It was almost noon, and I'm sure it was 11:00 in the morning because I remember that my Grandma had just finished doing laundry after sweeping our yard and garden.
I remember playing near the kitchen in the back of the house. When I'm alone, my game usually involves digging the ground. I dig the soil to plant Ampalaya seeds near the Guava and Cocoa trees next to a big one called Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC), which I often sit on and near our toilet. Our bathroom during the day was outside the house, not far, but it was scary at night because it was dark, and the light switch was in the bathroom itself to light it up.
There is a dividing wall to the right of our kitchen. Just a few steps away is the bathroom. On that wall, a roof was made on which some firewood was stored, and there was an oversized pallet on which we often rested. It also has a rice-sack cradle, and the rope used is the same in the well. The hammock's rope is attached to the wooden beam, and extra pieces of broken rope are hanging from the beam.
I don't know what went through my Grandmother's mind; all I know is that she is tired, stressed, and maybe even depressed because of my Grandfather, who is a drunkard.
My Grandmother had finished her housework, so she went to the pallet and called me while my Grandfather was chopping wood near a mango tree near the house or the pallet.
Grandmother: Kanuto, come here and let's do something.
Kanuto, because that's what I was called when I was young. As far as I know, that word comes from Spanish, which means a country in Spain. Kanuto's English is Basque.
I went when my Grandmother called me, and I don't know why. She often wants to do something when she calls me, and I answer.
Kenneth: What is it? Just a moment, and I'll be done. I'll wash my hands.
I went and sat on the pallet, and my Grandma said,
Grandmother: You're right there; just a moment, and I'll get something from the kitchen.
While waiting for my Grandma, I looked at the coconut tree's fruit and saw my Grandpa chopping firewood. I still remember that under the pallet was my pet dog named Aiza. When my Grandma came, she said to me,
Grandmother: Come for a while and let's play. Lie down on the pallet, and don't be naughty. It's just a moment.
As for me, I naively followed my Grandmother's wishes, but I'm starting to think a little bit about why.🤔 When I saw that my Grandmother dropped the knife, she held it and placed it next to me to pick up the hanging string. I had no idea that my Grandma would use everything she took from the kitchen to kill me. She said to me,
Grandmother: Don't be naughty; I'll gently tie your hands behind your back momentarily.
I, who was obedient and didn't think badly of my Grandma, followed what she wanted.😅
And suddenly, my Grandma took the knife and pointed at my stomach. When I found out what she wanted to do, I quickly moved my foot and tried to push her away so that the knife wouldn't pierce my stomach.😢 And I screamed, calling my Grandpa. In the Filipino language, "Tatay" in English is Father. And that's my cry for help. And my Grandmother, I call her "Nanay" in Tagalog; in English, it's Mother.
Kenneth: Tatay! Tatay! Help me... Tatay! Tatay!
I was crying as I called out loud for my Grandpa. And I remember my Grandma telling me while I cried and screamed. She was still trying to close my mouth with her hand as I pushed her.
Grandmother: Don't be naughty and noisy! It's just a moment.
I saw my Grandfather dashing towards me and saw what my Grandmother was doing to me. My Grandpa took the knife and shouted at her.
Grandfather: What are you doing! Are you losing your mind? Do you want to go to jail and destroy our family?
My Grandfather picked me up and took me away from my Grandmother. And my Grandfather told me,
Grandfather: What did you do, huh? Stop crying and don't make any noise so your Grandma won't get angry.
After all that incident, I don't remember what happened next except the next day. Everything seemed normal, and my Grandma coaxed and fed me. I was quiet then, and there was a mix of fear, so I couldn't move and go outside for as long as I can remember. Maybe I have a Phobia because I can still feel the event of that time in my heart.
To be continued...
