SUNSHINE (A SHORT STORY)
Saturday, November 06, 2010
It was the first time I am going to write a short story. I was inspired by my professor in Philippine Literature. She is so amazing and so I planned writing down one. Here it goes.
One Tuesday morning...
"I will take care of you for now while your owner is away. I know your owner will come for you and will find you and will take you away from me. But for now, let me take care of you," the little girl said.
I love playing cars. Yes, I know I should rather play dolls but I don't want them. I have a collection of different cars; different sizes and colors and styles--I love playing with them. When I wake up in the morning, I would look for them in my room and wonder where did Mommy put them. I will play with them that I'd even forget eating my cookies and milk for breakfast. Mommy would even yell at me, asking me to take my breakfast first but I will hide in the backyard instead as she tries to find me. I'd laugh silently because she couldn't find me. And then,
"BOOG! WAPAW! SMASH!",
I exclaimed as I was playing with my toys.
As I was playing and happened to look from afar, I saw something. Near the mango tree. I wonder what this one was. I went near to it. As I slowly took my steps and kind of surprising myself, I felt excited! It was a bear; a very beautiful, cuddly bear. But it looked bit dirty. I really wonder how this bear got herself here.
"Does anybody owns her?", I asked myself. "Does the owner left it there?"
There is no one around who might have dropped her. So, I planned to bring her home with me. As we were walking back home, skipping as I held her tight in my left hand, I dropped my favorite red car. I stared at it to the ground but I didn't mind and left anyway.
"From now on, you will be mine. I never had a bear before, you know. And we will be friends forever. Okay?"
"I will call you, Sunshine."
I felt extremely happy!
"I am so excited to show this to Mommy."
Finally, we're home.
"Mommy, meet Sunshine. Sunshine, meet Mommy."
"Oh, nice meeting you, Sunshine. But honey, where did you get it?"
"In the backyard Mommy. Near the mango tree. Isn't she beautiful?"
"I think it was dropped by someone, honey. Sunshine might be owned by someone else."
"It doesn't matter. I looked for anybody around but there is none. I will take care of her anyway."
I hurriedly ran to my room. I washed her and put her perfume.
"Voila! You're clean."
We jumped on the bed...and jump and jump. I played with her for hours. I, for instance, forgot my robots and my cars and I don't mind. The whole day through, I played with Sunshine alone.
I'm sleepy. I want to go sleep now. Before I close my eyes, I told Sunshine,
"I wonder why your owner left you there. You are beautiful enough to be treasured. I will take care of you for now while your owner is away. I know your owner will come looking for you and will take you away from me. But for now, let me take care of you while waiting for that day."
I hugged Sunshine so tight and she slept beside me.
The next day,
"Good morning, Sunshine!"
I brushed my teeth and then put on my prettiest dress.
"Come, Sunshine. You should be ready, now. We will be visiting Mommy's friends. Mommy said they will be having a reunion and there will be couple of kids there, too! I should bring you and so they could meet you."
In the car, it was 9:45 in the morning. Mommy said, we'll be there in a minute. I showed Sunshine how beautiful it is outside. And I know she is so happy. I can feel it from her heartbeat, I know she 's happy being with me.
"I will never leave you. My owner might take me away from you one day, but I will still be there for you."
"We're here! Wake up now! Hurry," Mommy said.
Oh, is that a dream? Sunshine just talked to me!
"Mommy, Sunshine just talked!"
"Oh! You were dreaming. Come now, go down. They are waiting for us."
Oh, I can't believe it was just a dream! I stared at Sunshine and I smiled at her. Yes, I know what she said. I will keep that promise.
There are so many people in here! And lots of kids, too! I should let them meet Sunshine.
In the pool, there are the kids. Playing happily. I went there and ready to introduce Sunshine.
There they are, a group of kids coming near to me. Suspiciously looking at my bear.
"It's time for you to meet them, Sunshine."
There they are, a group of kids coming near to me. Suspiciously looking at my bear.
"Hey, I am Molly. Is that a bear?"
"Yes, it is. She is Sunshine. Isn't she beautiful?"
"Yeah, but my toy looks prettier than she do. Anyway, come and play with us. Let's swim! Bring your bear with you."
"No, she can't swim. Thank you anyway."
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun."
