It was after she walked out of the cubicle, I realized she was still figuring out how to turn on the faucet. With wandering eyes, the little girl turned the faucet handle, trying her luck if water comes out. It was supposed to be pushed.
I guided her with the soap dispenser, as she was on her toes while reaching for it. (Also, she was wondering how soap was in liquid form, flowing out from that foreign object, and not a solid block.)
"Walang pong pamunas?" I checked the cubicle again for a tissue roll and noticed that she wasn't able to flush the toilet. After flushing, I handed the tissue over her dripping palm.
"Paki-ayos naman po nung damit ko." Then I saw those eyes of ignorance and innocence. I willingly did what she asked and twisted the ends of the oversized shirt at her back, making it tighter atop her pink flowy dress.
After fixing, the little girl attempted to pull the heavy restroom door, but to no avail. I opened it for her, and she ran as fast she could, back to the hall, along with the other kids.
It was a win-win situation for both of us. It was a day of discoveries for the little girl and me.
***
My usual Saturdays start at 10 in the morning. With nothing grand planned for the day, I always choose to bond with my bed longer than usual. It's a weekend anyway, so what's the fuzz. (Not to mention my work starts at 2 p.m.)
This day was different.
Even if I have scheduled my alarm at 6, I probably snoozed a dozen times. Five minutes... ten minutes... fifteen minutes more. Until I finally got off the bed at 8:30. Call time was 9 a.m.
I succumbed to my conscience upon dilly-dallying whether to go or not. 'Going' concluded it. I snatched my bath towel, careful not to wake up my roommate, headed straight to the shower, and bathed my half-awake mind and body. (The first feel of cold water was like a slap to the numbness.)
There was left-over spaghetti waiting for me at the dining table. Remnants of previous night's birthday party of a friend. I gobbled whatever my mouth can hold until my tummy was full. Rushed after brushing my teeth and off I go.
I have to remind myself that I have committed for an act of kindness and it's not something that should be provoked or mandated. (Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that I had myself enlisted as one of the volunteers and hated myself for not waking up early.)
I was thirty minutes late when I got there. Most of the volunteers have two kids to tend to while I, clueless of what to do, was handed with two markers and a bunch of name tags. Writing names for everyone is fun, I thought. Well in fact it was. I was able to familiarized with some of them and even bumped into two kids with unusual names: Frozen and Trial.
Clowns kicked-off the event with their quirks and magical tricks.
They even made awesome twisted balloons in shapes of swords, umbrella, heart, rifles, among others. This one is my favorite:
And for the Read-Along, Teacher Anne of Sophia School in Bulacan narrated "Si Joey at ang Gulay Gang"...
While Kuya Rich Rodriguez told the story of "Filemon Mamon."
There were free taho and fishballs for everyone, too...
...aside from the real lunch given, which was quite a feast for the children.
\
It's good to see those smiles of innocence.
Oh, and even Pikachu participated.
It was a job well done for everyone. Congrats!
Funny how I could've spent my entire morning just lying in my bed, oversleeping, when I did something productive that day.
Not only that I helped to feed the kids, but also, I satisfied my personal hunger for joy and faith in humanity.
It was one of the best decisions I made in my entire life; and I have no regrets of trading my sleep for this. I can have it any day I want, anyway. :)
** Photo credits to Odeng Orolaza
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