“HOW TO SAY NOTHING IN FIVE HUNDRED WORDS”

By: Paul McHenry Roberts

Avoid the obvious

One summertime I usually go and buy some stuff that may urge my satisfaction. I earned some
by gathering small amounts in my pocket to buy those dreams of mine. Small things that may
bring happiness to my friend who can’t afford and may not always bless like me. We always talk
and dream together to buy that stuff for us. Were only eleven at that time. When we ran to each
other’s house it must be different and he look everywhere and made me think that someday I
can give him what he wants while we're young and still studying.
Take the less usual side
The day when I went running to him and carry along the stuff that we need I heard something
out of the door. “Please Lad, don’t get mad, go to the market and sell this, so that you have food
on the table on our supper” I began to walk slowly and wait outside of the door. Now he’s
approaching, saying he can’t play now with me.
Slip out of abstraction
He carried a small bilao filled with kakanin, saying “Bro you can’t be with me, stay home and let
me sell this for our food tonight”, and I answered whisperingly, “Let me help you so that you may
finish it before the 12noon strike, what do you think?”, now he agreed on my deal. We went to
the market with his bare patadyong and thin fabric sleeve that made him shiver. Now I share
with him my coat and we started to giggle on the street.
Get rid of the obvious padding
Now while on the street, we wave our hands and shout what we sell and people on the market
begun to look at us, others are busy buying groceries, ladies with their new clothes, men tasting
a new flavor of wine, one elderly walking towards us and look for her pocket and extend a penny
to buy. Everybody now notices us and saying “Boy come and let me buy that” until we finish it.
Call a fool a fool
Going back to our home I started to remember the stuff that lately I carry when I ran into their
house. I told him that we have to be quick and find where did I put it. Now, I placed it on their
table, and a wide smile showing on his frown face lately, he said “when did you buy this, oh my
is this a dream bro?”
Beware of pat expressions
Now he opens slowly the box and immediately scratches the cover and holds the edges of it,
and turns on the power button. He began to cry and slightly embarrassing for his reaction. He
felt that it is impossible because his family can’t buy it, due to financial crises.
Colored words
He embraces me with his slender skinny body and thank me for the present. I cried too and
seem to be glad about what I did. Nothing can describe what we felt at that moment.
Colorless words
You know what, giving is like freedom a refreshing feeling that others may not felt. Giving a
tablet for school stuff to my friend is one of my greatest dream for him to come up with our
lesson. I will continue to support him and offer what can I do because that is a true definition of
a friend.