February Segment 2011 - Town and Country

Many wonderful pieces were inspired by the pictures from the collection - "Dog in "Bewilderment" by Corin Paynton and "London Window box" by Michael Lewis.  This short story is one of them.

TOWN AND COUNTRY                                                                Julian

   

Felipe’s small legs spread wide across the water buffalo’s broad back. Pulling the rope that strung from the animal’s nose gently to guide it along the narrow track the boy dug his heels into its warm flesh urging it on. The animal responded with a low sound, quickening its pace. Together they had worked since daybreak under the harsh Filipino sun, checking the irrigation channels that fed the terraces of rice fields.  It was Felipe’s Sunday work; tomorrow he would be back at school in the village. He liked school. The priest said his reading was so good he would soon be able to read in church. None of the rest of his family could read. They had been farmers for generations dependent on their rice harvest to earn enough to provide for their large families.  Their wants were simple; the fragile bamboo houses were easily repaired and as long as they were in good health and could work they gave thanks to their Maker each Sunday.

Felipe kicked the animal harder.  Dark came quickly and he wanted to get the buffalo fed and tied up whilst there was still some light.  The only electric light in the village was at the Priest’s house where there was a generator and there was another reason for the haste to get home. On Sunday evening everyone gathered in the Priest’s garden where a huge sheet was set up as a screen on which the delighted crowd watched the magical appearance of people. They couldn’t understand the language which was mostly American but Felipe practiced English with the priest and he could follow most of the stories.

Watching the films had given him ideas. He would study hard and go to the city.  Last year he had been to Manila with his Uncle who drove the big truck for the chicken farm. As he sat in the high cab surveying he marvelled at the beast his uncle controlled. At the instant touch of a key it rumbled into life and then roared triumphantly when his uncle’s foot pressed one of the large shiny pedals.  The gear stick ground into place and they went backwards and again to speed them forward along the highway. Felipe mimicked every movement, feeling dizzy with the power of control beneath his small body.  He felt like a man as they hurtled along the highway waving to other trucks and looking down on cars speeding past. He couldn’t understand why there were so many churches until his uncle explained that the brick and concrete buildings were houses. Some were as tall as the sky.  How much money would you need to live in one of those?  On their way back in the evening all the windows shone like stars and his uncle said each house had its own water tap.

His dreams now were full of his grown up life. Stabling the buffalo safely away for the night he ran home to his flimsy bamboo home where his mother was waiting with a bowl of water for him to wash before church. She sighed, knowing that she would have to visit the village tap again that evening before preparing the supper by lamplight.

© Julian Morgan 15 February 2011