It must be a Friday afternoon. Sometime before two o'clock. Somewhere in Sumatra, Indonesia. A few doors away from this convenience store was the bank. I needed to send money to the Philippines, but the tellers were not ready yet. It was Friday, and prayer time takes longer on this day as it is a holy day for Muslims.
To while away the time, I came to this shop for some refreshments. Then I found a spot outside for people-watching: an empty table with a couple of monoblock chairs. Not a lot of people were out because it was prayer time. Besides, it was scorching hot, hence the need for some ice-cold soda. It's a perfect combo with some salted crispy fried sweet potatoes. I think they're better than those limp french fries.
I sat here waiting for the bank to resume business. The highway had its usual traffic: several SUVs, lots of motorcycles, some trucks carrying logs to the mill, and an occasional peddler here and there.
Once, at another time I was here with our security personnel who would sometimes drive me to the bank, I bought some tasty local milk tea sweetened with palm sugar. It even had jelly, and it was served in a tall glass with ice. Yum! Sometimes, I’d be so hungry I’d brave the heat and walk to the only KFC at the only department store in town, Ramayana. But ever since I got indigestion from eating too much fried chicken, I have been looking for healthier local food instead.
From the bank, I'd either call my ever-reliable friend to fetch me or take an oplet (their public transport that is similar to the multicab jeepneys in Cebu) to the main gate of my workplace. From there, I would hitch a ride to the school campus two kilometres inside. When I was reassigned to the senior high school department, I would go on my own in an oplet since the building was near the main gate. I love the independence.
I probably called my friend on this particular day although I can't really remember. What I remember was how I enjoyed some quiet time by myself. When you're a teacher, you'd know the struggle. You can't have lunch in peace when you're in a room with students. So unexpected downtimes like these are precious and made even more so with some tasty local crispy fried sweet potatoes. 🌸
"April's Slice of Life" is a new series that I'm starting with this article. Each week, I'm going to choose a photo from my personal album and write about it. I usually focus on the story behind the photo, but sometimes, I'd like to come up with something fictional as well.
This particular article though started as a post in my personal blog, which was sort of a journal. But as I edited it here, I realized that I can turn it into a series, for as the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words. So I shall attempt to draw you into the world of the picture some more with my words.
The photos I choose shall range from the mundane, such as this one today, to the postcard-worthy. I believe that there is beauty everywhere, even in the seemingly unbeautiful. I take inspiration from Marcus Aurelius who wrote that "baking bread splits in places and those cracks, while not intended in the baker's art, catch our eye and serve to stir our appetite" (Holiday and Hanselman 26).
Here are some of my Hive attempts on creative writing:
Microfiction. I've joined a ZapFic competition here on Hive before. You can click here to read my entry.
Short story. I've also shared a short story entitled "The Cardboards", which is inspired by a dream I had.
Poetry. Perhaps poetry is your thing. I'd also be glad if you could take a peek on my piece "To My Poem and Song."
Images: All photos are owned by the author unless otherwise indicated.
Work Cited:
Holiday, Ryan and Hanselman, Stephen. The Daily Stoic, Portfolio/Penguin, 2016, New York.