Under the Santol Tree

Cool ocean breezes blew across the shores and over the mountain where Gemma’s house stood. She swung back and forth in her hammock, enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. She lived in ‘city by the shore’ – Baybay, in the southern part of the Philippines.

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Summer was Gemma’s favorite time of year. There were so many things to do. She could go to the dive shop with Pidro or to the market with her mother. She could even stay home with her sister Maria.

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Usually, Gamma’s brother Pidro was one of the first to wake, so he would help Gemma get ready. She loved helping Pidro at the dive shop. She towed kayaks onto the beach and prepared the oar stand, filling it with oars from the boathouse. Gemma also helped tourists try on scuba gear or choose a kayak. She also watched the dive shop while Pidro taught the tourists how to keep the kayaks from turning upside down. Today though, Pidro woke up much too early for Gemma, so he let her sleep.

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Instead, Gemma would spend the day with Maria. Sometimes, Maria would lie in the hammock and strum the guitar while Gemma played in the yard. Today, however, Gemma was the one in the hammock while Maria was in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

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Gemma stared upwards at the dark, green leaves of the Santol tree hanging overhead. The leaves cast spotted shadows over the hammock as they swayed in the breeze. A small scarlet-colored bird sat in the tree and chirped. Gemma tried chirping back, but only scared the bird away. She watched it take off from its roost and fly towards the shore

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Gemma closed her eyes and daydreamed of being a scarlet bird, flying high over her brother’s head. She could watch people in sailboats and pontoons as she flew from the Santol trees to the Ipil-ipil trees and back again.

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"Breakfast is ready," Maria called from the porch. Gemma looked up to see Maria holding a tray of eggs and fish. She also had a pitcher of juice

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Gemma’s face brightened as she joyfully jumped from her hammock. She followed Maria to the gazebo where the family always ate their meals. Four sturdy logs had been planted in the soil to hold the roof. Branches and leaves were woven together then placed on top of the logs, forming a thatched roof overhead. Beneath the hut were three benches, arranged in a U shape. In the middle of the U sat a small wooden table. It was perfect for gathering around and spending time together.

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Gemma sat in her usual place where the two high-backed benches met in one corner. She moved to the back of the bench and pulled her feet up against her chest. When Maria was around, Gemma could sit however she wanted and that made Gemma happy.

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Gemma held the grilled fish in place with her spoon while she cut it into bite-sized pieces. Then, she dug the meat out with her spoon. It tasted like lemon pepper. It wasn't as good as her mother’s cooked fish, but Gemma still thought it tasted great. Maria added scoops of rice and scrambled eggs onto Gemma’s plate while Gemma ate. Gemma finished eating her fish first. Then, she ate the rice. Gemma poked around at her eggs, taking long pauses between each bite.

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"Did I make too much?" asked Maria.

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"I think so."

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Maria took Gemma's plate and scraped the eggs onto the ground, where one of the cats gobbled it up.

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Afterwards, Maria and Gemma gathered the dishes and took them to the kitchen sink.

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"Is there anything I can do?" Gemma asked.

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"You can go fetch some papaya fruit."

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"Yummy! We're having papaya?" Gemma asked.

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"I thought you were full," said Maria.

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"I'm never too full for papaya."

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"Well, this is better than papaya."

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"What could be  better than papaya fruit?"

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"You'll see."

Gemma ran to the papaya tree and plucked several papaya fruit off the tree, gathering them in the flounce of her sun dress. She gathered as much fruit as her dress' apron could hold, then returned to the kitchen.

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When she reached the table, Gemma let go of her dress hem and out poured the papaya. As Maria sliced the fruit into bite-sized pieces, Gemma stole slices and put them in her mouth. Maria could hardly keep up with her hungry little sister.

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"Gemma! Go outside and I'll be out in a few minutes."

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"You bringing the papaya?"

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"Just go outside, Gemma. I'll be out in a few minutes."

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"I just wanted to help," grumbled Gemma.

