The Five Locks

I wake up and wonder where I am. It seems like I'm in an apartment. Outside seems like St Scho grounds. I'm wearing my blue and white cotton pajamas. I walk to the front door that's closed but not very securely and is blocked from the outside by huge plants in huge pots. I try to peek out through the gaps and am spotted by a man sweeping the grounds. He stops like he's scared. I wonder, who knows I'm staying here? I hope nobody thinks I'm intruding! I decide that I might as well address him.

"Good morning!" I call out.

"Good morning miss," he says and moves towards where I am and I retreat into the shadows.

From inside, I instruct him to move the plants away from the door as they are a hazard. He obliges. As he moves them, one by one, it comes to me that I have made myself totally defenseless. One quick look inside and it's only Sockie and Me in this strange dark apartment but Sockie is asleep.

I quickly take a look at the door and start securing it firmly.

There are five locks. I start with the one on top. When I get to the very last one, I feel so much better. The man has just finished moving the plants. And from the gaps in the door I see him give me a sinister smile.

***

I can't believe it's Christmas again. This time it has caught me completely unprepared. I didn't buy anything for anyone. The whole family has gathered not in the Baliuag house but in a strange ultra futuristic white house with lots of stairs. We're given rooms to rest in before the party starts. It's going to be different this time since Diko is dead. (Wait a minute, he died?)

I share a room with Ayie and Kim and it's just like the old times except that we have a room for ourselves and don't have to share with cousins and nephews and nieces. Even the bed is spacious and we don't have to worrry about sleeping in the middle only to wake up at the edge because a dozen other people have squeezed themselves in.

I am so sleepy but we laugh and tell stories like we used to. And it's getting dark and I wonder what's going on because our Christmas parties start right smack at noon.

So the three of us eventually make our way down. We see Tita Eli who seems sad. She disappears into her room. (Diko really must be dead!) Daddy meets us and says, "The party has been cancelled out of respect for your Tita Eli's feelings."

I'm so puzzled and I resolve to talk the matter over with Ayie and Kim. But back in our room I'm overcome with a heavy sleep and never get to ask.