A Good Bad Dream

Title

A Good Bad Dream

Year

1937

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

276 THE YOUNG CITIZEN October, 19.U CHARACTER EDUCATION SECTION A Good Bad Dream DOLORES TENSUAN * "MOTHER, please give me fifteen centavos. I'll go to the show. The showing at Cine Star is very entertaining," pleaded Jose. "I'm sorry, Sonny; but we have no money," answered Aling Ana as she paused from her ironing and looked pitifully at her boy. "No money? Why, I saw a five-peso bill in your purse, mother," grumbled Jose. "Yes, I have five pesos, but don't you know that there is one more week to go before pay day? In fact, I am very much worried as to how I can make that amount suffice for our food and other •Tear.her, Washington Elementary School. necessities for one whole week," answered the mother. "But, mother, I'm not asking much. Just fifteen centavos. My two classmates, Jaime and Cesar, and I have decided to go together. It is now two o'clock mother. They may be here any minute, so I'll dress now, may I?" begged Jose. "How I wish I coul.d give you the money, my son, but I must refuse. Be a good boy, Jose, and don't insist on going: I promise that next Sunday, you can go to the show," replied the mother. "Next Sunday, mother? Too late! That film will no longer be showing there. Besides, those boys will ridiculP me if they know that I can't afford to spend fifteen centavos for the show," ·sulkily said Jose. He sat on the floor and buried his face between his knees in an effort to hide the tears of disappointment that rolled down his cheeks. "Surely," he bitterly thought to himself. "I'm the most miserable boy in this world. Mother is a perfect tightwad. She doesn't love me at all. Any mother would have readily given his son fifteen centavos." Jose was so much embittered by his own ugly thoughts that he had to go to the bedroom in order to give full vent to his tears. Alone in· the room he planned to run away from home. Yes, he would leave mother and make her regret her stinginess. October, 1937 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 277 And he did run away. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him away, away from mother and home. He found himself in a very strange town. Breathless with fatigue, and dripping with perspiration he stopped under a tree to regain his breath. Darkness had enveloped him. Fear gripped liis heart and terror was all the more intensified by the blind.ing flashes of lightning and nerve-shattering peals of thunder, followed by a very heavy downpour. Shivering with cold and fear, Jose ran his darling mother who after all, was right in not giving way to his foolish request. So great was his remorse that he cried, "Mother, mother!" Jose felt two loving hands gently shaking him. "What is it, Sonny? You must have been dreaming," were the words he heard. Jose opened his eyes a n d looked and ran until he arrived at a store where he took shelter. The sight of the around to be sure he was really at home. tempting dishes awakened his hunger. "Mother, oh mother," he cried with joy, He realized how hungry he was. Never "I had a dream." in his life did rice and fish look so ap·· "It must have been a terrible dream," petizing, but he did not have even a said the mother. penny to buy a mouthful. Then and "A very bad and yet a very good there he understood the value of money. dream," laughingly said Jose. "MothHow he wished he were at home cozy er, my dream has made me realize the value of money and you and home. Never again will I pout or grumble when you don't give me money for the and warm and eating the simple yet delicious food prepared by his mother. How he repented having left home and show."

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