Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The Merchant

It was early in the morning, the sun rises up illuminating the gray sky above the Metro. Frequent beeping of jeepneys and buses heard all over and the barkers shouting to attract passengers. Ed, a young man from southern Luzon, carried loads of chromed metal plates around his shoulder and waited for his bus going to Laguna. Haven't took his breakfast that morning, a drink of cold water is enough to make the day. The bus, old as it looks with no air conditioning, arrived early as expected. The goods were loaded under the bus compartment, where all sorts of stuff were. He sat down at the center seat and shut off his eyelid as soon as his body touched the wooden seat. The man seemed so tired and a little energy taken from his breakfast.

The noise from the barker woke him up speaking in a different dialect, an indication that he have already arrived at his destination. Barkers are all over the place yelling, street vendors selling fruits and vegetables, and people crowded all around the market place. Everyone seems so busy that they've barely noticed Ed on his way to his favorite spot, small retail store. Left some of his stuff and wend his way to the center of the market bringing few of his chromed plates and shouted out to invite his buyers. Few came after the other and eventually few stuff were left on his inventory. The sun was getting too hot for him, so he got in to shade under a tree near a chapel. His sweat evaporates from his dark skin, burnt by the continuous exposure from the sun, making him slightly dizzy. He counted his money from his pocket and found it was enough for him to take his breakfast on that lunch time. He bought 3 cups of rice and 1 dish, enough to fill his growling stomach.

The day expires and night comes to a close. Ed headed to the small store where he asked if he could sleep for the whole night. The lady owner offered him to stay at their place so he could relax a bit more. He thanked the lady and off he go with her. They arrived at the place, a small wooden hut just enough for a family of three. Three young kids went out of the door and greeted the lady with "Mama". A young man came out, just his age, and greeted him a warm welcome. They took their early supper, making few chats and headed on his bamboo-layered bed.

The light of the day and the noise of the chicken are all over the place. He woked up seeing no one is around, got up to see the people outside feeding the chicken and greeted him "Good, Morning". He prepared his things and insisted of taking his breakfast with them. Hurried off to catch the morning bus, heading to Metro, at the market terminal.

All of his goods have been disposed and bringing him an empty sack. He leaned at the bus seat and took his day-long sleep until arriving at the Metro. Having been completed the fulfillment of selling all of his goods and bringing along with him the cash for his family is the great success to call it "Mission Accomplished" and hoping that his sales would be the same upon his next visit.

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