A child's problem

Title

A child's problem

Creator

Santiago, Lina M.

Language

English

Source

Volume 1 (Issue no. 8) September 1935

Year

1935

Subject

Children’s stories

Children's conduct of life

Prayer

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

September, 1935 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 207 A C~ I LD'S PROBLEM By LINA M. SANTIAGO • I love my mother because she is very dear tO mC'. The only thing I do not like in her is that shz talks a lot. She calls me names if I do not listen to her at once. She scolds me if I do not go [.) school. She hates me if I do not come home early. When I play, she tells me to stop. When I run away from home. she whips me. But after all, sh~ is my mother. Father likes his work in the factory, but be doe5 not care to know about my needs in school. He tells me chat Mother has to take care of them. But Mother fails to do so because she is very busy. My teacher is very good to me. She is very kind. She says that I have to buy pad paper, peii. and ink, book covers, and give thirty centavos to the Red Cross. When Mother knows those things, she says she has no money yet. Irr school. I play alone because my classmates do not like me. They move away from me because they say that I smell fishy. My teacher says th.:t I have to take a bath every day but Mother says that I have to put on new cloches every time I take a bath which means more work for her. My teacher tells me to have a toothbrush, a face towel. and a clean handkerchief. I told Mother about my teacher's requirements and she says that she does not know what to do with it. She says also that I can use Father's toothbrush and handkerchief. I learn some rhymes in school which say" No more coffee, no more tea Drink milk, and only milk for me." "Away with tea, away with coffee, Milk and eggs are good for me." * Zamora Elementary School. The four children looked around helplessly, thdr enthusiasm of a moment ago dampened considerably. Then the oldest girl had an idea. She ran to th~ Gumamela plant, and pulled off a gorgeous red flo\v"Look!" she said, "the Gumamela is just ide<!I for our games. It is so red and so bright, and no on~ will be angry if we te·ar them to. pieces. They are here for us t'o play with. Come on, pull some. We can still play our game." The children shouted with glee. They ran to where the oldest girl sl!'ood and started to pull off some of the 1 big flowers. The tiny fairy scrambled up to the tallest blossom, thrilled by the turn of But I cannot put them into practice because Mother gives me coffee and at times tea. Another rhyme says.' An apple a day Keeps the doctor away" But apples are dear. My tea.::her says that children must eat fruits and vegetables, and· eggs, toO. But I do not always find them at home. Mother says she cannot •buy them every day but only on Christmas, New Year. and Patron Saint Day. She says that Father's earning is not enough for the family. I am growing taller and thinner. My teacher tells me-"Do not move," "Sit still," "Keep ·very quiet," "Stop plafing," "Look at me," and many others. I" simply cannot do those things. I do not know why I like to move her:e and there every minute of the day. To me. the domestic pets a_t home and _the insects in ou'r garden are better Off because · they ·are actively free. The kittens and the puppies run and jump under the _watchful eyes of their mothers. The young of the mosquitoes wriggle in the water every time I peep into our big water jar. I see the butterflies fly from flower to flower,. and the dragon-flies playing overhead. Why can I not be active like them? . My· teacher says, "Study these ," "Do that , " but I cannot see how useful those things ar? to me. She tells me to work on the projects hue they are not interesting. If I tell her that I do not like the· projects, she says that I am lazy and dull. She hates me when I tell her to give me useful projects because she says chat I know more than she does. If I do not obey her, she lowers my grade. I am facing a difficult problem, what sha11 I, do? events, They were getting her flowers. preferring them above the more beautiful others. They were going co play with her flowers. because they "were just right.'' She saw the chi!dren run out of the garden, their dresses fiery with the radiant rJ?d of the blossoms. The Gumaqiela fairy heaved a sigh of relief. Shi:! looked up at the Ylang-ylang tree, with its fragrant blooms swaying securely in the breeze. She looked at the haughty rose, at the regal lily, and at the radiant dahlia. Then she drew her robes about her and smiled. Still smiling, she went to sleep. The wind caressed her little face, serene and lovely in its contentment.

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