He Named him - George!
28 February 1917
I lost some appetite to send out notations here, George kept me so busy of him. Today, I made a crib and some wooden toys and we put it in his Ina's bahay kubo. Lolita smiled why I knew its a boy. I said I felt it. This way my life had changed, from being dull into a full-time and engaging father. I don't know but there's this happiness I can't explain.
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" Mag, I can't almost believe all these. Dads have overload of secrets." Still he's teary eyed pressing his head that later puts him to series of sobs. Magee then leaned his back flat on the bamboo chair next to her bed. Terrifyingly, he's sweating and paused for a while. It allows both of them to deep breath and ponder in silence. A hammock of space in between led him to speak again after an hour.
" Let's get going, I wanna hear how that boy was born and grew up." George said.
She nodded.
24 March 1917
Its our second wedding anniversary and glad she cooked for my meal and discussed with me how we'll arrange George's baptism. Its a cozy afternoon in that kubo she'd a long list to do for the baptism as it made me more visionary with our farm's good harvest too. I worked harder for this reason. Maybe because George kicked too strong these days, he wants to get out and would like to join me in our farm. This thought makes me smile though, in a nutshell, I want him to go far and bring back a degree. Funny! but I'm really excited to personally see this boy kicking his mother's tummy like a combatant.
" George..." She whispered. He never sounded anything against so she pursued the next page.
23 April 2917
George! the heaviest and the most handsome boy in Tikaban. We're both happy of you. I will raise you like my own and prepare your playground in our secret place in Kabang. We'll surprise your Ina Lolita of our new house there, can't wait anymore. Hmm, you're chubby because you've eaten a lot when you're still in Ina's tummy. Now I'm cuddling you like I'm in heaven, so happy! You cute little boy, so sweet as you seldom cry.
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29 May 1917
Sleepless nights but exciting! George wanted me to carry him always in my arms, if I put him down he tantrums so badly. It made me so proud and he likes no one but his 'ama's' (father) smell alone and that's me. There's just an eyesore mole he has under his right armpit, if I lose him at the mercado I can easily locate him with this mole. His eyes were droopy even after he just woke up and his nose looked so sharp and he's really a white boy. We tend to cover him almost all over when going outside. People might wonder I'm a Spanish father with an American boy. Anyway, he's more heavier today and he can gruffly grasp his wooden toys I made as he smiled and twinkled his droopy eyes; looked at me begging for milk and accidentally spanked me with his non-cranking toys dolled up by knitted coats. Her mother expects him to be a girl that anyhow put knitted accessories on everything.
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" Hmm, George, do you have this mole under your right armpit..." Magee bowed down her head and whispered
" Yes." He's teary eyed again.
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08 June 1917
The baptism was done as I named him - George! He's got my surname and officially registered his certificate with a triplicate copy. Such a nice name which means "soldier" and a "farmer and earthworker."
We have few visitors but none of them saw him closely. We wrapped him thoroughlly and even covered his mouth. The priest who happened to be my friend helped me out. This little George is a Christian now, may he grow up strong, healthy and God-fearing.
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11 July 1917
My little angel is now three months, he wants to walk but can't still do it. His Ina Lolita is already in good shape and actively helped me in farming. We brought him in the farm and enjoyed the chirping of birds and the soft winds fanning him.
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19 August 1917
Doomsday. Chuck arrived and they stayed together in a week. I stayed in my room and took good care of George who kept smiling at me. Tired for the whole night of watching over him and when I woke up, he's not anymore on my chest. I cried like s crazy man after seeing a letter on the table outside, saying.
' I brought George back home. Please lend me this baby for my wife who has a terminal illness. I knew this child before I reappeared, six months ago, when Lolita was still pregnant of her. George will come back on his own when time comes. Forgive me but I promise. He can be a great soldier.'
I shouted in rage for the first time and Lolita was shocked knowing his little boy was stolen by her lover. She was very mad and heavily cried while I ran going here in Kabang and lie down beside the streams of water, in front of the house, recalling the tiny fingers clasping my hand that kept smiling on me. I lamented too much on this separation anxiety with my little boy. It brought me enough sorrow that jeopardized my being a father and a husband.
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08 September 1917
George is supposed to be five-month old now, its his birthday. I supposed to bring him here and see the fruits I planted for him. I cried a lot and missed my little angel. I should have raised him here and hide her mother from that tempting man and see that boy run across my garden everyday. But all's a dream. I've lost my wife from the very beginning and that little boy that broke me too much. I'm so much in pain. George! happy birthday my son...'ama' loves you so much. Come back to me before I die, my pain is too much. Lord, have a little mercy.
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"Huhu! Ahhhhhh...Magee whimpered.
Albrecht and Baldur came in and doubted what happened to both of them who wept unceasingly. It was enough for Albrecht to pick up the next entry of the second journal and read it.
10 November 1917
Its my third month of stay here - alone. Lifeless. A bearded man and a hermit. But its nice to be away and thinking this way.
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"Who's George here in Sr. Sibal's journal?" Albrecht curiously asked.
Magee looked at Albrecht with sober eyes and pointed her finger to her husband.
"What? Don't kid me Mag, that's impossible."
" Hmm....okay." He just kept quiet and no one's talking, even Baldur was just very silent. So he continued.
28 December 1917
How is my little George right now? He must be walking like a drunkard at this moment. This thought makes me smile but brought me ironically a ton of tears. He wouldn't spit his milk on me anymore at this age and maybe can start calling me.
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16 March 1918
I have contemplated a lot so I went back to our house and found her so skinny. The house was full of mess and she was watching the shore in a distance. She stared at me as if I was a ghost and hugged me as soon as she realized that I truly exist. She's already 17 years old and its her birthday today. I put myself on a chair as she didn't stop crying. I had a serious voice, asking her if she had forgiven me for accidentally firing her 2 siblings in the farm five years ago, then she nodded. I asked her again if my punishment is still continued she said, yes. Conclusively, she had forgiven me for the alleged crime she thought I committed to her siblings but she can't accept me as her husband. So I packed my things and decided to forever give her the freedom she deserves. But when I was about to leave, a poor couple came in bringing two handsome boys and I let them slept in my house and; an hour after there's an American high ranking official doing inspection to the place and all these visitors had I welcome to my place. But the German father left immediately to head back to Manila for a reason. Likewise, the Spanish flu pandemic news spread all over that caused me to bring the woman and children in Kabang safe mountain. Moreover, the soldier helped me out, thinking he could still get out from Tikaban. He wondered if why Lolita stayed there alone and refused to hide with them. When I told him that she was waiting for her son and man to be back, the soldier just nodded at me. Interesting, but I was happy to hide these people in this place I made for George.
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" So why he said when he's with us here that its for his two children. Is it for Magee and George?"
This is interesting. Baldur, please light a candle for me, I barely see the texts." Albrecht said.