Okay, how to start… I think I’ll start by describing what literature is.
Literature is SHE – Significant Human Experiences – that’s what my professors say. It deals with man and his experiences expressed in artistic, imaginative, creative and meaningful languages which arouses a noble feeling of pleasure in its interpretation and commentary on man’s fate and destiny.
Below is a short story, the first short story that really touched me. I read it when I was in grade six. From then on I never stopped reading and mentioning it to my friends. It made me realize that I don’t have to compare myself with anyone. Perhaps, they are suffering more than I have ever suffered. Hope it also inspires somebody…
RAQUEL’S FANTASTIC HAIR
by Luis P. Gatmaitan, MD
I admire Raquel a lot. Of all my cousins, she is the one I look up to. She has wonderful hair of various colors: blue, yellow, and red.
Raquel doesn’t know that I envy her. For she is truly pretty, with flawless skin, she has dimples and moves gracefully. She even speaks English fluently. And she has this really fantastic hair. Why can’t I have the things that she has? When I compare myself to her, I feel inferior.
Often I find myself imitating her. The way she smiles, the way she dresses up, the way she hops and sings. When she says, “Wow! G’ling, g’ling,” it becomes my expression as well. I will claim it as my own during the time we’re apart. It’s good that once a year, when the mangoes and duhat are in season, our worlds become one –
We pick sineguelas.
We play piko.
We catch fireflies.
She always smells good but doesn’t mind my smell and sweat. She even kisses me! She’s not a big snob even if she comes from the city, and I am from the barrio. She even greets me first. And she doesn’t laugh at my bad English.
But I have noticed that she always tells me, “ Ana, Ana, you’re more blessed than me.”
One summer, I waited and waited for her. But she didn’t come. I asked my Daddy and Mommy if Raquel would stay with us for the long vacation. Instead I was told that Raquel was confined In the hospital. “How can such a neat child get sick?” I wondered.
The day after, we went to Manila to visit my favorite cousin. I noticed some changes in her appearance. Why has she turned fairer? Why doesn’t she smile anymore?
But I forgot all these questions when I saw her fantastic hair. The last time I saw her, she had hair of mixed yellow and red. Now it was blue. My city-bred cousin was really different. She could easily change the color of her original black hair. Wow!
Our visits to Manila became frequent because of Raquel. And, of course, we played a lot. Only this time, we were no longer allowed to visit the parks and carnival. We just played at home. They were afraid that Raquel might catch infection from other children.
I got bored in Manila. There were no fireflies in Raquel’s backyard. Or sineguelas trees to climb. And so, I took a special interest in Raquel’s hair.
“Raquel, would you like me to braid your hair?”
She would nod but gently warn me, “Be careful with my hair, okay?”
I started to wonder about the strands of her hair. Why are they coarse? Why are they not shiny? Why does her hair look big? I even touched my hair to compare it with Raquel’s hair. Hers was like the hair of a rag doll.
Maybe, that was the best kind of hair!
Once, when the wind blew her hair, I saw something unusual on her head. I asked her if there was anything hidden under her colorful hair. She reveal that under her hair –
Lies a hidden kingdom
A rainbow
And lots of small people who can get really pesky.
I got engrossed listening to her, trying to imagine the wonderful worlds beneath her hair. I didn’t notice that she suddenly turned pale, and
Blag!
Raaqqqquueeelll!!!
Raquel’s body fell flat on the floor. I was so afraid. My body was trembling. “What happened to my cousin? Could it be due to the small pesky people hiding under her hair?”
While my uncle and aunt were attending to her, I glanced at Raquel’s head. Her fantastic hair fell off!
No where could you see a kingdom
Nor a rainbow
Nor small pesky people
Under her hair.
Raquel was bald!
And the fantastic hair was but a wig!
It was then that I came to learn about Raquel’s sickness. LU-KIM-YAH, that’s how my aunt said it. They rushed Raquel to the hospital. She felt that Raquel needed another blood transfusion with medication.
I went to my mother and cried. “But why?’ I asked.
“That’s how things are,” she said, “even children are not exempt from having cancer.” And she wiped the tears from my eyes.
I suddenly remembered what Raquel had been telling me about my being luckier than her. It dawned on me. Yes, I may not be rich, I may not be as beautiful, and I have a dark skin. But I am healthy. “Health is my wealth,” my father would always tell me.
When Raquel got out of the hospital, her lips were full and red once again. And she had this big, big smile.
“Did I scare you?” she jokingly asked.
I didn’t answer her back. I just hugged her tight. So tight that it seemed I wouldn’t let her go again.
Until now, of all my cousins, it’s still Raquel whom I admire so much. Why? Because aside from having that fantastic hair, she possesses remarkable courage.
- translated from “Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Raquel”
Honorable Mention, 1998 PBBY Salanga Writer’s Prize
Published by Adarna Book Services, Inc., 1999
So that is one of my favorite short stories…that’s from my textbook. I’m still searching for a copy of that story book. It’s still best if you have an original copy…
