Footnote to Youth

Narrator: The sun was salmon and hazy in the west. Dodong thought to himself that he would tell his father about Teang after he had unhitched the carrabao from the plow and went home. Dodong: Will I tell my father? What if he refuses? What if he don’t understand me? Narrator: Dodong was hesistant at first but then he decided to tell it to his father Dodong: I will tell it to him. I will tell him. Narrator: Dodong unhitched the carrabao, fed it and led it into its shed. On his way home a thought popped into his mind. He was 17, he had pimples on his face, his upper lips were already dark meaning that he is already a grown up. Narrator: He suddenly felt big and that he could do anything. He walked faster feeling persuaded with his thought. In the cool sundown he thought young dreams of himself and Teang. Teang, his girl. She had a small brown face and small black eyes and straight glossy hair. Dodong: Oh Teang. Your so beautiful that you even made me dream in the day. Narrator: It was dusk when he got home. He and his parents sat down on the floor around the table to eat. After eating her mother went out to wash the dishes. While his mother was out, Dodong said effortlessly and without self-consciousness that he will marry Teang. Dodong: I am going to marry Teang Narrator: After hearing this words, silence covered the whole room. His father looked at him silently. Narrator: Dodong was uncomfortable but later felt angry about his father who was just looking at him saying nothing. Narrator: He repeated it again. Twice. Dodong: I will marry Teang. I will marry Teang. Narrator: His father kept gazing at him in silence. Dodong: I asked her last night and she said yes. Now I want your permission. Narrator: His father replied to him with a question. Father: Must you marry, Dodong? Narrator: Dodong resented his fathers question. He thought that his father was selfish because he himself had married early, but later he got confused. Father: You are very young Dodong. Dodong: I’m Seventeen. Father: That’s very young to marry..

Dodong: I..I… want to marry….Teang’s a good girl… Father: Tell your mother. Dodong: You tell her, Tatay. Father: Dodong, you tell your Inay. Dodong: You tell her Father: All right, Dodong….. All right, Dodong… Dodong: You will let me marry Teang? Father: If that is your wish…..of course…. Narrator: Happiness overflowed in Dodong’s eyes. ……………………………….…….CHANGE SCENE……………………………………… Narrator: Dodong stood in the sweltering noon heat. He was profusely sweating that his clothes were damp. He cannot stand inside the house because he felt afraid of it. Narrator: He was also afraid of Teang who was giving birth in the house. He is hearing screams that chilled his blood. He began to wonder if child birth was really painful. Dodong: In a few moment I would be a father… A father. Narrator: He heard his mother's voice from the house Mother: Come up, Dodong. It is over. Narrator: Of a sudden he felt terribly embarrassed as he looked at her. He dropped his eyes and pretended to dust dirt off his shorts. Mother: Dodong. Narrator: His mother called again. Mother: Dodong. Narrator: He turned to look again and this time saw his father beside his mother. Father: It is a boy. Narrator: His father said as he beckoned Dodong to come up. Narrator: Dodong felt more embarrassed and did not move. He wanted to hide from them, to run away. Mother: Dodong, you come up. You come up…….. Narrator: He stood still, not moving anything

Mother: Dodong, Dodong.. Dodong: I’ll come up. Narrator: His father thrust his hand in his and gripped it gently. Father: Son Mother: Dodong.. Narrator: They’re voices were so kind that it flowed into him, making him strong. Dodong: Teang? Father: She's sleeping. But you go in Narrator: His father led him into the small sawali room. Dodong saw Teang, his girl, his wife, asleep on the papag. As much as he wants to touch the pale face of Teang he stopped himself from doing it. The hilot was wrapping the child when Dodong heard it cry. This voice touched his heart and filled it with joy. Dodong: You give him to me… ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Narrator: Blas was not the only child, many more came. Dodong felt angry with himself but Teang was not complaining. She was thin and shapeless now. Even if she was young, she got a lot of work to do.. Narrator: Washing…. Cleaning….. Cooking…..Taking care of the children. Sometimes she cried wishing she had not marry. Teang: (crying) I wish I hadn’t marry… What if I married Lucio? Would I get a life easier than this? Narrator: But of course, she wouldn’t tell it to Dodong. She loved Dodong very much and she wouldn’t want him to dislike her. Narrator: Many years had passed, and from a baby, Blas was now 18. One night he came home very happy and flustered. Dodong: You better go to sleep. It is late. Blas: Itay Dodong: What is it? Blas: I’m going to marry Tona. She accepted me and I love her. Dodong: Must you marry? Blas: Yes Narrator: He was silent but he felt sad and sorry for his son.

Blas: You have no objection? Dodong: Blas….none Narrator: Long ago ,Youth and Love did triumph for Dodong... and then Life. Dodong looked wistfully at his young son in the moonlight. He felt extremely sad and sorry for him. All: Don’t make decisions without thinking about it first especially if its marriage. This story is for the youth of our generation that they’re eyes may be open to reality. Remember “ Youth must triumph now, Love must triumph now, afterwards its life”