Leo is a superstitious guy.  He can’t leave the house without checking first his horoscope for the day. He only hangs out with friends who have zodiac signs compatible with his. He makes sure he wears the lucky color for such and such occasions. His room is filled with lucky charms of different shapes and colors. At times, it seems amusing. But sometimes, it seems overboard.

He believes it’s bad to cut your nails at night or to comb your hair before you go to sleep. You are not supposed to leave the house until everyone is done eating, otherwise the people who are still on the table have to turn their plates around. He also believes that a person’s  fate depends on his  moles, their colors, their sizes and their locations.

Mole on the head means a person is smart. Mole on the feet means a person is a wanderlust. Mole on the lips means a person is a gossip. Mole under the eyes means a person’s spouse is going to die early. Mole under the nostrils means a person will get rich someday, and so on and so forth.

His mother didn’t actually mind Leo’s too much preoccupation with moles and other things, in fact, she found it somehow endearing, until she noticed that Leo based his decisions on the location of his and other people’s moles. He didn’t court the girl he liked because she has a mole under the eye. He didn’t show up for the job he applied and was interviewed for because the boss had a mole in the lip. She believed that her son had gone too far.

One day,  she learned that Leo wanted to apply for a particular job. It seems like he really really wanted it. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any mole that might indicate that the job is for him. His mother found it ridiculous that he would let the job opportunity pass by because of the absence of a mole. She insisted that it’s worth a try so that he will find out whether the work is for him or not. In the end, Leo agreed to apply for the job, if only to appease his mother.

That night, when Leo was fast asleep, his mother brought out a nice sign pen from the drawer and went to her unsuspecting son’s room.

The following morning, as Leo was about to leave the house, his mother abruptly asked him if he knows about his mole at the back of his right knee.

“Mole? I didn’t know I have a mole at the back of my right knee” said Leo.

His mother reached down and pulled his pants up to reveal the dot she drew last night.

“Do you know what that mole means?” she asked.

“What?”

“It means whoever tries his best has a great chance to get what he wants..”

That night, Leo came home excited about his new job.

(Original story by the blog author. Any similarities with other stories fiction or otherwise are purely incidental.)

But of course I know that he really bought it for me. He is one sweet guy who is never embarrassed to let his feelings show. So, now that we’re not together, I appreciate that simple but sweet gesture all the more. If he is going to give me flowers, then he would need to send them through nationwide flower delivery. Though I’m not expecting that much, the idea is quite thrilling..

Bring means to carry something towards the speaker.

Example:

Come here and bring your books with you.

Take means to carry something away from the speaker.

Example:

Go home now and take your books with you.

Benny is a a distinguished physician. He offers his services in public hospitals. He always organizes medical missions and give away medicines nearing the expiry dates. In return he did not have any trouble requesting favors from public officials.

He sends his children to very fine schools and he is known to be generous in giving gifts to teachers and lavish donations to the schools. He disposes his and his family’s old wardrobe by sending them to his poor relatives. All in all, he is a fine and honorable man who is known for his charity.

One day, when he got home from the hospital, he saw a telegram on the coffee table. The moment he picked it up and saw the return address, he felt reluctant to open it. It was from his hometown in the province, the hometown he never visits because the road is too muddy during the rainy season and too dusty during the summer season.

He doesn’t want to see his relatives either. They are poor, unfashionable and most of them are untidy. His nieces and nephews are little rascals who smell of the sun and dressed in hand-me-down clothes. He never even once spends the night in any of their houses.

When he opened the telegram, he felt sad but not surprised that it was from his brother informing him of their father’s death. It has been a long time since he saw his father last. He was sick and old. He had a pungent smell typical of old people. He was complaining of a stomachache that never go away. Benny ignored it. He knew the old man was just trying to get his attention so was inventing pains and aches so that his physician son will spend time with him.

But Benny had no time for father and son bonding moments. He is just too busy with his charitable works and mission to help the poor. He has a lot of good deeds to do that he has no time for a malingering father and pathetic relatives. Now, holding the telegram in his hand, he thought of what a good son will do at such time.

The following day, Benny and his wife drove home to the province. They were met by his brother who was in deep mourning. He told Benny how their father had been for the past few weeks, how he suffered of severe pain and how often he asked for his oldest son whom he expected to take care of him when he got old and sickly. Benny just nodded and let his brother continue. After a few hours, his brother was surprised when Benny suddenly stood and told them that he and his wife had to go.

“But, brother, this is our father’s funeral. You are supposed to be at his wake until the day of his interment.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back at his interment. Now, take this..” then handed a plastic bag. His brother opened the bag and found a new barong (traditional male Filipino clothing) presumably for their father to wear at the funeral.

“So, this is what you came here for, to give this?” his brother asked.

“I am a very important person and I do important things. There is a lot of you here. You can do all the necessary things even without me..” then Benny turned his back and walked away.

His brother just stood and watched them go.. In his mind was a thought he heard from his father and other people much wiser than himself..

Charity begins at home..

Benny drove away and as soon as they were out of the town proper, he put out a bottle of hand sanitizer and vigorously rubbed his hands with it…

(Original story by the blog author. Any similarity with other stories, fiction or otherwise, are purely incidental.)

I’ve been a child too and I know how he feels. I remember playing hopscotch and wooden top with my friends. Though modern kids are now playing dv888 yoyo and remote controlled cars, the fun of being outside is just as enjoyable to them as it had been to me, so I always let my kids out as long as the weather permits.

Example:

A girl can not do anything if the guy she likes is simply uninterested.

Disinterested means fair.

Example:

Our neighbor is known for being disinterested so he is always invited to judge various contests.

Grace just came back from a long-week vacation in the province and she was so excited about the pictures that she took. She uploaded them on her Facebook account and tagged her best friend Richelle.

As soon as Richelle saw the pictures, she sent Grace a message about how cool the pictures were. She told Grace how much she liked them especially one particular picture . Richelle praised Grace’s ability to capture her subject as it is. It looked so real that she could almost touch it. The colors were vibrant, and the lighting was perfect. Just simply looking at the picture gives a person hope that everything is going to be fine.

Grace was touched and flattered. For an amateur photographer like herself, she couldn’t believe she would receive such compliments.  She didn’t know it would be that simple. She didn’t do anything special. She just pointed the camera at the direction she wanted and clicked it, and that was it.

After several days, Grace received a message from Richelle asking for her permission to use one of her pictures as the front cover of a book she was writing. Grace was so thrilled. She asked Richelle what particular picture was that and Richelle said the picture of the ‘sunset.’

Grace frowned. Richelle must be mistaken, she couldn’t remember taking a picture of the sunset. So, she asked Richelle if she was sure it was one of her pictures and Richelle said yes. Grace asked for detailed description of the picture and her friend described it until Grace finally remembered it.

“Oh, I think I know what you are talking about..”

“Oh, good! So, can I have it?”

“Of course, you can.. “

“Thank you so much.. Well, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why did it take you so long to recognize the picture?”

“Well, you see.. when I took that picture, I wasn’t actually taking the picture of the sunset. I was taking the picture of a kitten sleeping under the tree.. But I guess I’m just so bad at it that I wasn’t able to center the kitten on the frame. And I thought the sleeping kitten was so cute that I failed to notice the beautiful sunset in the background..”

The list of beautiful things is endless if only we would take some time to look around..

Example: Early exposure to gadgets affects a child’s study habits.

Effect is a noun which means a change or a result, bring about

Example: The new chairman effected new policies to the homeowner’s association

What a mess!