Short Story
The Birthday
Rose is an obedient daughter, belongs to a family set by God on the top of happiness and peace even without positions. She helped their family together with her two brothers. They chopped, peeled, dried and divided the pieces of wood and sell into the market to buy foods. Her mother goes down daily and seeks somebody who will let her wash their clothes, to have something for Rose requirements in school. After delivering firewood to their regular customer, her father goes directly to the bus station hoping somebody to let him carry baggage in exchange for a small amount of money. “Mother, mother”, called Rose when arrived home. “What is it Rose?” asked her mother.
Mifa, Rose’s mother cried in happiness when Rose told her that she was chosen to be the class representative of the Science contest. But Rose’s happiness faded away when she remembered that it will be held one week later and the preceding day will be their final exam for the second semester of her second year in college. “Don’t worry Rose, your father delivered all the fire woods they gathered almost a month to the establishment selling lechon and it will be enough for your remaining fees”, assured her mother. As minutes passed, their conversation was interrupted by Tony, their neighbor and co-worker of Rose’s father. “What? Tell me that you are just kidding, Tony.” cried Rose’s mother.
At the hospital, they saw Rose’s father lying without life. According to the witnesses, he was stabbed many times by those drunken men that wanted to steal the fire woods. Tears running down to Rose’s cheeks when she remembered all the sacrifices made by her father since she was still a child. Rose didn’t know where to start especially when her mother undergone depression due to the death of their padre de familia.
Due to the tragedy, Rose went to Manila in order to earn money and support