An Aswang Tale

As thunderclouds rolled through the skies over Baybay, they cast gloomy shadows on the coast. Gemma’s mother worked in the kitchen, making crispy pork and prepared sinangag-style rice. Gemma sat cross-legged in the middle of the living room, juggling her takyan from one hand to the other.
Pidro stood in the doorway, with his arms crossed. He frowned as he looked up at the sky. Those clouds loomed overhead, waiting to let loose a downpour on the entire village of Baybay.
Unfortunately, it had been raining all week long and tonight, Pidro had planned to go to the dive shop to meet Marco and some friends for a feast to celebrate Halloween.
"Sometimes I think I am cursed," Pidro said, talking to anyone who would listen. Gemma and her mother continued with their separate activities, ignoring Pidro’s grumbling.
"Pidro! Come inside and set the dining table. Gemma, you can help too," said their mother.
"Mom, do you think it will rain tonight?"
"Pidro, it’s typhoon season here in the Philippines. You’re lucky it hasn’t rained any more than this."
"One night is all I ask."
"Maybe tonight you will be lucky," said mother.
Gemma’s mother carried serving platters, loaded with pork and rice, and set them in the middle of the kitchen table. As the sweet smell of crispy pork filled the house, almost everyone gathered around the table for dinner.
"Where’s Maria?" asked Gemma’s father.
"She’s at the library studying for her final exams and won’t be home until late," answered Mother. It was Friday evening, which was the night Mr. and Mrs. Cruz went bowling with friends.
"Then who’s going to watch Gemma tonight?" asked Pidro.
"You will, of course."
"Mom, I can’t watch Gemma tonight. I am going to meet Marco at the Dive Shop then we are going out with a couple of girls."
"You can still go wherever you want as long as you take Gemma with you."
Pidro groaned. What would a little girl do with a bunch of teenagers but get in their way? Pidro didn’t dare to argue with his mother or else she would ground him and he wouldn’t get to go on a date at all. Having Gemma tag along for a date would be better than no date at all.
There was little more conversation as everyone enjoyed their dinner and cleaned up afterwards. It wasn’t long until their parents left with Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez. Pidro took a quick shower and cleaned up while Gemma waited.
"Gemma, I hope you don’t ruin tonight," said Pidro.
"I won’t. I promise."
"You’d better not. Tonight’s very important to me."
By the time they were ready for their trip to the Dive Shop, the sky had cleared. They got on Pidro’s motorcycle and off they went, zipping along the wet pavement. The motorcycle bounced and swerved over bumps and bends in the road. Water sprayed up from the tires, licking at Gemma’s bare legs.
Gemma snuggled against Pidro’s body, trying to keep warm and dry. Rain and wind spat over her arms, covering her in a fine spray of road water.
As they turned off the National Road onto the dirt road leading to the Dive Shop, Gemma saw Marco on the beach, towing a kayak across the beach. Pidro drove the motorcycle up the hill, over the grassy dunes and stopped next to the Dive Shop. Gemma jumped off as Pidro leaned it against the building.
"Gemma, what are you doing here?" asked Marco.
"Maria’s at school, so Pidro is babysitting tonight."
"Well, we’ve got lots of fun and scary things planned, like Aswang Tales."
"Really?" said Gemma. Her eyes lit up. Marco had always told great stories by campfire light, but she had never heard his tales about the mysterious Aswang, a hideous night creature known for stealing children who wandered too far from home late at night.
Gemma hung out with Marco and helped him fold sails and store them in the boat house. After they finished, Marco locked up the Boat House. He walked with Gemma back to the beach, where Pidro was setting up for the Halloween party.
"Is there anything else we need to do before people get here?" Marco asked.
"Gemma, you need to get firewood while Marco and I move some logs around the fire pit."
Gemma walked over to the brush pile to get some kindling for the fire. She picked out a large tree branch, which had several smaller branches still attached. As she dragged the branch from the brush pile to the fire pit, it made long snake-trails.
Marco and Pidro built a teepee of wood for the fire. Marco broke twigs off the tree branch while Pidro assembled the kindling in the fire pit. After he finished constructing the teepee, he crouched beside his creation, attempting to light the fire. He struck a match and held it next to a piece of sandalwood bark. Flames spread from branch to branch and soon, a fire was burning.
"This won’t be enough. Gemma, go fetch another tree branch," ordered Pidro.
As she returned to the fire pit, everyone had disappeared. Gemma looked towards the Dive Shop, where she could hear several people talking.
Gemma approached the Dive Shop. Inside, Pidro and Marco counted pesos on the counter while Marcella stood next to them. Marcella also worked at the Dive Shop during busy weekends. There was also another girl, who Gemma did not recognize. Before Gemma could say anything, the other girl spoke up.
"Hi. You must be Pidro’s little sister, Gemma." she said.
Gemma didn’t answer her. Instead, she wondered why this strange person knew who she was.
"I’m Jocelyn, a friend of Pidro’s, but everyone calls me Josie."
