A GIRL NAMED HELEN

The aging lion no longer remembers whether it was the same Helen of Greek mythology who had the face that launched a thousand ships but he is still pretty certain it was Helen of Troy who ignited the creation of the Trojan horse that led to the city’s downfall.

The Helen of this story is amiable, light complexioned and is, by normal standards, charming although the best that can be expected of her is attract a lone pump boat owner should she desire to tie the knot and ring a wedding bell.

But just who the heck is Helen?!

Well, Helen is the eldest daughter of Eben and Vivianne, one of our neighbors near the gate of our backyard. The lion tamer thought of taking her to the metropolis two years ago so she can work with her daughter as a maid and in the afternoons when the work is lighter, could study a computer course using her salary for tuition fee and other expenses.

That plan was aborted because the mother of the girl also solicited from her brother in law (the father’s elder brother) financial support that she may study at Tagbilaran while staying with the father’s sister there. That request was granted, only, when the money arrived, the mother used it as down payment for a television set thereby dousing cold water to her ambitions of becoming a computer whiz kid someday..

She thereafter went to the metropolis accompanied by a cousin and work as maid for Philip Salvador, the ex beau of Kris Aquino, who, she narrates with nostalgia, was a landlord who was kind and considerate. But like most landlords, he would not grant cash advances that maids usually requests even on conditions that these be deducted from future salaries.

Consequently, she was ordered to return home to Guindulman and there do nothing. She also ventured as maid in Cebu City but apparently, the working conditions were not conducive to healthful living because after a lapse of only four months, she returned home jobless once again.

She dabbled on the Internet hoping to attract an American national who would offer her a marriage proposal just so she could alleviate the living conditions of her family. Nothing prospered however.

Meanwhile, their dilapidated shack was progressively being eroded by the elements. Rain droplets would seep in almost all corners of their hut so that whenever rain pours, it becomes an awesome challenge avoiding being wet. And when one considers that the area of their living quarters do not exceed 10 square meters, then one can well imagine the efforts the family had to undergo dodging the annoying liquids as these drop to the floor..

Also desiring to improve their daily lives, she narrated to a cousin in Manila through her cell phone their pathetic condition asking for P2,000 that the shack may be repaired. That cousin sent P1,500. Nipa thatches are already available and so are some old lumber that were purchased from a neighbor who demolished her house earlier.

Their two neighbors, Liza and Honeydew have plans of their own upon learning that money was received. They immediately approached the girl wanting to borrow the money but she would not let go of it, to the consternation of the two who silently vowed they would someday do something to get even.

Helen then approached the lion tamer asking for help that the shack may be repaired and consequently the request was relayed to the aging lion who suggested that under the circumstances, felling a coconut tree and having it lumbered for use as columns and trusses would be the best recourse. Of course, cutting expenses had to be incurred and under the circumstances the lion tamer was told she also had to subsidize it by pruning her own budget a little.bit

Preparation for felling down the coconut tree at the lion tamer’s backyard was arranged with the chain saw cutter and the tuba gatherer who will cut the palm leaves atop the tree. It turned out however, that a permit was needed from the office of the Philippine Coconut Authority and the red tape required so many signatures it would entail no less than a week to accomplish.

Dismayed at the prospects of venturing into a very slow process of having the coconut tree felled, the aging lion decided that felling the lone mahogany tree that towered inside their gate would be a better substitute since only the signature of the barangay captain is needed.

So the mahogany tree came crushing down the earth’s floor and as the girl was operating on a beach-walk budget, the lion tamer had to subsidize the cost of cutting these into sawn lumber.

Work started in earnest. A carpenter was hired at 20% discount and three other neighbors (except the husbands of the two who earlier wanted to borrow the money and therefore would not help) worked the “bayanihan” way, gratis et amore. But in consequence, the lone male kabir rooster of the aging lion was broiled as “tinola” for lunch and after two days, the house’ skeletal frame stood proudly where the decrepit shack once stood. Again, the nipa thatches lacked and so the lion tamer had to shell out from her pocket an additional sum that the roof may be completed.

As of this writing, the house is eighty percent complete and will still need about a thousand pesos more for the purchase of bamboo “sawali” that will be used as walling of the house. Meantime, the family covered the sides with curtains that moves merrily because of its attractive color whenever the wind blows.

To enable them to sleep at night, they cramp in the lone room that the carpenter temporarily made from the lawanit boards that were salvaged from the old shack. Not yet a comfortable living condition though, but definitely a lot better now than before when they had to dodge the rain droplets whenever the rain falls!

And so the aging lion contentedly moves his lower limb but without the right foot dangling to the floor!

Note: Comments will be appreciated. The aging lion will know that the recipients our there are still alive.