ANYA AND HER TEARS

Story and illustration by Liwliwa Malabed ( Winner, Dreamweaver Contest, Family Reader Magazine, Mega Magazines and Publications, Inc., March 2003)

            Anya listened as her parents threw angry words at each other.  As tears fell, she decided not to listen, grabbed her favorite rhyme book and recited loudly: 

The buzz of the bees, I can hear
The cry of the dog, I can hear
The chirp of the bird I can hear
Therefore I’m not deaf.
         
The next morning, nobody joined her at the breakfast table —- just her good old bowl of Champorado. A loud RIIIIIING! from her dad’s cellphone and he went hurrying out of the door. The next thing Anya heard was the VROOOOOOM! of the car as it roared away from home.
         
Her mom was also up early but early as it was, faced the boring face of Mr. Computer.  She hated the unending CLICKing sound as her mother typed away from this world.

Anya stared at her bowl of chocolate porridge.  “It’s Sunday,” she sighed.  Lonely tears poured and decided to join her lonely breakfast bowl.
         
She looked out from the kitchen window. “The sun is out!” So she decided to take a walk.  Anya loves to walk.  Her family lives near the Marilag Nature Park.  She headed for her favorite spot: “My pond!” she squealed.

She stopped when a chilly wind greeted her.  She looked up and found the sun hiding behind a mass of shapeless cloud.  As it grew dark, the flowers lost their color and bowed trembling.  And her pond…she looked for her reflection but saw a gloomy shadow instead.  She felt so alone and again, tears fell on the water.  As she gazed upon the pond, she realized that the pond is made of tears.  Anya wondered how many people’s tears it took to fill the pond.  As she looked around, no one was there.  And certainly, no one was giving a share of his tears.
         
Then it rained.
         
As the pond was starting to overflow with Anya’s tears, she wiped her eyes dry and promised not to cry again.
         
The rest of the day, she did not see her mom and dad together until late that night when she heard their loud voices again.  This time, she clenched her teeth, made a fist and shut her eyes until they hurt.  Not a single tear escaped.
         
Monday!  Anya sat in the corner of her classroom.  It’s recess time but she did not feel hungry.  She didn’t even have any desire to doodle on the blackboard or ride the swing like she always does. Rianne and Trolli, her friends, came to ask her to play with them.   When they heard what’s going on in Anya’s home, they tried to comfort her. “ Don’t feel bad,” Rianne said, “You are lucky you have both of your parents at home.  My mama is working in Canada that’s why I’m staying with my Lola Toyang.” Trolli agreed, “ Rianne is right. Me, I don’t even see my father anymore. Since he and mommy separated, he has been living with his other family. He’s got another daughter.”
         
Anya felt sadder than ever.  What if her parents continue to fight until she grows up? What if they decide to separate like Trolli’s parents?  Still, no tears fell even though she felt like crying.
         
That night, her parents were talking and not fighting!  Anya tried to listen behind the wall.  Are they talking about leaving her?  Anya wondered fearfully.  But their voices were so soft. Maybe they are afraid I’ll find out, Anya thought.  Her ears close to the wall, she got tired of trying to catch the words and fell asleep on the floor.
         
She dreamed of flying! Anya saw herself lying comfortably on a hammock flown to the heavens by a fluffy cloud shaped like a paper plane she usually makes at school.
         
“Wow!”  her dad exclaimed, as he carried Anya to her bed. “She had grown big and heavy,” he smiled.

Anya heard a familiar voice and saw birds singing her favorite lullabye.
         
“Hmmm…she looks so peaceful and happy,” Anya’s mother thought as she sang her to sleep.
            

Anya felt warm as the stars kissed her with their gentle light and watched over her.
         
Her mom and dad kissed her goodnight.

            The next day, Anya woke up feeling good without knowing why.  When she looked around, she found out why —both her parents lay asleep beside her!

            Anya smiled. Then cried — this time, with joy.
         
That Sunday, Anya took a walk to her favorite spot with two of her favorite people in the world:  her mom and her dad!

            And guess what they saw?
            Trees dancing with the wind.
            Flowers in colorful bloom.
            Blue sky filled with clouds shaped like waves and all  things imaginable.

And her pond? It was so clear it reflected the beauty all around — especially Anya’s smile and laughter.