paid less experienced than you team at donotreply@hahahayouthinkwereallycare.com" as spittle drips from your lower lip back in your coffee cup that you had to go to some discount strip shop borderline use by date cheapest coffee they have on the shelf and hoping it does not say "Contents of this package are recycled from You Want This Job employee break room."

As the six month and possibly an extra business quarter time from At You Want This Job, Inc. is running out and your job inquiry is about to be deleted, you get that email you have been waiting for as you drink your cup of slightly flavored coffee recycled coffee grounds, "Congratulations, you have made the cut! But before we proceed any further we need you to take an assessment test at one of our co-partner sites designed to have you jump through additional hoops for our own enjoyment and amusement, but I really urge you to take the "practice assessment test" first so you'll be better prepared to take the final assessment test so that we may get some additional fun out of the dead end maze we are sending you through. Please click on the link below so that we may better evaluate how really stupid we think you are. Good luck and have your billing information ready as we sit back and laugh our butts off while you believe you think you're getting a job here with people who could care less if you get the job or not. So please follow this link, debitorcreditcard@suckyouraccountdry.com and make us laugh."

Out of desperation, starvation and filed eviction notice you click on the link. "Well hello stupid person who doesn't realize what's being done to you and we really couldn't care less member at Suck Your Wallet Dry, Inc. affiliated with those who enjoy a good circus show of never ending idiots who there seems to be no shortage of, welcome. Please have your debit or credit card ready as we begin the process of squeezing every last penny from your wallet and start you on your road to financial failure and bankruptcy. Good luck and we really hope you have the funds to cover this assessment no one will ever read as the link is a dead-end from no where to we could care less."

Still thinking there is something to the position you applied for, you fill in your personal information from the financial institution at "Astronomical Interest Rates Second Rate Financial, Inc." and click the "Are You Really This Stupid?" button to have your last penny being drained from your wallet, you see the price, $1,500.00 or whatever you have left in the bank or limit on your credit card, you decide personal starvation and a pissed off significant other isn't worth going bankrupt over, you click the "cancel and close" button, but not before a pop up window appears in your browser, "Hey stupid, can you really not afford this and deny us of a good laugh?", you proceed to close it out and still another pop up window appears, "Okay and only because you've given us such amusement, today and today only we are going to offer you a whole 3% discount on the practice assessment test package that we know we will make up getting you to buy other needless training material that prepares you for nothing.", you still proceed and try to close the page only to once again be accosted by another pop up window belittling you, or trying to, into submission in order for them to increase sales and their stock selling price on the NYSE or some other Wall Street firm hell bent on increasing profit margins on a company one of their uneducated get rich quick I can create a useless money making rip-off website brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin or in-law relatives uploaded that they feel they can abuse at your personal and financial expense just to prove P.T. Barnum's quote, "There's a sucker born every minute." on a bet made in a bar.

I can remember when looking for a job cost no more than the price of a Sunday Edition newspaper, a cup of coffee, experience and a quiet spot in a corner booth, 45 cents, less tip.



Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

For Monkey

**MONKEY'S WORLD**

Once upon a time on a little island far, far away there lived a little monkey who always wondered if she would ever see places besides the little island she lived on. Not that where she lived wasn't nice, in fact it was a very nice place to live. There were tall leafy trees she could swing from branch to branch and fruit trees every where you looked. There were banana trees, papaya trees, mango trees and kiwis in the most convenient places, which was every place she looked, there were even wild sweet grapes which she loved to eat the most, but still she wondered what it would be like to see other places. Most days she would climb to the highest limb she could find and nestle in a soft leafy bough and spend the day dreaming about what there was to see away from her little island.

One day eating her breakfast she asked her momma what places were like away from their little island. "Oh my Little Monkey, why do you want to know such things? Aren't you happy here?" her momma asked her.


"Yes momma, I am happy here, but I can only do so much before I do the same things again and I've already seen every thing on our island." Monkey lamented.


"Are you sure you have seen every thing there is to see?" Momma asked her little monkey.


"Yes momma I am sure. I know the best places to find the sweetest fruit, where the biggest coconuts are, where the prettiest flowers are and the best trees to swing from are at." She answered.


"That is your world. There are other worlds on our island completely different than your world Little Monkey." Momma explained. "Maybe you should explore those first before you wonder about other places."


"Like what momma?" Monkey asked curiously.


"Besides you and me and our world Little Monkey there are other worlds here." Momma started explaining. "There are other creatures that live here that have their own world."


