Martes, Setyembre 6, 2011

Anthropos


CHAPTER I
ANTHROPOS
*  *  *
…man is a complex reality that requires for its study an equally complicated approach and methodology…
          It was late in the afternoon. The sun was about to rest and the wind blew fairly. Leonard was still standing in-front of his father’s tomb. He wore a black burial suit. He was in tears when he noticed that most of the people who attended the interment service for his father were almost gone. They all left him alone. However, Leonard did not bother to go home yet. He wanted to be with his father whom he had cared for most of his life. While sitting, Leonard reminisce his memories with his daddy. He still remember the time when they went fishing into the river.
          “Daddy look I have a big one over here. Help me to pull it”, he said to his father who was then preparing their meal in one of the shaded trees beside the riverbank. When his father approached him, he said;
          “Oh, that is really a big one. Come on, I’ll help you get it.” But when they were about to hold the fish with their bare hands, it accidently slipped from the hands of Leonard and because of that the two of them were all laughing and enjoying their recreational activity.
But the only thing is, it can never be repeated anymore because Leonard’s father is already entombed ten feet below the ground. Leonard also remembered that day when his father bid goodbye to him.
          “S-ssoonnn, I love you so much. Take care of yourself and always be a good boy. I think I shall never see you again. But almost remember son that you are always in my heart”, his father uttered during his last breath.
          “Father, don’t say that. You will never leave me. I love you so much, huhuhuhuhuu…Father…!
          Since that day, Leonard was very lonely. It was very painful for him to loss his father who really made him special since the day he was born. Leonard’s father was more of an example to him. For Leonard, he considers his father as the best man in his whole life.  His father was so important for him that he really cried when his father passed away.
          Leonard was not really particular to his mother. He has this anger to his mother because of her vices. She kept on drinking liquor everynight. Whenever she arrives in their house coming from her friends, she immediately destruct the peace and quietness which his father and him established.
His mother is a drunkard who did nothing but to waste their income and the salary of his father as a tax collector before. Leonard truly admired his father because he worked hard for their welfare unlike his mother who is irresponsible. But things are different now for Leonard. He has no more father who can do the living. Leonard felt alone and no one to depend on. He was angry not only to that man who stab his father in the market where he was collecting the taxes but also to his mother which is for him, really did nothing. He was angry to the world.
          “Let’s go son!” a voice said.
When Leonard looked around, he saw his Uncle Sam at his back. His Uncle Sam helped him in arranging the funeral for his father. He was the one who extended his hand to him, a thing that his mother did not do even if her husband was the one who passed away. As a professor, Uncle Sam always remind Leonard through his encouraging words
              “We go now son! We go now and continue our life!” his uncle continued.
              “I have no more life to continue. The world is unfair. He took away the person whom I loved the most. My life now is useless uncle.”
              “Do not say that Leonard. Your father will not be happy seeing you like that. Life must go on son. There are still tomorrow” Uncle Sam explained
              But Leonard did not really listen to what his uncle said. It was just like an air which passes from his ear going to the other. It was all pain in his heart it was all anger that he knows. After his uncle’s words,
              “Let’s go home uncle” Leonard said.
               They went home with their heavy hearts because they lost one of the most important persons in their life. When Leonard arrived at their house, he saw his mother setting in their sofa. She was holding a bottle of cold beer. She was very dizzy.
               Leonard immediately ran upstairs without recognizing his mother .When he was in his room, he laid his body in his bed. He was crying thinking that his father is gone. He is also in pain because of his mother’s deeds.
               It was 9 o’clock in the morning when he woke up from his bed. He was late for his class at 7:00 o’clock. However, there is nothing in his mind that pertains to his classes on that day. He thought of doing something else rather than spending his time inside the school. When he went outside, he saw his mother slept in the sofa where she was seen last night. Leonard went to the bathroom to take a bath. After taking a bath, he went back to his room to get ready on going to school. In his mind he thought of going to the mall and watch the feature movie presentation which is now showing instead of going to his classes. He is now starting to loss his interest in his studies. For him, education is nothing because he has no more father who guides and love him and gives him the inspiration to continue living. Life is useless and meaningless for him.
          So the thing did by Leonard was to watch a movie. He spent his whole day watching and walking inside the mall rather than acquiring the lessons in their classroom. This situation became a habit to Leonard as time passes by. He did not recognize anymore the value of education because of what happened to his life, because of his loss to his father.

