Why Ambo turned over a new leaf

Title

Language

English

Year

1947

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

~·· ,· WHY AMBO TURNED OVER A NEW LEAF (Short Story) ·. / NATIVIDAD J. CAMARA N ovaliches Elementary School, Rizal Mr. Reyes, the principal . teacher of the school was busy in his office that afternoon. The children were out, having their recess. Cries and shouts could faintly be heard, for the playground was big and the children were playing in 9rrtall groups. Suddenly crief were heard followed by scampering of little feet. The door of the office was opened. and a teacher leading a boy with a big lump near his eyes came in. followed by inquisitive, peering children. It was clear to see that there had been a fight. "Where is the other one?" he asked the teacher, for one boy could not tight all by himself. The teacher motioned to another boy standing behind her to come forward. "You can leave them," the principal told the teacher. "I witt attend to them." And the two boys were left behind. Mr. Reyes, the principal, looked at the boys in front of him.· He knew the one crying, with a big lump in his e~es, to be Pablo, the soa of Ambo, the village tough. * * * Ambo has no job, one can see, but h e could manage to dress well and support the family. His wife always has new dresses and goes to the show regularly. His children in school are well -dressed and looked well fed. Whenever 'a carabao is lost or a load ·of vegetables going to Manila is held up, the people know that Ambo is bebind all that. But they can not do anything. They have no evidence to pin on nim. Recently, a big .pile of wood for sale in Manila the following day disappeared in the night. Several hens :and roosters, a big pig, and six ducks already tied for the market disappeared with th em. Everyone tn the barrio Ambo was behind all these. knew that But what could they do? Ambo is elusive as well as tricky. * * * "Why did you fight?" Mr. Reyes asked the two boys. "Because, sir," Pablo once, "he called me a son and a gangster." answered at of a thief "That is what his father is, sir," the boy answered. "But you should not call him that," the principal told the boy. "Those are ugly words to use." "It is true, sir. His father is that way." "Did you hear that Pablo?'' Mr. Reyes asked. ."Yes, sir, my fath er is really a gangster and a thief and I'm ashamed of him," answered Pablo. "Children talk behind my back. They laugh aRd whisper, too, and nobody cares to be friends with me," and Pablo began to cry a~ain. "Well, you two boys should be fri ends," Mr. Reyes answered. "Pablo has not done a thing to you," he told the other boy. "So you must not call his names. You must shake hands a_ nd be friends." * * * Mr. Reyes had quite forgotten the incident, when the next morning, Ambo the father of Pablo unceremoniously opened the office door, sat on the chair in front of Mr. Reyes' table, and r~ garded him, in not too friendly a way. 20 1¥ I 1•'"~~!£!; 'l: -~~-- ~-~ .. \ ~ ""? ---:-.~::: ,. ~ • f./ • ~ .· • ~ r • • .,_~.. 1- ... • J ~ ; ".. 'o '-r• ~. ~~-;;-~~!• ~~ .-·"'.r· . . -;~.·:· 1 " f • ;•• WHY AMBO TURNED .OVER' A NEW LEAF ·"' ,.· 21·~ ..:!- .• .. ·:': .. '3· ~.... ~ ':_ . .... . ~ '.l.,s. -::1· ·~ I -,. • \ ,_ ,. ._ ,. ·~ .:.-:- ' ~ o:- ' • \ :..."i> ' • 0. ~::_x "I came here to tell you;" he' began "Yo·u should - knock him . bard<;.r,"t.:'$. "that my so·n Pablo was hurt by a boy Ambo said, glaring at his son: ~ _.. ~~ . '-..: . yesterday. A,nd it seems to me that you "l:sut they are true, father," the boy ':-. did not lift a finger to -punish the cill- answered. ..You are that, I know, and · piit. I wttnt the boy to be punished in the boys and girls at school hate me - front of me," 'he continued, fin gering tor it. '!'hey talk and laugh behind my-·. t-he f'orty fi ve dangling in liis left belt. back. '!'hey whisper and giggle when'. "' "It is your duty as principal of the l pass. Nobody would like to ·be friends . school to punish him, or else it woul d W JLH .. .. e. 1 have nobody to play with. :!. be better if there would not be a prin- They say that when I grow big, l would cipal at all.'' also be like you." Mr. Reyes could not say a word. H e had heard of Ambo's exploits. Ambo could kill a ~n as one would a· chicken. What if suddenly he whipped out his -forty five and shot him? "Your boy had a fi'ght with another boy," he finally managed to say. "The boy told your boy that he was a sonof a thief and a gangster. There was a fight and your boy sustained a black eye. I should have· punished the other boy for telling such ugly words had not your son told me the words are true. I'll get him and let us talk with him." Mr. Reyes stood up and went out of . the office. When he carne back, the boy was with hi!!~. "Now, Pablo, tell your father what happened," he urged the boy. "He called me a son of a thief and gangster," he said softly. "What did you do?" his father asked. "I hit him, father, but he too hit me in the eye and so I cried.'' Ambo's difiant attitude sudden!~ crumbled. His shoulaers sagged and ~ his face lost its color. __ "So my own son is ashamed of me • • •-:-.. ashamed of me •. • they would not .:ven play with him ... " Ambo suddenly stood up, and without a word lt;ft the office, * * * A week later, Mr. Reyes was standing in a corner in Blumentritt waiting for the bus to carry him to school: A man hailed him. It was Ambo. He was carrying two baskets, balanced on his shoulders by a stout bamboo. One basket contained milk bottles and the other was filled to o:yerflowing with ripe "atis." "Hello, Maestro," h~ said, "See, I am now a businesSIITian," he shouted point, ing at his two baskets. It was clear to Mr. Reyes that Amb() had turned a ·new leaf. ' FIREARMS * Will help you secure your license. * Pamphlet mailed free. Special attention given to Gov't. officials and employee applicants. AMERICAN GOODS CO. 178 David (10 meters from Escolta) Manila • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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