"Like what momma?" Monkey continued.


"The birds, the turtles, frogs, butterflies, leaf hoppers, fish and the list just keeps going on with the different worlds around you Little Monkey. Instead of asking me, why don't you go and discover this worlds for yourself and explore them." Momma explained.


"Where should I start momma?" Monkey continued asking.


"Try starting outside our front door." Momma answered her.


With what Little Monkey's momma had told her, she set off to discover the different worlds that were all around her. Before going out she grabbed her drawing paper and pencil and her little note book she liked to write in and having those in hand she hurried out the front door ready to explore these new worlds.

Monkey started out on the path that led to the little pond she liked to wiggle her toes in. When she arrived to the little pond she noticed a frog sitting on a lily pad croaking.
"Hai frog!" Monkey haled. "How are you today frog?"


"Hai Monkey! I'm doing very well, thank you for asking." Frog responded to Monkey. "What brings you to the pond today?"


"I am trying to discover new worlds frog. Momma told me there are other worlds besides mine here on the island." Monkey explained to frog. "Have you seen any worlds around here frog?" Monkey asked.


"No Monkey I haven't." Frog replied.


"You sure frog you haven't noticed anything?" Monkey quizzed frog. "Mom said that they are everywhere around me." She continued.


"I'm sure Monkey. Nothing new here that I can see. All the usual things I see every day." Frog assured her. "Tadpoles swimming, eating and waiting to be frogs."

"Oh? Tadpoles are fat little fish silly frog, not frogs, they don't even hop." Monkey laughed informing frog of his mistake.


"No Monkey, they aren't fish, they are frogs that start their life in the pond swimming and eating, waiting for their time when their tails start shrinking, gills close and legs start to grow." Frog explained to her.


"Hahaha frog, tadpoles can't do that. Fish are fish and frogs are frogs, they can't change." Monkey said laughing.


"In my world Monkey that is the cycle of life." Frog informed her.


"In your world?" Monkey asked surprised.

"Yes, in my world. In it we live in water and on land. As a tadpole we stay in the pond waiting to grow up into frogs and as frogs we live on land, but we can still swim in the pond and hide from those who see us as their dinner." Frog explained to her.


"Frogs for dinner?!" Monkey asked shocked, "Who would eat a frog for dinner?"


"Big fish do and large birds like the storks and hawks." Said frog very nervously.


"Then where do you hide if they see you and they are hungry?" Monkey asked in a concerned tone.


"If it is a hungry bird I dive into the pond and bury in the mud and if it is a big fish, I jump on the shore and hide in the reeds." Frog explained.


"Snakes are in the reeds, momma said so and told me never to play in the reeds." Monkey stated. "Aren't you afraid the snake will eat you?" She asked frog.


"Not really, I can hear the snakes rustling in the dry reeds and can hop away before they can get me, plus snakes don't like the way frogs taste. We have a very bitter taste and the slime on my skin makes his mouth foam with bitter bubbles." Frog explained to Monkey.

"Doesn't it do the same to the fish and birds?" Monkey asked, "Why can they eat a frog and not the snake?"


"Because they eat us whole and swallow right away." Frog explained further.


"Your world is much different than mine frog." Monkey told him. "So why are you in my world too?"


"Yes Monkey, much different than your world. I really don't know why I am in your world too, maybe you can figure it out and come back to tell me." Frog stated to her.


With that frog turned away and sprang into the water to cool off and look for something to eat. Monkey sat on her favorite rock staring after frog and realized she had found another world here on her little island. Happy with herself she got up and started out to see what other worlds were there to discover and explore.


Walking in the shade of the jungle trees, Monkey noticed a butterfly going from flower to flower to drink the nectar. She watched as the butterfly flew in her direction and landed on a hibiscus flower right in front of her.

"Hai butterfly!" Exclaimed Monkey. "How are you today?"


"Oh, hai Monkey." Returned the butterfly. "I am doing well thank you, all the sweetest flowers are blooming today."


"Yes I have been eating them too as I look for new worlds to explore." Monkey informed him.


"Eat?" Butterfly asked confused. "Why would you eat a flower Monkey?"


"The same reason you do butterfly, they taste good." Monkey answered smiling.


"Oh I don't eat them at all, I sip their sweet nectar." Butterfly explained, "That way I can visit them again and again sipping from them until the turn to seed to make more flowers for me to sip from. Eating the flower as you do would not let the flower make more nectar and it would never turn to seed to make new flowers."


