What I Remember of Concha and Adela

Each time I remember Concha and Adela, I feel guilty of my shortcomings. I could have helped them get a college education but time and distance didn't conspire to help me do it.

Inang brought them to Manila after the two of them finished their high school education with the help of Ateng Nene.

Concha and Adela were almost inseparable companions. Concha was very young when we used to tease her for not being able to pronounce "balahibo." She would say "balabeho."

One day, Concha and Adela were playing at a mound of rice hulls or ipa at the back of a rice mill near our house. Without noticing that a portion of the mound was smoldering, Concha slipped and burned her foot. We pitied her for her right foot up to her knee was blistered.

There was also a time when Concha and I were playing with a chicken which was intended to be cooked for dinner by Inang. What Concha and I did was to place the chicken (with its legs tied) on a bilao and imitate a vendor.

Concha and I were able to sell the chicken to Mr. Crespo, a nearby neighbor, for 10 centavos. We were very happy and we reported our success to Inang. We thought we would be praised. Instead we were scolded and ordered to retrieve the chicken and return the money.

It was good that Mr. Crespo had not yet beheaded the chicken. He gladly returned the chicken and gave us back our 10 centavos and told us not to play vendor anymore.

We had chicken tinola for dinner that night.