          One morning when Leonard was out again because of going to his friend’s house, Ms. Sanchez, Leonard’s classroom adviser, arrived at the house of Leonard. She knocked on the door but no one opened it. While still knocking,
          “Good morning. Anybody home?” as the knocking continues.
          “Hello, good morning. This is Ms. Sanchez, Leonard’s classroom adviser. Hello!”
After many attempts of calling for the attention of anybody inside Leonard’s house, Ms. Sanchez decided to go and be back on the next day instead. But Uncle Sam, who happened to live beside the house of Leonard, exactly arrived from his teaching profession in one of the most prestigious university in town.
          “Good morning, may I know who you are and who are you looking for?” Uncle Sam asked as he saw Ms. Sanchez.
          “O yes hello good morning. I am Ms. Bernadette Sanchez. I am the classroom adviser of Leonard.”
          “O good morning Ma’am, I am his uncle. My name is Samuel Philips. I am a University professor. Is there any problem Ma’am with Leonard?”
          “Yes Sir. I am just worried for Leonard because he is not attending our class and all of his classes for almost two weeks now after the burial of his father. He already missed many quizzes and exams. I was knocking at their door a while ago but it seems that there is no one in there”, Ms. Sanchez explained.
          “O is that so. To be honest Ms. Sanchez, Leonard was really depressed of what happened to his father. He loved his father very much and I saw how difficult for him to accept the reality that his father was murdered” Uncle Sam answered.
          “In our class, Leonard kept on talking and boasting about his father and I also thought that this might be the reason for the non-existent of Leonard in the school.”
          “In addition with that Ms. Sanchez, Leonard is also angry with his mother because of imperfections of the latter. However, analyzing the events occurred and the deeds being done by that boy, I think he is now having his own rebellion not only against his mother nor against that person who killed his father but most especially to the world where he belong. But don’t you worry Ma’am. I’ll be talking to him later when he arrive. In behalf of Leonard Ma’am I am very sorry of what is happening” Uncle Sam added.
          “Thank you Sir. I hope we could do our best in reaching out Leonard. I hope we could settle this before it get worse.” Well then, I think I must go now Sir. Thank you for your time and understanding.”
          “I think is should be the one who is saying that Ma’am. Thank you for your concern to Leonard. As his Uncle, I promise that I will be doing my best to help him realize and accept what happened.”
          “It’s nice to hear that. Thank you Sir Philips. I will go then, bye!”
          “Take care Ms. Sanchez and see you around.”
          When Ms. Sanchez bid goodbye, Uncle Sam thought about Leonard. Uncle Sam is aware of what is happening to the life of that young boy, especially now in which he suffered so much pain in his heart because of the death of his father. Uncle Sam was thinking of a way on how to help Leonard in recovering. After some time of thinking what to do, he could not really suggest something that will ease the pain and depression of Leonard. But one thing is for sure, he will wait for the arrival of his nephew so that he can talk to him and so to try if Leonard will listen to him.
          It was late at night when Leonard arrived in their house. Upon opening their door,
          “Where have you been?”, a voice in the dark asked.
          “Uncle is that you?” Leonard curiously asked.
Uncle Sam revealed his face in the light and asked again the question,
          “Where have you been son?”
          “I just went to the house of my friend to do our assignments, why uncle?” Leonard lied.
          “Really? Is that the actual reason why you went somewhere instead of attending your classes?” Uncle Sam replied.
          “Huh? What do you mean Uncle?”
          “You’re lying. You are not telling the truth.”
          Leonard was silent and did not speak after his Uncle told him such words.
          “Your classroom adviser, Ms. Sanchez, came here this morning. She was looking for you. She told me that you are not attending your classes since the death of your father. Is that true Leonard?” his Uncle Sam asked.
          Leonard did not manage to answer the question being thrown to him.
          “Answer me! Is that true?”
          Leonard answered, “School is boring and its nonsense. Why should I study first and foremost?”
          Uncle Sam was very surprised of what his nephew answered him. From that statement, he felt how heavy the burden in his nephew’s heart. He saw how Leonard was really affected and lost his focus because of what happened.
          “What is happening to you? Look at yourself. You’re a mess. If your father sees you right now, I believe that he will not likened what you are doing now to yourself. Son, it’s not the end of the world. There is a big possibility for you. Be man enough!”
But Leonard was unattentive although he was silent while his Uncle spoke to him, still he does not listen to his Uncle.
          “Please Uncle, stop preaching to me. I want to rest. I was so tired the whole day.” 
          Leonard was about to enter into their house when his Uncle spoke again,