"But they taste very delicious to eat. Plus I always see flowers blooming all the time." Monkey said defending her actions.


"If every Monkey thought like you, there would be no flowers left for the butterflies and then we would starve and have to leave the island to find flowers." Butterfly stated.


"Oh my!" Exclaimed Monkey, "I wouldn't want that, I like seeing all the beautiful butterflies on the island. I am sorry for eating your flowers, but I never thought eating them would hurt anyone."


"In my world it is the only thing I eat." He explained, "And without them I couldn't live."


"In your world?" Monkey asked, realizing she had just discovered another new world.


"Yes Monkey, my world." Butterfly assured her.


"Why do I never see any baby butterflies?" Monkey asked.


"What do you mean by baby butterflies Monkey?" Asked Butterfly, "Maybe you aren't looking the right way. We do have babies, they are called caterpillars."


"Awe caterpillars are just fuzzy worms butterfly, they don't even have wings." Monkey said laughing at the silly thought.


"They turn into butterflies Monkey." Butterfly explained.


"You sound like frog now, he says tadpoles turn into frogs." Monkey said a little confused.


"Please do not mention that name frog in my presence, they are horrible creatures that eat butterflies and caterpillars." Butterfly stated shivering in fear.


"Frogs eat butterflies and caterpillars?" Monkey asked, "How sad to think."


"How sad indeed, that's why I always say there are never enough storks and hawks when it comes to frogs." Butterfly stated.


"But those are frog's enemies, they eat frogs for dinner!" Monkey exclaimed.


"Exactly Monkey, they eat frogs for dinner and not caterpillars and butterflies." Butterfly said smugly.


"Tell me how caterpillars turn into butterflies." Monkey said to him, "I hope it isn't as silly as tadpoles into frogs."


"No, not silly at all. As a matter of fact, quite normal in my world." Butterfly stated and then started to explain. "Butterflies lay eggs on leaves, on the leaves of the plant that will feed them as they grow, once the eggs hatch they are called larvae and are very small, from a larvae they turn into caterpillars. The caterpillars continue to eat leaves from the same plant they were born on. Once they have eaten enough and enough fat stored in them, they roll themselves up into a cocoon where they become pupae and start changing into butterflies. Soon after a few weeks they are ready to leave their cocoon and fly away as butterflies."


"That sounds as silly as tadpoles turning into frogs." Monkey stated laughing.


"Maybe in your world it sounds silly, in my world it is perfectly normal." Butterfly stated as he flew off towards the jungle to get away from the nosey little Monkey.


Monkey stood there watching the butterfly disappear into the jungle and wondering if all the worlds were the same. Tadpoles and caterpillars turning into frogs and butterflies. It was all just a bunch of silly nonsense to Monkey.


Monkey looked around her wondering what other worlds there were yet to discover. As she thought a shadow near the edge of the jungle caught her eye. She stood up on her tiptoes to see if she could see what it was. Unable to tell, she started quietly walking towards the shadow staying close the hibiscus bushes so she wouldn't be seen.


"Oh my oh my." Monkey heard someone saying. "I know I heard them around here somewhere."


Monkey peeked around the bush being extra quiet and moving very slow. Soon she could see it, it was small, about the size of a tennis ball with short quills instead of fur. Monkey stared at it for some time leaning in closer and closer until...


"Hai there!" It said to Monkey, startling her so that she fell back in a sitting position in the dirt.


"How did you know I was here?" Monkey asked, "I was being so very quiet."


"Being quiet?" The little creature asked, "If you want to call stomping around like a bunch of monkeys on drums quiet, then I guess you were."


"Was I really that noisy?" Monkey asked.


"I could hear you and that darn butterfly yelling from over here earlier." The little creature stated.


"Oh, I apologize...uh...err...I don't know who you are to apologize to." Monkey said.


"I don't doubt that, I know who you are though. Everyone on the island knows who you are. You are that noisy little monkey always swinging from tree to tree and constantly jabbering." The little creature informed Monkey, "As for me I am hedgehog."


"A hedgehog? What is a hedgehog?" Monkey asked quizzically.


"You're looking at one." Hedgehog stated, "What's so curious about that?"


"Because I've never seen a hedgehog." Monkey replied.


"Of course you haven't. You've been too busy running around the jungle as if your tail was on fire to slow down and be quiet enough to see one. But we're here living in the shadows beneath the bushes and shrubs and being quiet." Hedgehog informed Monkey.


"You seem to like things quiet hedgehog." Monkey stated.


