Chapter Fourteen [ A mother’s prayers]Ericka cries out, “God, save me now. I need You! It's stinging and seems to be aching," as she detects little rushes and red patches on her skin.Ericka's face grows pale as she quickly flees the scene after snatching her sharp bolo and putting it back in its sheath.She put on her wide, brown, waved hats and carried her basket full of edible fern and mushrooms as she walked slowly due to her limping feet. She also used a big, long stick of weeds as a support because she was already feeling dizzy and couldn't open her eyes wide. Only the long stick was able to help her get home.After an hour, her parents arrive from the farm feeling fatigued and start calling her. While Ericka swiftly fell down to the bottom of the stairs and unconsciously leaned on the thin beam."Ericka, make our lunch right away so we can all relax.”She instantly grabbed the hanging string cradle and swayed to alleviate her tired body. She had anticipated that Ericka was alr
Chapter Fifteen [The poison of snakes]Ericka was the second-youngest child of farmers Elaine and Ernest when she was born. In the unfortunate circumstances brought on by Ericka's snake bites within the gloomy, shadowy banana and coconut plantation near the river bank, their ten already-adult children returned home to assist their parents. It's 12 o'clock. Rainy days in the month of July, following the oppressive heat of the summer, make it difficult for people in the southwest of the island to go to work and school."Ericka has been uncomfortably bedridden in the provincial hospital for two months now, Mama, Papa. We should find a solution how to change our dangerous situation that has caused our farm to be mortgaged by the bank because we must pay Ericka's rising medical expenses and additional prescription medication."The eldest of the 10 adult children, who are currently employed abroad, said after examining their expenses.“Arnold, you better withdraw your savings first. We are
Chapter Sixteen [ The new encounter with strangers]Ericka is aware that large sacks of rice grains have been kept in their barns, which were built at the foot of the mountain.” It is safe there because it is covered by big branches of Catmon trees anyway. They will not steal it. If they ask for provision, they should ask my father. He is not stingy not to give them what they need. I know they are mountain people who go down here when full moon is bright.”Ericka speculates as she is moving her bowels inside the separated comfort room down stairs.She had already done her bowel movements after five minutes and wash her bottom as she slowly turn to the faucet to take a bath. The faucet is situated few meters from the stairwaysShe removes all her clothes and hide behind the shadows and quickly pour down a small handy pail of water to her naked body until she is done scrubbing and soaping then cleansing and she quickly wrap her body with big bath towel.She ran upstairs forgetting her
Chapter Seventeen [ Recuperation]Ericka goes to the farm with her quick-moving, hard-working parents in the early morning before breakfast.“This is just amazing. It caused me to reanimate as a brand-new being, Ma, Pa.”She exclaimed joyfully as her tiny, slender feet with rubber slippers passed through the early morning scent of fresh, light dew of the grass.Ericka's thin, white, and silky legs are pierced by the cogon grasses that are growing in profusion on both sides of the trail as they slowly climb the mountain in the early morning. Her mother notes that Ericka is neglecting the irritants because she is so excited.Look, my dear Ericka, from now on, I would advise that you swiftly grab long pants, a long-sleeved blouse, and a wider hat whenever you walk to the rice field with us so that irritants won't hinder your joy. “Mother stated adding,"When you enter the plantation to gather edible ferns and mushrooms following a downpour and thunder and lightning, do the same added wit
Chapter Eighteen [Leaving amazed]On that particular Sunday morning, Ericka Mendel is wearing a white dress with a straight cut above the knee, long, pony-tailed brown hair, black doll shoes, and white fishnet stockings. Her two brothers also look well-groomed in their white, long-sleeved blouses, black long pants, black shoes, and hair that has been gel-applied to make it look neat and clean. Papa Ernest and Mama Elaine wear the same styles but are a little out of date because they no longer purchase new clothing in order to save money for other essentials for the farm and home.Even though they hail from lower-income families and cannot afford to build a new concrete home like their neighbors who share the same farmland, people nevertheless view them as a nice family.Ernest appeared older due to the already aging and wrinkling complexion, haggard face, skinny build, and untrimmed hair and beard, while Elaine appeared stressed and preoccupied due to her constant concern about how t
Chapter Nineteen: [ Sacrificial offerings to save others life]Ericka has been recovering from paralysis for a long time, and she has stopped her secondary school course. Her two brothers, John and Randy, are busy with weekday schooling already when Ericka is in terrible muscle pain on her legs, arms, and body. Her parents are currently busy checking the farmlands that Monday morning when it happens.She was feeding the fattened hogs and the poultry flocks when the pain stopped her. She collapsed while standing in front of the plucking hen and her newly hatched chicks, falling to the ground unintentionally. She didn't know that skipping maintenance may have a serious negative impact on her health and cause her nervous system to lose vital nutrients, which is why she hasn't yet found out what caused her muscles to go excruciatingly numb. "Mama, Papa, where are you?”She says nothing more before collapsing, her gloomy eyes going fuzzy and her vision spinning about the surface until she
[Chapter Twenty: Giving generously brings benefits]Ernest opens up about the most recent problems on the farm, and John looks at Ericka, who is still unconscious and lying flat on her hard wooden bed with a soft, flat pillow on her head. Ernest mentions, frightened,“Because one of our neighbors borrowed money from our funds to pay for Ericka's emergency—a sick baby—we were unaware that Ericka had previously been suffering from a lack of maintenance.Now, my two older sons, you had better lend me all of your savings if you have any in your piggy bank so Ericka can stabilize and regain her lost strength. She already had epilepsy and experienced numbness and stiffness in her muscles.While tending to our flocks, Teddy mentioned that she trembled and quivered, covered in feed. The hens and chicks helped to awaken her senses by making their unique noises, which attracted others to help her. The hogs continued to bump their noses against her unconscious body, making her smell bad and filt
Chapter Twenty-one [Dreamlining involuntarily]Because Mother Elaine had taken Matilda and Teddy to the parking lot where their car was, Ericka was left alone in the private ward, still asleep.As they went along, they had a nice relationship as neighbors, and Teddy felt better since, despite his youth, he still loved Ericka. This was thanks to the Christian sisters. Their mother found Teddy's treatment of Ericka to be amusing.“Teddy is the only child I have with my European-born spouse. He enjoys integrating with people because he gets lonely living by himself in our home. Although I was scared every time I saw him away from home due to the ongoing problems with those snakes that produce medical ailments that prevent Ericka from studying for school, I am very happy that he found her close to our farm. However, I'm glad my son already has a friend here.” As Teddy listens intently and silently to every kind comment that her devoted and kind mother makes to Ericka's mother, Matilda ex