"Andoy"

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there
lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this
route to
school everyday:

He has to cross the rugged plains and cross the
dangerous highway where vehicles are
recklessly
driving to and from. Once passed this highway,
the boy would take a short cut by passing by the
Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and
faithfully say his "Magandang umaga po" in
Bicol dialect.

He was faithfully being watched by a priest who
was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the
morning, "Kamusta Andoy! Papasok ka na?"
"Opo padre... " he would flash his innocent grin,
and the priest would be touched.

The priest was so concerned that one day he
talked to Andoy, "From school...", he
advised, "Do not cross the highway, you can
pass through the Church and I can accompany
you to the other side of the road... that way I can
see that you are home safe. "

"Thank you Father ..."

"Why don't you go home ... why do you stay in
this Church right after school?"

"I just want to say "Hi" to my friend, God," and
the priest would leave the boy to spend time
beside
the altar, talking by himself, but he was hiding
behind the altar to listen to what this boy has to
say
to his heavenly FATHER.

"You know my math exam was pretty bad today,
but I did not cheat - although my seatmate is
bullying me for notes ... I ate one cracker and
drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I
can eat is this
cracker. Thank You for this! I saw a poor kitten
who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my
last cracker to him .. funny but I am not that
hungry ... Look, this is my last pair of slippers ... I
may
have to walk barefooted next week ... You see
this is about to be broken.. but it is okay ... at least I
am still going to school ... some say we will
have a hard season this month, some of my
classmates have already stopped going to
school ... please help them get to school again,
please God .. Oh, You know, Inay had hit me
again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass
away, at least I still have
a mother ... God, You want to see my bruises? I
know you can heal them ..here... here and ....
Oh ... blood ... I guess You knew about this one
huh? Please don't be mad at Inay, she is just
tired
and she worries for the food in our table and my
schooling that is why she hits us .. Oh, I think I
am in love ... there's this pretty girl in my class,
her name is Anita ... do You think she will like
me?
Anyway, at least I know You will always like me,
I don't have to be anybody just to please You,
You are
my very best friend! Hey, Your birthday is two
months from now!!! Aren't You excited? I am!
wait till You
see, I have a gift for You .... but it is a surprise! I
hope You will like it! Oooops, I have to go ..."
then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I
am finished talking to my friend .. you can
accompany me to the other side of the road now."

This routine happens everyday. Andoy never
fails. Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to
the people in his church because he has not
seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at
negative situations.

One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so
he could not make it in the Church, he was sent
to the
hospital. The Church was left to 4 manangs who
would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour,
would not smile and would always find fault in
what you do, they are also very well versed in
cursing if you irritate them. They were kneeling,
saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy,
coming from his Christmas party, playfully
dashed in, "Hello God!!!!! I " P----!!!!! (a curse)
Bata ka!!!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!!!!!
Alis!!!!!"

Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father
Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the
street .... and to be able to cross the street I will
have to pass by the back door of this church
not only that, I have to greet Jesus--it is His
birthday, I have a gift right here ...." just as he
was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the
manang pulled his shirt and threw him out of the
church.

"Susmaryosep!!! (does a sign of the cross
fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi
matatamaan ka!!!"

So the boy had no choice but to cross the
dangerous side of the road in front of the church.