"Yes I do prefer quiet, especially over a noisy and nosey little monkey." Hedgehog said rudely.


"Oh." Monkey said sadly, "I'm very sorry if I spoiled your morning hedgehog, I didn't mean to do it."


"Oh it's not really your fault, I was born with sensitive ears, all hedgehogs are born with sensitive ears." Hedgehog explained to Monkey, "It is how we find food."


"With your hearing you find food? Asked Monkey, "What kind of food do you have to listen for."

"The quiet kind." Hedgehog said as he winked at her, "They live under the soil."


"You mean worms?" Monkey asked curiously.


"Yes, worms among other things." Hedgehog replied.


"Other things? What kind of other things?" Monkey continued.


"Yes, other things like grubs, beetles, ants and termites." Hedgehog's voice went to a whisper as he turned his head to one side and lowered his ear to the ground. "Shhhh, can't you hear the noisy little dirt eaters?" 




"No I can't hear a thing except you." Monkey replied.


"You can't hear them eating and burrowing through the dirt? Are you deaf?" Hedgehog asked Monkey.


"No I am not deaf, I can hear perfectly fine if you should know." Monkey replied a little upset with hedgehog's rudeness, "My ears aren't as sensitive as yours are."


"Yes, yes, you're right. You're just a noisy little Monkey interrupting my breakfast." Hedgehog stated as if Monkey wasn't even there. Again Hedgehog turned his ear to the ground and in a flurry of dirt and dust had dug a hole, stuck his head in. A few seconds later Hedgehog looked over at Monkey with a smile and a fat juicy worm between his teeth, "Noisy little things they are." He said as he sucked it in like a string of spaghetti. Licking his lips he turned his back on Monkey and started off back into the jungle.


"What a strange world Hedgehog lives in." Monkey said to herself, "Mom was right. There are many worlds still left to discover and explore on my little island. I wonder what I will discover next?"


Looking up in the trees she noticed someone she recognized, it was the old owl that lived in an old tree near the little pond Monkey liked wiggling her toes in.

"Hai Owl!" Monkey exclaimed, "How are you today?"

"Well hai to you too Monkey. I am doing very well today, thank you." Owl replied, "What brings you to the jungle today?"

"Worlds do Owl." Monkey answered.

"Worlds?" Owl said quizzically.


"Yes Owl, worlds. Momma told me that I hadn't seen all the different worlds on our little island when I started to ask her about places far away from here. I told her I had done all the was to do here and knew all the best and sweetest fruits, the best trees to swing from, the best places to play hide and seek and where the prettiest flowers were at, but she told me that was only in my world on our island and there were other worlds to discover and explore. So that is what I am doing Owl, discovering worlds." Monkey explained to Owl.


" I see." Said Owl, "And was your mother right? Are there other worlds besides your own you have discovered today?" Owl asked Monkey.


"Oh yes Owl, momma was right. I have discovered there are many worlds around me besides my own." Monkey replied excitedly.


"And what about theses new worlds did you discover?" Asked Owl.


"Oh, that even though they are all around me, they are different than mine in some ways and yet a part of my world." Monkey informed Owl.


"Yes they are different and the same. Replied Owl, "What did you find the same in their world that is in your world?" He asked Monkey.


"The flowers I like to nibble on for a snack, Butterfly needs them for his food and nourishment, that even though we may not be born the same, like frog, he was born a tadpole, we each have the same needs and what we each do in our worlds affects the worlds around us." Monkey proudly informed Owl.


"Very good Monkey, you paid attention I see. And you are right, what we do in our world touches the other worlds around us, so we need to be careful and respectful of those world and think before we do something that could cause harm to those in the worlds around us." Owl stated to Monkey.


"Yes Owl, I know now I need to think before I do something and pay attention closer to what is around me." Monkey replied.


With that Monkey said goodbye to Owl and started walking home, this time walking a little slower and looking a little closer and thinking about her day of discovery. When Monkey arrived home momma asked if she had managed to discover anything new on their little island and Monkey proudly informed her, "I don't need to leave out little island to discover new worlds momma, there are more than enough all around me to keep discovering.


Later...




Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

My Little Monkey...

 Three little monkeys jumping on the bed...
One fell off and bumped his head...
Took him to the doctor and the doctor said...
Don't let that monkey jump on the bed...

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed...
One fell off and bumped his head...
Took him to the doctor and the doctor said...
Don't let that money jumped on the bed...

