CHAPTER IV

CLYDE

                So, this is where you live, huh? He looked at the house across the street where he decided to park his car. The house is two storey. With his experience as a hotelier, he’s guessing there are only two rooms in it. It has a landscaped tiny garden in front and a garage that would fit a car. He saw her car parked. He glanced at his wristwatch and checked the time. It’s 6:55 in the morning.He recalled how he got to the department store after he finally get to have her address. He grabbed every toy not knowing what his son might like. Are they awake? He wondered as he watched the front door opened. A middle aged woman walked out holding what seems to be a garbage bag. He watched as she carefully dumped it inside the garbage can right in front of his car. The woman seemed to notice him as she peeked through his tinted window. She then knocked and he opened his window.

                “Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?” she asked in a strong Asian accent.

                “Uhm, yeah, I’m kind of wondering if you know where –“

                “Oh! You’re him!” she said as if they know each other. “You look like my Tam-tam! Come, come, I will let you inside,” she offered smiling.

                Clyde can’t help but return the smile she gave him. My Tam-tam? I like her already. He got out of his car and followed the kind lady inside of the house.

                “He’s awake now, sir. He’s just in the bathroom. Please sit,” she said as she gestured the couch to what seems to be like the living room. “Tam, are you done? You have a visitor,” she said.

                He looked around the house. He can say that he is impressed. The living room was painted in cream, signifying simplicity and elegance. The sofa set is an L-shaped and covered in light brown leather with matching mint green and gray throw pillows. The curtains are the color of the pillows that give the house a refreshing look. No figurines. He bets that is because there is a child living in the house. The carpeted floor was perfect in case his son would accidentally fall from the couch. It’s funny how he even consider that small detail he didn’t even thought of with all the hotels he established and built.

                “He’s here now, sir,” the lady interrupted her thoughts. He looked at her and saw her smiling. Then his son appeared. Wearing a pair of pajamas and a toy car in his tiny little hand.

                “I will leave now. Tammy, you tell your mommy I went home, okay? Sir,” she said.

                He nods as she carefully walks past him. He waited until the door was closed before speaking.

                “Hi, buddy. Did you have a good sleep?”, he asked then smiled.

                “Ahm, why are you here, sir?”, asked the child.

                “Oh, wait! I have something for you. I’ll just get it in the car,” he said and hurries to get all the toys he bought for him. He carried all the boxes and got them inside the house.

                “What are those, sir?” he asked innocently.

                “Your presents,” he replied.

                “But it’s not my birthday,”

                “I know. I just want to give you all these because you’ve been good to your mom.”

                “Are you Santa Claus?”

                He chuckled at his question. “No, I’m not Santa Claus. C’mon. Let’s check them out and see if you like them.”

                His son hesitated for a bit. After a quick moment, he got to him and opened the first box. He saw his eyes lit up as he pulls out a toy car. “You like cars?” Tam nodded as a response.

                Clyde watched with awe as his son opened every present one after the other. Tam’s reaction was priceless and brought so much joy to him. After he was finished opening all the boxes snd checking out every toy, he settled for the hotwheelstoys and played with them on the center table, kneeling.

                “Can I sit beside you?” he asked gently. He’s worried that he’s still kind of afraid of him, which is actually understandable since he’s still a stranger to him.

                “Sure,” he answered without even bothering to glance at him. “I still don’t know why did you give me all these toys, but, thank you anyway.”

                He smiled, “you’re welcome. So, where’s mommy?”

                “She’s still asleep. I think she has a headache. My mom always wakes up early,” he answered wittily.

                “So what do you think happened?”

                “Maybe because of the drink she had last night.”

                “Drink?”, he asked curiously.

                “Yeah. The drink that kids aren’t allowed to drink. Do you know that?”

                “I guess so,”

                “She asked Nana Rosa to buy her that last night.”

                “And do you know how much she drank?”

                “A lot. I think there are seven or eight bottles that are empty. I’m not sure though,”

                “Does she often do that? You know, drink,”

                “No. Last night was the first time I saw her,”

                “Is that so? Well, here’s the thing, buddy. Next time mommy asks Nana Rosa to buy her drinks, can you tell your mom that she is only allowed to drink two? Because, you know, she might get sick.”

                “Yeah, sure. By the way, what’s your name?”, he asked. His attention is still in the game he’s playing.

                “My name is Clyde,”

                That got his son’s interest. Tam looked at him like he has suddenly grown two heads. “Your name is Clyde?” he asked.

                “Yes, my name is Clyde. Why?”

                “But my name is Clyde, too.”

                I’m confused. “But I thought you said your name is Tam?,”

                “Yes. My name is Tam, too. I have many names, you see. Some call me Tammy, some call me Tam, my Nana Rosa calls me Tam-tam. But my real name is Samuel Clyde Davis,” he explained.

                “Oh, I see,” he said, then shakes his head as his son continues to play. Aren’t you full of surprises, Samantha?