Footnote to the 21st youth

(a modern take on "Footnote to Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa)

(This short was made back in 2011)

The sun appeared hazy in the west. Scott wondered how would he tell his father about Venna. He was hesitant but his father has to know. His mother already knew.

I will tell it to him. I will tell it to him.

He got off his motorcycle and parked it in front of their house. Children were playing hide and seek. Some old men were having a drinking session in the sari-sari store in front of them. He opened the door of their house. His father was sitting on his chair. Reading the day's news.

He swallowed his saliva down his throat, took a seat in front of his father. His father kept on reading the newspaper. In the cool living room he thought of Venna. Venna, his girl. She had a small brown face and small black eyes and straight glossy hair. She has a cute pimple just near her luscious lips. How desirable she was to him. She made him dream even during the day. 

It was already dark. He turned on the lights. People outside were lively. Friday.

He looked at his father who was still reading. He has to do it now.

"I am the father of Venna's child," Scott said.

His father gazed at him in silence and Scott fidgeted on his seat.

"I didn't know. It was not expected. But I love her and I want to marry her." he continued.

"You are still young."

"I'm 18."

"It's hard for me son. Especially at what you did."

"I...I want to marry...Venna's a good girl."

"Tell your mother," his father said.

"She already knows,"

Silence.

"Will you let me marry her, Father?"

"Son, if that is your wish... of course..." There was a strange helpless light in his father's eyes. Scott didn't noticed it, as he was too absorbed in himself.

Scott was glad. He can now dream of his Venna and their future child. Sweet young dream...

.................................................................................

Ralph was not Scott's only child. Many more came. Four to be exact. Scott didn't want any more children, but they came and came. It seemed the coming of children could not be helped. Scott got angry with himself sometimes.

Venna didn't complain, but childbearing took a toll on her. She was now shapeless and thin. She still had a lot to do. Cooking. Laundering. The house. The children. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not married. Wishing she hadn't done it. But she loved Scott...

Scott, whom life had made ugly.

One night, as he lay beside his wife, he rose and went out of the house. He stood in the moonlight, tired and querulous. He wanted to ask questions and somebody to answer him. He wanted to be wise about many things.

One of them was why life did not fulfill all of his youth's dreams. Why it must be so? Why one was forsaken... after Love?

Scott could not find the answer. Maybe the question was not meant to be answered. It must be so to make youth, Youth. Youth must be dreamily sweet. Dreamily sweet. He had wanted to know a little wisdom but was denied of it. 

When Ralph was eighteen he came home one night with a blank face. It was very late, Venna and the children were already asleep. Scott heard Ralph's footsteps, for he has been on sleepless nights. He watched Ralph undress in the dark and lie down softly. Ralph was restless on his mat and could not sleep. Scott called his name and asked why he did not sleep. Ralph said he could not sleep.

"You better get to sleep. It is late," Scott said.

"Itay," Ralph stood on his elbow and faced his father.

Scott stirred and asked him what it was.

"I want to marry Eunice. She accepted me tonight."

Scott looked outside. The moon was now covered by the clouds. Darkness filled the house.

"Itay, you think it over."

Scott lay silent.

"I love Eunice and....I need her."

Scott rose from his bed and told Ralph to follow him. They descended to the yard, where everything was still and quiet. The moonlight was cold and white.

"You want to marry Eunice," Scott said. He did not want Ralph to marry yet. Ralph was very young. The life that would follow marriage would be hard...

"Yes."

"Must you marry?"

"I will marry Eunice. And she bears our child."

Scott was surprised but didn't showed it to his son. He was silent, hurt.

"You have objections, Itay?" Ralph asked.

"None..my son.." But inside his heart he didn't want Ralph to marry yet...not yet...but it has been done...again.

He was helpless. He could not do anything. Youth must triumph now. Love must triumph now. Afterwards... it will be life.

As long ago Youth and Love did triumph for Scott... and then Life.

Scott looked his young son in the moonlight. He felt extremely sad and sorry for him.

END