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Chapter 143: The Reenactment
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2021-01-14 22:04:51There was a buzz of excitement outside, mostly coming from the students who were talking loudly to each other and fiddling with their costumes. They filled the area in front of the old house beside the cathedral, their costumes adding to the festive color of the festival trimmings that were hung on strings and crisscrossing the streets along the path to be taken by the parade.
The morning was still cool despite the sun already up. The sound of a brass band tuning their instruments filled the air, adding to the already chaotic atmosphere of the plaza. After a while, the band leader raised his hand and then waved at his players. The band exploded into festive music that made the children in plant costumes dance with glee while other broke ranks to look at the brass band. The teachers started rounding up the children who immediately returned to their place.
When the brass band finished their piece, there was a lull in the large crowd of onlookers as they watched what was
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Celie leaned on the window and looked out as if admiring the view. She swept the few strands of hair from her face and placed a hand on the window frame as photographers took her picture. She posed for a few minutes, placing her chin on her hand, very much aware of the raised mobile phones from the crowd who were likewise taking snapshots of her. When the cellphones were lowered, Celie turned her gaze on the stage and acted as if seeing it for the first time. Her face contorted in a sort of grimace that the audience could not tell if it was to show surprise or pain. Celie then withdrew from the window and disappeared within the house. Loud music blared from the speakers as groups of dancers in colorful costumes lined up on the stage. The dancers moved to the rhythm of the music coming from the loud speakers and started to pull apart the cardboard cart that had collapsed on stage. A female dancer wearing a white dress came out of the cardboard cart and followed the choreography
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There was a high-pitched sound that pierced the air, prompting the children to quickly cover their ears. When the sound faded, the loud monotonous voice of another parade coordinator was heard.“Everyone, good morning…“ said the parade coordinator who sounded like she had just woken up and badly in need of coffee. Suddenly, there was a loud siren that cut her off and it took time before she realized that the sound was coming from her megaphone. In panic, she tried to cover the speaker and waved to her colleagues for help. A teacher ran over to her and flicked off the switch, killing the annoying sound.The children covering their ears were laughing loudly at what they had just witnessed. The parade coordinator ignored them and spoke. “The parade is to be led by our marching band followed by the festival floats and then the city hall employees. Next would be the main characters and then the children…”The parade coordinator went on
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“It’s going to rain,” came the ripple of whispers from the crowd as they each looked up at the darkening sky. Some of them opened their palms, expecting to see raindrops falling while others glanced up before deciding to return to their homes. The children stopped dancing and looked at each other. They saw their teachers talking to each other as if deciding on what to do in case the rain falls.“Looks like a cold front,” remarked Nestie as he looked up at the sky.Lisa nodded as she saw the huge mass of gray clouds that blocked the sun. She looked around her, wondering where they could take shelter. “It’s weird that the weather could suddenly change from fair to gloomy all of a sudden,” said Nestie to his friend.There was another flash of lightning and the loud boom of the thunder. Immediately, drops of rain started to fall. The crowd laughed and shouted at each other to take cover while the children looked to the
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“Are you sure about that?” Lisa asked Nestie while holding her cellphone against her ear and waiting for Celie to answer.“I don’t know,” said Nestie, waving a hand across his face dismissively and looking away towards the old house where they changed into their costumes early that morning. “It’s probably a trick of the light or perhaps I imagined it.” He paused. “Forget it. Maybe I’m just too hungry that I’m seeing things.” Nestie chuckled.“No answer,” said Lisa when she heard the familiar automated voice message from her carrier informing her that Celie’s phone was unattended. “Let’s go back inside and change clothes,” she told Nestie as she pointed to the old house.They met Ms. Evangelista, the teacher who looked worried upon seeing them in their wet costumes.“I was so worried about the children when it rained,” said the teacher, wrinkles
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There was a mixture of concern and restrained anger in the mayor’s voice as he spoke to Lisa on the phone and Lisa could not help but feel guilty at losing her cousin during the parade.“That girl has run off without her security again, Lisa. I’m sorry you are getting dragged along with your cousin’s carelessness, but she’s gone too far,” said the mayor.“I’m sorry, Uncle Fred. I should have kept Celie in sight. I should have run to her,” said Lisa.“No, Lisa. It’s not your fault. If that cousin of yours had a good head on her neck, she would have gone to her security. She knew them well enough and they are never far from her,” replied Lisa’s uncle.“I’ll keep on calling her phone, Uncle. I hope she does get in touch soon,” said Lisa.“Please do, Lisa. Thank you. Sometimes, I think you should have been my daughter rather than that irresponsible cousin of you
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“What do you mean ‘a totally different person’?” asked Nestie, his eyebrows knitting together.“Exactly what I said,” replied Lisa. “I know Celie’s voice, but the words she spoke did not seem to be coming from her.”“You mean like there was a person speaking through her,” asked Nestie, his face looking grim.“Y-Yes,” Lisa answered hesitantly.“Like she is being possessed?” added Nestie and the corners of his lips curled. “Hearing you say that, it does sound absurd,” said Lisa. “Forget I said it.”Nestie chuckled. “Maybe some evil entity has gotten hold of her mind and it’s controlling her,” said Nestie, his eyes widening and lips parting to reveal his teeth.“Stop it, Nestie. It’s not making me less worried over my cousin,” said Lisa, looking away from her friend. “Jon hadn’t sent me any
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The children shouted to each other and left the playground equipment they were using to go to the sidewalk. Passing by the entrance to the playground was a short procession of men and women all dressed in black, walking behind a slow-moving hearse that was blasting loud funeral music. The somber instrumental music was made even more eerie by the imperfect audio system that introduced echoes and muffled horns that sounded like voices from beyond the grave. The children who ran to the sidewalk stood quiet as they watched the slow procession, curious at the serious faces of the grieving men and women. A woman wearing a black veil over her head was crying inconsolably while her relatives supported her.Lisa and Nestie likewise walked towards the entrance to the playground behind the line of children and watched the slow procession.“I wonder who died,” murmured Nestie as he looked over the heads of the children. His question was quickly answered as he saw a tarpaul
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“You’re looking at it, Nestie,” said Lisa, her eyebrows raised as she observed Nestie’s reaction.“What do you mean?” asked Nestie, not quite understanding. “You mean this is it?” Nestie could not quite believe that they were standing in front of a tomb.“Yes, Nestie. This is it. Carmela is buried under the weeping angel,” said Lisa.Nestie hastily took a step backward. “I thought the graveyard is next door,” he said.Lisa took a moment before replying. “According to stories, Nes, Carmela was not seen by the people as worthy to be buried with their ancestors on sacred ground. Her family decided to have her buried here, next to the chapel where she could be closest to a holy place. The chapel had long been destroyed and this playground took its place.”“It’s sad,” murmured Nestie. “Back then, I knew that mentally ill persons and those who took their own
Last Updated : 2021-02-03
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