          “Son, please. I’m begging you. Attend your classes tomorrow. You have many catching up to do so please go to school before they drop you out. Do it not for me but for your late father.”
          Leonard did not answer the plea of his Uncle. He continued opening the door and he entered in their house. Before he closed the door leaving his Uncle outside,
          “Goodnight!”
          Uncle Sam was troubled for he could not do something to please Leonard in fixing his life and in moving on. In his mind, he knew that he has a great responsibility over his nephew. But how can he be a help to Leonard if the boy himself does not want to listen? In his mind, Uncle Sam said.
          “No! I will not give up on him. This is a challenge to me. Maybe I will undergo a very tough situation here but No! I will not surrender to Leonard. I will help him in overcoming his limited knowledge about his life as a human. I will never give up.”
Uncle Sam then went home with a great fighting spirit in his heart.
On the next morning, it was 6:00 o’clock in the morning.
“Leonard, Leonard, Leonard wake up. You will be late. Leonard! Wake up!”
Leonard was awaken by such disturbing voice. He tried to open his eyes but he could hardly do it. However, as he eventually totally awaken, he saw his Uncle in front of him. He was standing.
“You get up there and be ready for your school”, his Uncle Sam said.
“It’s too early. I’ll get later.”
“No! you will not get up later because it’s already 6:00 o’clock. You have to prepare right now so that you will not be late for your classes” his uncle answered.
“If you will not get up there, I will get a pail of water and pour it to you so better get up and be ready. I will bring you to your school.
Leonard immediately get up from his bed for his fear that he might get bath if he continue to sleep.
On their way going to school, Uncle Sam told something to Leonard.
“Son, this morning I talked to your mother and we agreed upon that since you are graduating this year, if ever you will not be able to pass to your classes and if you will not be able to graduate, we will suspend all your financial supports. That includes your ATM and your financial accounts.”
“No! You cannot do that to me. It’s unfair!”
“Then, make your most to pass all your subjects and graduate this year!”
With anger, Leonard said, “Gggggggrrrrrr, why are you always getting in into my life?”
“You know the answer to your question son!” Uncle Sam replied.
“Ah, before anything else and before I forgot, I have something to give you.”
“What is that?”
Uncle Sam handed over to him a gift which was wrapped into a simple special paper.
“What’s this?”
“Look it yourself son!” Uncle Sam said.
When Leonard opened it, it was a book. It was actually a big book with over 100 pages. It has a blue covering with no mere writings or even a title. It is not a new book but when Leonard scan it, he saw in the first page of the book it’s title “PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY; Course Notes of Rev. Fr. Lorenz Moises J. Festin”
“And what the hell is this thing?” Leonard asked.
“You will be needing that Son. I told you that there is a big possibility for you” Uncle Sam answered while having a smile over his face.
Just to avoid long discussions, Leonard just accepted the book and put it in his bag.
“Whatever, anyway thanks. Thanks for such scrap!” 
When Leonard finally arrived in the school, he was greeted by his friends and teachers who miss him.
In their classroom, his classmates were also grateful that he came back. His adviser, Ms. Sanchez was also glad on his return. However, Leonard was given many topics, assignments, and paper work in order for him to catch up.
“Okay Leonard, your paper work to be submitted by the end of the month is that you will be making a five pages essay that answers the question, “Who am I?” I want a clear explanation on the points that you will be giving on your paper and I also want to have your honest answer about the question. Is it understood?”
“But Teacher, this is unfair! Why should I do this? This is insane!” Leonard protested.
“No, of course not Leonard. It’s for your own good. I believe that you’ll be needing this.”
“No! I will not do it. It’s too much. You gave me many topics to study, assignments and now this non-sense paper work? Come on! This is not real Ma’am.”
“But Leonard if you will not going to do this you will fail and if worse is you cannot graduate” Ms. Sanchez explained.
Leonard was silent and did not utter any word after that statement of his teacher. Leonard was thinking what his Uncle Sam told him if ever he cannot manage to graduate this year. Leonard was afraid to lose his financial support from the financial accounts made to him by his father when he was still living.
“Okay Ma’am I’ll do it.”
With a heavy heart in accepting those works, Leonard could not do anything but to make it. However, Leonard does not know how to answer his essay question. While on his way home, he was thinking on how to answer such question. When he arrived at their house, he threw his bag in his bed and sat in his study chair. He was still finding in his mind the answer to the essay question given to him as an assignment. Later on, he brought out the things that were in his bag. He then saw the blue book given to him by his Uncle. He opened it and turned to the third page where the topic began.

INTRODUCTION
Man by nature is an inquisitive being.

                     

           

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