One little monkey jumping on the bed...
She fell off and bumped her head...
Took her to the doctor and the doctor said...
Don't let that monkey jump on the bed...

"Ha ha ha! That last monkey is me, right dadee?" She laughed.

"Yes Monkey, the last one is you." I replied smiling looking down into her big dark eyes.

"I think you're silly dadee." Still laughing looking up at me.

"Yes dadee is silly. Silly over his Little Monkey." I answered reaching down to grab her hands and pull her up to me.

Holding her in my arms she rested her head on my shoulders, her arms wrapped around my neck. I kept silent as I enjoyed my Little Monkey in my arms. I waited patiently for her next prompt to what had become a tradition with her each time we had these little bonding moments together.

"Am I your favorite monkey dadee?" She would start with.

"Of course you're my favorite Monkey. We only have one banana tree, we can't afford another monkey. Where would we get bananas if we had another?" I replied knowing where it was leading.

"Monkeys just don't eat bananas dadee." She continued.

"They don't? What else do monkeys eat?" I asked smiling.

She pulled her head from my shoulder and placed her hands on my cheeks to hold my gaze on her. She looks in my eyes and is silent for a moment. "They eat chocolate and donuts and cake and ice cream and pudding and popcorn and lots of things."

"Oh? And where did you find this out that they ate al these things?" I quizzed her. 

"Because I'm a monkey dadee and I eat them. Remember? You see me eat them before." She replied smiling.

"I see. So if I gave you a banana now you wouldn't want it?" I asked, studying her expressions.

"No dadee I wouldn't eat it." She replied letting her gaze break from mine.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Well dadee, if I always eat bananas there won't be any left for Ate and Kuya, they like bananas too." She replied logically.

"Hmm, I see. And what is my Little Monkey hungry for now?" I asked knowing the answer was in her earlier menu of items monkeys eat.

"I think I should have a chocolate dadee and a cola." She answered smiling and bringing her eyes back to mine.

"And a cola?" I asked letting our noses touch.

"Yes, chocolate makes me thirsty." She reasoned with me or tried to justify her reason.

"Water won't work?" I asked her.

"Hmm. Should we ask momma if it is okay if you have a chocolate and a soda?" I continued asking her, knowing she already had this scripted out in her mind.

"No we should shouldn't ask her. She gets cranky when I ask too many questions and tells me to ask you. So I am asking you." She replied.

"So you have already asked her if you could have a chocolate and a cola?" I asked as she broke her eyes away from mine.

"No dadee I didn't ask. I already ask her too many questions today. It's best if I ask you because you love your Monkey and I know you not want me hungry." She answered me as she lowered her head to my shoulder wrapping her arms back around my neck. "And we can get mommy a chocolate too so she knows you didn't forget her."

"Should we let momma know we are going to the store to get you a chocolate and a cola?" I asked as I kissed her ear.

"Oh no dadee we shouldn't let her know that. She is napping and she will get angry if we wake her and then she will say no. We just go and bring mommy back a chocolate and she will smile and be happy." She continued her reasoning.

"So we make a secret from mamma?" I asked her.

"Yes dadee that is best, a secret. That way she won't be upset with you." She replied.

"Upset with me" Why would momma be upset with me? I am not the one eating the chocolate or drinking the cola." I informed her.

"Because you buy it for me. I don't have any pesos to buy chocolate and cola." She replied impatiently. "And if we don't go now mommy will wake up and cook moringana with coconut milk and tell me to eat if I'm hungry." Her little feet starting to dig into me as if she were trying to spur on a pony to move in the direction she wanted.

"How about we leave her a note and let her know so she won't worry if she wakes up early from her nap." I suggested.

"Nope. Mommy doesn't like notes, so we should go now and come home before she wakes up." She said while rocking her body trying to get me to to move towards the door.

I walked out the door still carrying her as we went out the gate and onto the street. I smiled and asked her, "Want to walk t the store?"

"No dadee, you know how to walk, I will ride." She answered wrapping her legs around my waist and locking herself into position.

"Oh it's so very hot today Monkey." I said as I walked to one side og the street trying to stay in the shade of the over hanging trees.

"Yes dadee, very hot. If mommy's chocolate starts melting I will eat it so it won't be messy for mom to eat." She assured me.

"Yes Monkey I am sure you will." I laughed squeezing her. "Dadee's Little Monkey uses her head very well I see."

Later...


Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Forever and Always

A roller coaster to no where plummeting into an abyss of total darkness, sucking in light like a cosmic black hole with a gravitational pull that does not allow escape. To be trapped in a vacuous neither world, surreal akin to a Dante vision of a warped reality, I felt myself being predicated to a life both real and unreal. Sounds stretched like amusement park taffy drifting in and out of audibility wracked at my brain like fingernails being drawn across a chalkboard. My body convulsing in painful torment as I fought to gain control over my senses that seemed disconnected. Flashes of light firing off like sparks emitted from an electrical short, pulses of light like the flashing of a high intensity strobe paralyzing me momentarily until the next blinding pulse fires off. My feet moving in a forward motion, but going nowhere as I struggle to run trying to escape this limbo of nothingness I have fallen into. It is an emptiness I could feel, a nothingness with substance that held to me not allowing for escape. I'm here, but I'm not here, destined to be tormented by my own fears. Is this what I had created for myself, a place of self torment, trapped by my on design in a world I had seen only myself in? The loneliness I felt beat in my chest is like a heart starved of oxygen losing it's fight to sustain life it supports. My lungs filled with fear like a man drowning, sinking deeper into the unfathomable depths of darkness. I wanted to scream out, but to what to who? I struggle to make an utterance, but I had no voice. This vacuous place I was in quietens even my audible senses. I could hear what I wanted to say, but to say it was impossible.

My head bows and I can feel a tear rolling down my cheek. Is it my tear? Am I feeling remorse for something I had done or is it self pity overtaking me in this moment of my darkest despair? I can feel the darkness gripping me tighter like a constrictor suffocating it's prey before it devours it. I feel life slowly being squeezed out of me and I want to succumb to it, to end this unbearable pain. Another tear rolls down my cheek and again I wonder if it is my tear? Who else would cry for me if not myself? The sparks and pulses of light start to diminish, the sounds of nothingness seem to fade, but the darkness intensifies as I feel myself struggling less in the ever tightening grip of this place. My head rolls from side to side as this constrictor wraps itself tighter and tighter. I have nothing left in me to fight, I feel as empty as this place I am in. I feel like giving in to this hoping the torment will stop and let me alone and end this suffering that tears at me, rendering me as empty as this world I am trapped in.

Slowly I feel myself slipping into this nothingness I am in, becoming a part of it as much as it was a part of me. My head jerks back as I feel the grip of the coils squeezing the last essence of life from me. No lights now, no sounds taunting me, just an impenetrable darkness that engulfs me completely, filling me as it seeps into my being. Coldness is my only sense now, a cold emptiness that takes up the vacuum where life once was. My eyes close as I feel myself at the doors of my fate and  as they close a piercing point of light penetrates the darkness in my mind. I feel life in it, hope that in this despair I find myself in there is salvation. Something that can deliver me from this hell of emptiness, something that can breathe warmth back into this cold that has filled me. I focus on that small point of light, not thinking of the coils that shackle me to this place. I feel a need in me to travel to that light, I feel it calling to me from far off like a whisper on the wind it comes to me.

“Mahal. Mahal come to me. You're home, please Mahal come to me now.” I feel another tear rolling down my cheek. I feel confused. Is this more torture I must endure? Words taunting me, teasing me into a false hope? “Mahal, please hear me. I am waiting for you as you wanted. Please my Mahal don't do this to me. Come back to me now.” I feel a warmth brush across my face and a softness resting against it. It is coming from the light, the words, the warmth I am feeling now. It brings a strength to me from within to fight this which is holding me in this place. I pull myself towards the light, struggling to free myself from this place of darkness. Slowly I see that point of light grow, broadening and as I feel it shed it's light on me I feel the warmth that it emits. My arms fight to pull themselves free from the coils wrapped tightly around them. I claw at the darkness to pull myself towards the light and and to the life I feel that emits it. “Mahal I'm waiting, please come back to me, please.” The light surrounds me now and I can feel the coils of the dark constrictor that had bound me to the darkness behind loosen their grip and writhe in spasms to pull itself away from the light. The darkness recedes back into the nothingness and gives way to the life the light brings. My fears subside and the loneliness that beat like a struggling heart calms and I can feel the warmth only love can give. The voice is clearer now, no longer a whisper, “Mahal I love you, I love you so very much. Please don't leave me, don't do this to me. I can't live without you.” I can feel a hand now gripping my hand. I can feel the warmth of a breath on my neck and the softness of a kiss. “Please Mahal.”