They are insisting me to go swim with them and with Sunshine. But I really don't want to go for swim! Molly held my hand so tight and took Sunshine from my grip. The other girl pushed me and the other one ran to me, taking Sunshine away. I got mad because no one should take Sunshine away from me. I bit Molly and..
"I said no!"
I insisted and hardly pushed Molly away from me. I ran to take Sunshine from her. But Molly doesn't want to give Sunshine back to me. I pushed her harder and grabbed Sunshine from her grip. I ran inside the house and looked for Mommy but I couldn't find her. I fixed myself. Looked at Sunshine and hugged her.
"They almost got you. But I will never let that happen. You are safe with me now."
Early in the evening and we're back home.
"What a day! I really hate Molly. How can she be so jealous with me having a bear like Sunshine. I don't want to see her anymore. I should not take Sunshine anywhere near her. She is so mad."
I told Mommy everything that happened. Mom was so surprised about what I did. I ranted out that I really love Sunshine and I will never let that happen to her again.
Them, I saw Mommy's face like as if there is something wrong. Is it something about what I said? I asked her why but she said,
"Nothing, child."
I am bothered. Why would Mommy have that kind of look on me. What happened might have happened?
I went to my room. I washed up and about to go to sleep. I was staring at Sunshine.
"Why did Mommy acted like that, huh? Why do you think? Is she just tired or something?"
And Sunshine was just looking at her, seated in the bed.
"Anyway, I want to give you something."
While taking this pretty red floral box.
"This is one of the poems I wrote about you. I hope you like it. There is a bracelet, too. Here..."
It was a purple, shining bracelet.
"You should put them on now. This will be the symbol of our friendship. As you can see, it has no end, no lock, and it is perfectly fitted only for you. Our friendship will be never like anybody else's. It will have no end, perfectly fitted, like this bracelet."
It was dark, and they are all after me. They are taking Sunshine away from me. I am running so fast, I do not know where to go. I am begging them not to take her. I cried for help but no one is listening. I hugged Sunshine so tight and told her,
"Whatever happens, just hold tight. Don't go way from me."
"Child, wake up now. We have a visitor. They wanted to talk to you."
Another bad dream. I hate bad dreams. Why does it have to be the second time around that someone always wanted to take her? Didn't they understand? She is mine. No one will ever take her.
And then I remembered what Mommy said, a visitor for me? Who might that be? And why so early? I changed clothes and fix myself before going out. I brought Sunshine with me. I took my steps going down slowly.
She was a tall lady and she has a kid with her. Who is this? Oh! She looks familiar. Is that Molly? Why is she here? I held Sunshine tight. Does she really wanted to steal Sunshine from me and even followed me where I lived? This is so embarrassing.
"Mommy why are they here? And Molly, the little mad girl I told you about in the party, she is the one who wanted to steal Sunshine. Why are they here?"
"Listen honey, this is her Mom. And they wanted to tell you something."
Oh, maybe they wanted to apologize for what her daughter did. Good thing then. I will listen and forgive Molly for that.
"Hello little girl. I am Mrs. Rose and this is my daughter, Molly. We live not a couple of blocks away from your house. Last week, while Molly was playing with her toy, her friend accidentally threw her toy away and never found it. It was her favorite toy and we have been looking for it for days. And when you are in the party the last time, Molly saw you holding her toy. That bear that you are holding is hers, my dear. And so we are here to take her back."
No! This is not true! Why are they here. No, I will not give her. She is mine. No. I was about to run to my room but Mommy stopped me.
"Mommy, let me go. I will not give her."
"Honey, I told you already before. It might be owned by someone. And now, this day finally came, it is not right for you to just keep her when she is not really yours to keep. Please, child. Give it back to them."
"But Mommy..." (sobbing)
"We know you have kept her as your best friend. But she wasn't really yours," Molly said.
And I got no choice. I finally gave Sunshine to them--back to her owner. I haven't even got the chance to say goodbye and even spend one more day with her before she leaves. And there she goes. She was looking at me, I know she wanted to stay but she have to leave. I will keep our promise.
Mommy is right, she is not really mine to keep.
Mommy is right, she is not really mine to keep.
"I will never forget you, Sunshine. I will always remember you."
Many months have passed and it was still hard for me. I really tried playing again with my cars and my robots and yet I can't feel the joy anymore. Mommy even bought a new set of cars for me. But I wanted Sunshine. I remember when she said that she will stay whatever happens, and where is she now? Away, afar from me. Where are her promises?
I've lost my Sunshine.
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