Dr. Fish

Matinik is the resident physician of Malaya school of fishes.  Whenever a fish or any sea creature sustains injury, Matinik’s extra fish bones are always handy.

When Claustrophopic Talaba was locked inside his shell, Matinik came just in time.He whipped out two fish bones from his tail—a big and thick one to pry the shell open and a long thin fish bone to hold up the upper shell while Talaba was being transferred to his new home. “Matinik, how could I ever thank you…one more minute trapped inside that shell and I would have ended up….  ” and Claustrophopic Talaba ended up crying a shell-ful of tears on Matinik shiny scales.

When War Freak Swordfish broke his sword, Matinik came to the rescue.  He got four fish bones and strapped them on  War Freak Swordfish’s nose while he  wrapped a long broad sea grass around it. War Freak Sword lost his sharp composure when he saw his nose back in its place and hugged Matinik tight, too tight that he almost cut Matinik.

When Odd Octopus caught one of her seven tentacles in a bush of poisonous sea weeds, Matinik was there with his extra fish bone to cut the stubborn seaweeds.  With his famous antidote, Odd Octopus got better.  And from that day on, whenever Odd Octopus would run into Matinik, he would squirt jets of ink from excitement and would wrap all his seven tentacles around him as a gesture of thanks.

Not only was Matinik a healer of all sorts, he would also nurse a broken heart.  When Mr. Seahorse lost his wife in one of Pating’s eating frenzy, Matinik was there to comfort him with a ready fin to cry on. And when Starfish 1 and Starfish 2 were fightng over a wish fishybone, Matinik spared one of his to end the twin’s brawl.

One day,  the enormous Butanding had an encounter with the razor-sharp teeth of Pating, he went straight to the humble Matinik to recuperate.  Matinik magically produced another fish bone  which he used as a needle to sew Butading’s open wound.  Afterwards,the  great Butanding swam gracefully upwards, his booming voice echoing throughout the ocean floor, “Thank you Matinik! When I’m better, I’ll give you a ride.”

But there was no time to have fun for the whole underwater community, upon hearing about Butanding’s brush with Pating, was frantically preparing for the visit of the enemy. Grown-ups were busy fixing and fortifying their homes and hiding places.  Children were forbidden to go beyond the yellow corals.  The Chief Fish made sure the guard fishes always kept their watch so Malaya School of Fish would be warned of the approaching terror.  Mr. Seahorse almost went mad with fright just by hearing Pating’s name.

Matinik helped by giving away his fishbones.  The sharp and pointed fishbones served as weapons, reducing the fear that settled in the hearts of the inhabitants of Malaya School of Fishes.

On those dark days, Matinik went to visit Lakay Hermit Crab who lived in an old barrel beyond the yellow corals.  The blue water seemed to go on forever without a single coral on the sand floor.  Matinik felt a heavy presence following him but he dismissed it as the anxiety spreading like a disease among their community.  Besides, he needs to deliver the old Lakay Hermit Crab’s medicine.

Suddenly…

He felt a powerful ripple. Then a splash!  Matinik swam as fast as he can, blinded by fear.  His gills swelled from panic and he can hardly breath.  He whirled blindly and came face to face with jagged jaws.  The perfectly pointed teeth of Pating caught light and glistened under the fuzzy ocean water.

Matinik froze with terror. He closed his eyes, ready to be swallowed.  But the powerful snap never came.  Instead, he heard a sharp cry of pain from the great monster. Pating was wounded!

Matinik, who was always helpful, quickly came to his aid.  He inspected the wound and saw the cut was made by the strange mesh that loomed on the shallow part of ocean. Pating escaped the people’s and got hurt in the process.  Matinik whisked out a few of his fish bones to treat the wound.

When he was able to stop the bleeding, he stayed with Pating until the enemy opened his eyes.  “Dr. Fish, thank you for your kindness.  How could I ever repay you?” said Pating in a very weak voice.

“It’s my duty to help and I’m honored to be of service to you” said the humble Matinik.“I heard about you—you’re the gentle Matinik who cares for the residents of  Malaya School of Fishes.  Your compassion will go along way my friend.”

From that day on, Matinik and Pating became good friends.  And you would always find them sprawled on the ocean bed chewing on seaweeds or chatting inside Matinik’s little clinic that Pating helped built.

Pating never again laid a fin on the fishes of Malaya School of Fishes and Mr. Seahorse found himself a Mrs. Seahorse and was never afraid of the great Pating again.

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.