My eyes opened suddenly, slowly they focused on my surroundings. I was in a room flooded with light and and warmth. I could hear people talking, not in a language I could understand, but happy I could hear them. Then a voice I knew, a voice I hard heard many times over a long distance. “Shh. Dadee doesn't feel well, please keep your voice down Little One. You want dadee to get better?” “Yes momma I want.” came the reply. I turned my head towards the door as she entered, a tear that I knew was mine rolled down my face as her eyes looked at mine. She smiled and in a few steps was beside me, her face lowered to mine, her hand on my chest, “Hello Mahal.” “Hello Love.” I whispered. “How did I get here?” “Oh Mahal, you don't remember?” she asked puzzled. “No I don't remember Mahal.” “The plane Mahal from Manila you were on crashed landing. You were thrown from the plane when it hit the ground.” ”What are you talking about? What plane? What crash?” “Its been almost three weeks you have been in the hospital Mahal. You don't remember anything? Not even coming home?” She looked down at me waiting for me to answer her. I could see the worry in her eyes now. “You're home now Mahal, that's all that's important. No need you remember that time anyway. I just want you better and in good health. The children want you home.” Yes Mahal I know.” She smiled looking down at me, “I bring a Little Monkey with me Mahal, your Little Monkey.” I looked past her and across the room sitting in a chair swinging her feet that couldn't touch the ground watching Dora the Explorer sat my Little Princess. “Little One are you going to hug my neck and give me a kiss?” I asked her. She looked over at me and smiled, “You want dadee?” “Of course I want silly Little Monkey.” “Can I have fried chicken and a donut and a chocolate and a coke?” “Of course you can.” I replied smiling. “Will I hurt your bones?” I looked down at myself, both legs in casts to my waist, my right arm and shoulder in a cast, my head wrapped and bandaged, multiple I. V.s inserted in my left arm and both hands and a back brace. She walked slowly over to me and climbed up on the rails of the hospital bed and wrapped her arms around my neck then kissed my cheek. “I love you dadee.” “I love you too Little One.”

“Mahal you want to rest now?” “No I don't want. I've had enough rest.” “You're weak Mahal, you need to heal. You have many injuries. We will let you rest now.” she reasoned holding my hand. “No Mahal I don't want you to leave, I want you here. It was you that gave me the will to want to see another day. I was in a bad place Mahal and I am afraid if I close my eyes I will go back to it.” “Mahal you're home now and the only place you are going is to #2 Republic St. Little One and I will stay here with you if you want Mahal, you won't be alone.” “No Mahal, I won't be alone ever again.”

She pulled a chair next to the bed and sat next to me and held my hand. “Are you happy now Mahal you're home?” Looking into her eyes I smiled, “I couldn't be happier if it were our wedding day. Mahal I had so many bad dreams, I felt like I was leaving this world, leaving you behind. I was in a very dark place and I felt like I would never escape, like it was holding me there, not letting me escape it's hold on me. I kept feeling tears on my cheeks and whispers floating all around me. I was so afraid and alone their Mahal.” “Those were my tears Mahal, I haven't left you since Ate called me and saw on the news about the plane crash. She called the airlines and gave them your name, they said you had been transported to the hospital. I fetched Little One from school and came fast to you Mahal. Ate take care of Little One at night, but I stayed here with you. I haven't left you. I would hold you Mahal and I cried so much afraid I would lose you. I whisper in your ear not to leave me, to come back to me. I too was afraid Mahal. The doctor even tell me to prepare myself, that you may not live. You were in a coma all these weeks.” “Yes, but I'm here now Mahal and I didn't die. As I said before as you are my destiny, I am your destiny. We were meant to be together and together we will be Mahal, forever and always.” She smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks, “Yes Mahal, always and forever.”

Later...

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Distant Sands

It had to be in the triple digits, no cloud to mask the sun in the sky to be seen anywhere. The boat, a single hulled small catamaran slowly made it's way across the stretch of placid water headed for my final destination, home or where my new home would be on a small island in the Philippines. The captain apologized for the lack of a shade canvas, he had informed me it had been ripped from it's frame in the last storm that had blown through, but assured me that the trip only took 45 minutes and I wouldn't have to suffer the heat for too long. To be honest, it wasn't the heat that was overbearing, I grew up in Texas where I am accustomed to the heat, it was the humidity that was killing me. Humidity so dense it hurt to breath, I could almost feel it condensing in my lungs with each breath I took. I felt like I was drowning my chest ached so.

