HER SKINNY,TIRED HANDS

Her Skinny,Tired Hands

Airyn R. Lentija

There's the touch of hand that I could never live without. A touch beyond the care of a mother, beyond the love of a father, beyond comparison. I grew up feeling this touch, holding this hand through all the laughter and sorrow of the years I have survived. Without her tired, skinny hands I would not be the woman that I am today.

Aunt Jocelyn, became my guide when I was six years old. My mother went abroad to work as a domestic helper and when she did my aunt took responsibility for the four of us: myself as the eldest, my brother Cyril and my two younger sisters Beverly and Yvonne. She stopped working and stay with us at home. Since my father is a farmer and so busy tending the animals and crops Aunt Jocelyn was always there to look after us.

As far as I can remember she taught us how to get closer to God. Every night we would recite the Holy Rosary and she would read bible stories to us. When we were all studying she always made sure that our clothes were clean. She would wake up early in the morning to cook our breakfast. She always took good care of us.

We came to love and respect her like a mother. Whatever recognition we might get from school she was the first one to praise and encourage us. Although we did not have much compared to our classmates, she taught us to be content with the few blessings we have and be thankful that we have a strong and happy family despite of our poverty.

We all studied in privates schools both high school and college. My parents and my aunts made sure that we got the best so that we did not have to suffer the hardships of poverty like they had been through.

My brother, like me was always a headache for the teachers while my two sisters were both achievers. While both of them brought honor to the family my brother and I brought problems, especially me.

When I reached college things went wrong for me. I enrolled Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering which was far from the medical course that I wanted to do. Since I was the eldest so much pressure was put on me to succeed. I did my best but my studies did not go well and eventually I had to quit school. I was so afraid of what my family was going to say. I was so afraid that I had failed them.

I started working without my family knowing but they soon discovered the truth. My aunt and my mom cried so badly when they found out what I had done. However, with all their love they took me from my boarding house and brought me home.