Roberto the Rooster

n the earliest hours of morning, a full moon hung low over the Philippine Sea and lit everything in its pale blue glow. Few things stirred in the tiny port city of Baybay at this hour. Everyone was still asleep, except Gemma’s pet rooster, Roberto. Well…Roberto and…an intruder in the night.

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"Rucka-Rucka-Roo!"

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Roberto flapped wildly as his wings banged against the inside of his cage.

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"Errrk! Rucka-ruck-errk!"

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Gemma shot straight up and threw open the curtains. All she could see were the silhouettes of shapes and shadows in the darkness.

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"Ruck-eerk! Errr-ruck-ruck-ruck!"

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"Hold on Roberto! I’ll save you!"

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Even though everyone else remained asleep, Pidro woke up and appeared in the doorway.

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"Wild dogs are attacking Roberto!"

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Without a thought, Pidro grabbed a broom and ran outside. The cage shook as Roberto flapped his wings wildly. After a few moments of watching and waiting, Pidro dropped the broom and approached the cage.

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As Pidro opened the cage and reached inside, Roberto immediately jumped into Gemma’s arms.

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“What is it?” asked Gemma.

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“It’s just a harmless little mouse,” replied Pidro.

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Pidro plucked the mouse from the cage and held it by the tail. Roberto flapped wildly, his wings pounding against Gemma’s chest. Pidro quickly dropped the mouse and it scampered into the weeds.

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"It's okay Roberto," Gemma whispered to Roberto as she took him inside. As Pidro returned to bed, Gemma sat in the darkness of the kitchen and petted Roberto on the back of his neck. Roberto clucked gently until Mr. Cruz came into the kitchen.

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"Rucka-Rucka-Roo!"

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"What is he doing inside?"

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"A mouse got into his cage and startled him."

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"There has been lots of activity around his cage lately. I caught the neighbor’s cat near his cage just a few days ago."

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"I’d just die if anything happened to him," said Gemma.

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Mr. Cruz looked into his daughter's eyes as a certain sadness came over her face.

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"Don’t worry, I will come up with something. Until then, we’ll keep him inside."

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"Yippee!"

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“But you’ll have to give him showers every day and take extra special care of him.”

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“I will give him a shower right away!”

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Roberto followed Gemma to the shower where Gemma held him with one hand while she cleaned him with the other. As she poured a ladle full of water over his body, Roberto twitched nervously.

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“Come on, boy, just hold still for a moment.”

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It was a long process, but finally, Roberto looked shiny and new. However, as soon as Gemma let him loose, Roberto shook off the excess, which stirred feathers into the air.

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Gemma took a quick shower of her own and quickly returned with Roberto to her bedroom. An old cardboard box sat in the corner with newspaper, food, and water bowls in the bottom.

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"Look, Roberto, it’s your own apartment."

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Roberto stepped inside and investigated his new surroundings.

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“It’s kind of small,” said Mr. Cruz, “but it’ll work for now.”

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While Gemma and her father helped Roberto move into his apartment, Roberto cawed again.

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“What’s all this racket?” asked Maria.

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"A mouse got into Roberto’s cage,” explained Gemma, “so we’ve got a new roommate."

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“Well, Roberto is welcome anytime,” said Maria, “Have you had your breakfast yet?”

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“Nope.”

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“Then I will fix it and take you to the bus stop.”

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After breakfast, Gemma and Maria walked to school, where Gemma learned all sorts of new things. However, all she could think about was Roberto. Maybe Roberto was lonely in his tiny, one-room apartment. Maybe the mouse was planning a way into Roberto’s cage. Gemma could barely concentrate on her school work.

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As soon as school ended, Gemma raced home, throwing her book bag on her bed and checked in on Roberto

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"Hello, old boy, I’m home."

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Roberto waited quietly as Gemma changed out of her school clothes and grabbed the walking leash. She fastened one end around Roberto’s foot and looped the other end around her wrist. She let Roberto lead as they walked side-by-side along the gravel path next to the highway.

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Occasionally, buses and motorcycles pass by and the passengers would wave. Gemma always waved back.

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When they reached Fuente’s Farmers Market, Roberto hopped up the steps one at a time until he reached the top.

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“Atta boy!” said Gemma, “now let’s go see if we can find something good to eat.”

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"Hello, Mr. Fuentes."

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“Hello, Gemma!”

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Mr. Fuentes pointed to a small lollipop tree sitting next to the register. Gemma plucked out a lime-flavored lollipop and quickly stuck it in her mouth.

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"What can I do for you today?" asked Mr. Fuentes.

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"I need a treat for Roberto."

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"Oh. How about a potato?"

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“That sounds perfect.”

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Mr. Fuentes used his pocketknife to cut off a piece of potato, and then dropped it on the floor. Roberto strutted across the floor and quickly gobbled it down. Then, he looked to Mr. Fuentes for more.

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"I'll take two potatoes," said Gemma.

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"Will there be anything else?"

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"No. thank you."

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Mr. Fuentes placed the potatoes in a small bag with another lime lollipop. Then, Roberto and Gemma returned home. On the way, Roberto stopped to investigate everything sitting along the path, pecking at gravel and seeds.

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“Come on, Roberto. You’re taking too long.”

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About half the way home, Gemma was tired of waiting for Roberto, so she snatched him into her arms and carried him home. When they arrived, Mr. Cruz was there waiting for Gemma.

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“Daddy,, what are you doing home so early?”

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“You and I are going on a trip.”

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“We are?”

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Gemma’s father nodded.

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“Where are we going?”

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“It’s a surprise, but  I’ve already packed your things and made you some snacks for the boat trip.”

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“We’re going on a boat trip?”

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“We sure are.”

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“My first boat trip! Yippee!”

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“Alright then. Grab your daypack so we can take a Jeepney to Mercado Pier.”

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