I looked around the boat at the passengers, or rather to the capacity of the passengers. This was not a large boat at all. As far as the seating I calculated it would hold at the most 20 people and counting heads, including myself and the captain, there was 41 aboard. That too worried me a little, you could see the water every now and then splash over the gunwale which was only inches above the water. Not only was the boat over crowded with passengers, there was the items they were bringing back to island with them, which added to the weight. The sweat running down my forehead was an intermingling of the heat and the worry I felt thinking that if this boat goes down, I hadn't seen but one life vest and that was being worn by the captain. As my eyes scanned the boat I noticed a sign over head hung from the frame the shade canvas used to be, "The captain is not responsible for lost articles or loss of life. Please be ready to swim in case of an emergency.". I didn't find that very encouraging and started wondering why he hung the sign to begin with.

We were about 30 minutes into our trip from the mainland to the island that I would soon call home when it the distance I could see the faint outline of palm trees, more palm trees than I have ever seen congregated in one place in my life. I tapped the captain on the shoulder and pointed towards the island, he smiled and shook his head and said, "She is there sir. Not long now.". I thought to myself, no, not long now as long as the boat doesn't sink before we get there. I tried to reassure myself that the captain has apparently made this trip many times before successfully, but that too concerned me thinking that all those successful trips had been made on this boat and according to Murphy's law he is about due for the inevitable, I was just praying it wasn't on this trip.

By some miraculous chance of good fortune or the answering to my prayer we slowly glided into the terminal dock where I would disembark and kiss the slab of concrete beneath my feet in a ceremonial jester of gratitude that in our Creator's infinite mercy He delivered me safely here. I told myself Sunday I would be in church to properly give my thanks to Him. As I stood there looking around I felt like I had been taken back in time, at time of no noise pollution that commercialism brings, a time of no air pollution that modernization brings and the lack of stress both bring hand in hand.The people looked happy, heads nodding with a smile and saying "Hai!" as they passed me by heading to and from the boat. They moved with no sense of urgency and no Mad Hatter attitude professing they were late for something or the other. They looked genuinely relaxed and happy. That instantly put me at ease, as I am not the gregarious type, but not a total introvert either, I felt I could settle in and get to know the locals with little effort on my part.

My luggage, all 9 pieces lay around me and I wondered how I was going to get them from where I was standing to where I was going. Looking around me I scanned the area hoping I would see some mode of transportation, a jepney, a cart or even a donkey with a pack rack, but much to my dismay I saw nothing. This was becoming a slight quandary on my part, start hauling as many pieces as I could at one time, hurry back and hope when I returned the luggage I left behind was still waiting on me? Leave it all and search for someone or something to help me convey it to where I was going? I sat down on the largest piece of luggage and started pondering my predicament I was in. As I started thinking as to how I was going to resolve the issue that surrounded me I thought in the distance I could hear kids laughing and singing, I tried to ignore it, but one of those little voices I had heard before or at least it sounded very familiar to me. I tried to block it and get back to my thinking and as to this point hadn't came up with any solutions and still I could hear that voice and it sounded as if it was getting closer. I glanced down at my watch, 11:05 a.m., oh I thought to myself, must be lunch time at school now. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and thought I should have parked myself in the shade of one of the thousands of palm trees that surrounded me. There was that voice again, I looked up just in time to see her turn her head in my direction. She looked startled as she looked in my direction and froze in her tracks as her friends, seeming not to noticed continued on. She slowly turned the rest of her body in the direction she was looking and as if her feet had suddenly turned into two great weights she slowly started placing one foot in front of the other. Her eyes seemed fixed on me and I stood up as she got closer. Slowly, very slowly her paced quickened as she came closer and then she started wiping her eyes, I don't know if it was from tears or the sand that the wind kicked up with each gust. Then her voice, weak and nervous broke the silence, "Papa?". "Ate?", I answered. She dropped her books at that point and she started to run towards me, her arms out, tears flowing down her cheeks and before I could blink I could feel her arms around my neck and her tears soaking through my shirt. "Papa you're home, you didn't forget us, you're home!". "Yes Ate, I am home.", assuring her. She looked about me, "Much luggages papa.". "I know Ate, but where else should my clothes be?", I teased her. "Yes papa, you're right. They belong home.", she answered smiling. "Let me go get kuya and mom. You wait right here papa, I won't be long, just a minute, okay papa?", she said over her shoulder heading towards #2 Republic Street. I smiled answering, "I'm home Ate, I have no where else to go.".

As I watched her run towards home to let the family know I said to myself, "I have no where else to go, I'm home."

Later...


Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.