Dismissal

Tic-tock.


The clock went ticking.


Tic-tock.


The clock continued its work.


Tic-tock.


The clock proceeded its sound.


Tic-tock.


The clock refused to stop.


And the child went more impatient than ever. Impatient by the second. Impatient by the minute. Impatient by the eternal rotating hands. Every time the child looks at the wall clock located at the top of the black board, somehow, wishing that the first hand and second hand would magically synchronize on the middle most number: the number twelve. For when it hits that magic number, that is when the day really starts.


Classmates' conversations on toys.


Playmates' activity for the day talks.


Schoolmates' educational dialogs.


Running, running around the school grounds as if it was a huge playground made for tykes. 


For the afternoon does not merely imply the end of another day at school but the beginning of a fun-filled afternoon.


The kid cheerfully hopped outside the classroom towards their school bus waiting for the students who were oh-so willing to go home and forget what transpired in class.


Bus Number Two. A dilapidated, nearly retiring school bus. It was painted white all throughout the body with a line of maroon occupying  about one-forth of the bottom part. The official driver is an old geezer who had been driving the vehicle since its heydays. The conductor is a middle-aged woman with wrinkles all over her face showing how long she had been existing. She also has a side job which consists of selling candies, flavored ice candies and playing cards (Ultraman and other Japanese-inspired shows) to students who were more than happy to spend more than half of their allowance on her products. She would display her items on the very first seat on the left (upon going up the bus) and she would be the one occupying that space as well.


The child was near the bus area. Buses big and small were lined up like in a car shop, waiting for people who might be interested to purchase them.


A lightning idea struck the child! The kid made an unsolicited decision to wait in the waiting area; pass the bus area, pass the Bus Number Two, pass the playground. At the waiting area, there, the kid waited for someone important.


Sitting instantly on a row of stone benches overlooking the hi-way. Patiently, patiently waiting.


One by one the children were picked up by their respective guardians.


One by one children vacated the waiting area.


One by one children diminished in population.


The kid sniffed while looking outside. Anticipating but nearly alone. Looking outside,  one could see the vastness of the open hi-way being filled by sedans, ten-wheeler trucks, vans and public jeepneys. The screeching wheels and the smell of burning rubber were irritating but that did not stop the child from having a day dream...


A woman, donning a floral-inspired dress was at the other side of the hi-way. She was also wearing a pair of large sunglasses and a hat made of straw. The silhouette of her dress reminds you of a water being poured exquisitely into an expensive glass. But what made the child more interested was what she was holding - on her right hand she was holding a plastic containing what seems to be Pancit Palabok from Jollibee while on her left hand she was holding a carton and outside the carton it read: Chickenjoy. The child got all giddy and excited! It was as if the Jollibee theme song suddenly played in the background. Finally! The wait is over and the wait is definitely worth it! Picking up his bag from his side, the child ran fast to proceed to the gate to greet the expected someone.


Snapping back into reality - sedans, ten-wheeler trucks, vans and public jeepneys still dominated the hi-way. No signs of a woman in a dress with food. No signs of a song being played in the background. Sadness loomed.


They say be careful what you wish for, however, this time the child could not care what the consequences were.


Seeing that person would mean the world.


After a few more minutes of waiting, with a heavy heart, decided to abandon hope for another day. Today is a learning.


Hopping down very carefully so as not to bruise himself from the stone-made bench, the kid made a quick glance outside.


Someone was at the other end of the hi-way!


Someone familiar!


Someone the child had been expecting!


That woman in the dress!


That woman was the child's Mom.


And that was the beginning of a more beautiful day.