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"You can help me by being patient. Now go outside while I finish fixing something for the both of us." Gemma frowned at her sister and went out onto the porch without saying a word. She grabbed her takyan and took it outside.

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The takyan was a tiny cloth-covered metal ring with a bright red tail around one end. Gemma kicked it with the inside of her foot, trying to keep it from touching the ground. Gemma’s record was 11 kicks. When her brother kicked the takyan, Gemma would keep count. Often, Pidro would kick it 50 times in a row. Usually, he just caught the takyan in a hand and handed it to Gemma so she could give it a try.

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She took the takyan out of her pocket and began kicking it into the air. "One...two...three," she counted. With each kick, the bright red tail fluttered in the air like a scarlet snake bouncing up and down off her foot. She kicked the takyan with the edge of her shoe, sending it flying across the porch and into the tall weeds next to the house. It had bounced under a prickly bush, just out of reach. As Gemma stretched her arm under the bush, needles scratched her arm. The takyan was just out of reach.

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"Maria!" she called. Just then, Maria came through the front door and out onto the porch, carrying a tray with two glasses.

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"Halo-halo!" shouted Gemma.

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"Halo-halo special...with papaya fruit."

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"You’re right, that is better than papaya!"

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Gemma grabbed her glass with both hands, careful not to spill a single drop. The Halo-halo drink was the Filipino version of a milk shake, with crushed ice, milk, sugar, and fresh fruit. Since it was "special," that meant it also had a few scoops of ice cream on top. For Gemma, it was definitely a Halo-halo special.

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Gemma wiped the excess Halo-halo off her chin and set the empty glass down on the table.

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"How was it?"

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"The best," said Gemma.

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"Good. I wanted to surprise you," said Maria.

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"You did surprise me."

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They sat there for a few moments, until Maria realized something was wrong.

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"Where’s your takyan?"

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Gemma pointed towards the prickly bush.

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"Do you need me to help get it?"

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Gemma nodded.

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Maria went down the hill and found the takyan under the prickly bush. She reached out with her long arm and quickly snatched the takyan from under the bush. She handed it to Gemma and the two of them returned to the hammock where Maria grabbed her guitar and strummed it gently while Gemma continued juggling the takyan. When she grew tired, Gemma joined Maria on the hammock. Gusts of wind blew in to keep the girls cool under the hot mid-day sun. The Santol tree waved and wagged in the breeze, and threw diamond-shaped shadows across the ground.

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Early in the afternoon, Gemma’s father came home from a long morning at work. Mr. Cruz worked at the pineapple plant. He operated the pineapple-cutter, a large machine that removed the outer skin of the pineapple with one quick chop. Every day, Gemma’s father rode the bus home from work. After a long day, it was always special to see his family.

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"Papa!" Gemma cried out. She hopped out of her hammock and ran up the hill and greeted her father with a great big hug.

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"How was your day?" he asked.

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"My day was a lot of fun. I had eggs and fish for breakfast. Then, I played with my takyan and Maria fixed Halo-halo special!"

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"Halo-halo?"

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"Halo-Halo special."

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"That does sound fun. Where’s mine?"

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"We were going to save some for everyone else, but I put it in a very special place."

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"Where could that be?"

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"Right here in my tummy," said Gemma as she patted her stomach.

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"I guess that’s a good place for it."

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Gemma and her father sat inside the gazebo while Maria played her guitar. As soon as Mrs. Cruz and Pidro arrived home, the Cruz family gathered under the Santol tree, enjoying steamed rice and vegetable stir-fry.

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After dinner, Mama and Papa sat in the hammock while the children sat around the table, playing cards. The moon slowly rose over the ocean, signaling the another end to another day. Maria put Gemma to bed then returned to the gazebo.

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Gemma listened to them talk while she lay in bed. It was quite some day for Gemma. She wished it would never end. Luckily for Gemma, even if there wasn’t any Halo-Halo Special, every day was an adventure.

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