As Gemma grabbed Josie’s hand to shake it, she noticed how smooth and delicate it was. Josie stood next to Gemma’s brother and smiled. It was a crooked little smile that filled the silence awkwardly.
"Yes, I’m Gemma," she finally answered.
"Your brother has told me all about you."
Now Gemma was really perplexed. Not only did this girl know who Gemma was, but this girl had heard stories about Gemma. Gemma looked over at Pidro, then back at Josie, then back at Pidro again.
"Have you ever kissed my brother?"
"Gemma!" scolded Pidro.
"I think he wants me to kiss him, but I’m too smart for that," said Josie.
"That’s good. He kisses like a fish," stated Gemma.
"Gemma, I like your style."
Everyone laughed but Pidro, who gave his "you’re ruining the party" glare, but Gemma ignored him. Soon, it didn’t matter, because others began arriving.
A delivery truck arrived with a small roast pig. People moved it from the truck and next to the fire. Everyone gathered around, helping themselves to the Halloween feast. Gemma watched her older brother, moving from conversation to conversation, talking to everyone at the party.
Gemma decided to fill a plate with food and enjoy the roast pig. She picked out her own campfire log and sat in front of the fire. She looked across the campfire towards Josie, who was also sitting alone. Josie looked up at Gemma, then walked around the fire to join her.
"Can I sit next to you?"
Gemma nodded.
"Are you having fun?" Josie asked.
"I guess."
"How old are you, Gemma?"
"Nine."
"You’re very mature for nine years old. What grade are you in?"
"Fourth."
"Fourth grade, huh? Do you like school?"
"It’s okay."
"What’s your favorite subject?"
Gemma sat silently beside Josie for a moment.
"Am I bothering you?"
"No. I am just thinking to myself. I don’t really like any of my classes."
"I didn’t like any of my classes either, except art class. I spent time after school in the art room. I’d help my teachers organize art supplies."
"Art is good, I guess."
"I use art everyday."
"You do?"
"Do you know what burloloy is?" asked Josie.
"Handmade jewelry?"
"That’s right. I collect seashells and gemstones and I polish them in a rock tumbler. Then, I drill tiny holes in them and string them on necklaces and bracelets to sell to tourists."
"Did you make that bracelet?"
"Do you like it?"
Gemma nodded.
"You can have it if you want. I make new ones all the time and give them to special people. I think you qualify."
"Pidro wears lots of necklaces. Did you make them?"
"All except the one you got him when you went to Cebu. He says that’s his favorite."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. He’s a sweet and gentle guy," said Josie.
"Who? Pidro?"
"He’s very sweet," answered Josie.
Josie continued talking about Pidro the Romantic and Pidro the Gentleman, but all Gemma could think about was Pidro the Prankster and Pidro the Gemma-beater-upper.
Pidro was the one who put a live frog into her bowl of soup when she wasn’t watching. Pidro was also the one who convinced her to climb up to the roof of the gazebo and then removed the ladder, stranding her there until their father came home.
"How long have you known him?"
"I met him several months ago. I’m a friend of Marcella. I’d come to visit her and the more I came here, the more time I spent with Pidro. Now, I seem to come to the Dive Shop to see Pidro instead of Marcella."
As they continued eating the roast pig, Pidro got up and stood beside the fire.
"Hey everyone, it’s time for Marco to tell one of his stories. Since it’s Halloween and my little sister Gemma is here, Marco has created a story especially for her."
Marco pulled up a small stool and planted it firmly in the sand beside the fire pit. Everyone gathered around, finding seats wherever they could. Marco sat down and began to tell his tale.
"Just up the coast from Baybay, there are several small fishing villages along the cost with no name. Inside the houses, strange men live. These men are skin and bones. Their spindly arms are ash gray and they reach out of their sackcloth clothes. Their eyes burn through the darkness as they walk along the shoreline looking for fish."
"Sometimes they leave the shore and walk into the cities. They walk alone. Their breath, a hot heavy breath. A child can barely hear their groan, but if they are close enough, a single word is uttered. The last word a child would hear is ‘hungry.’ The fisherman are hungry and it’s you they’re wanting to eat."
"These fishermen don’t smell like fish. They smell like the innards of little children, their favorite food of all. Crooked teeth, sit in rotten mouths, waiting to tear into their next meal. As children disappear, one by one, accusing fingers point to these fishermen, but unfortunately, the fisherman have eaten all the evidence."
Gemma’s eyes widened at the thought of it. She looked up to Josie for reassurance. Josie’s smile comforted her, but Marco continued on.
"One particular girl named Bella walked to the market alone. She was just ten years old, but her parents thought this independent adventure would do her some good. Bella took a shortcut through the woods to the market. Every child knows not to go too far from the safety of home, especially at night, for the Aswang love the taste of careless little children."
"He’s talking about you Gemma," said Pidro. Everyone laughed a little except Gemma. Now, the joke was on her.
"Inside, Mr. Silayan stood behind the counter, chopping meat and wrapping it in paper."
"Bella stepped up to the counter and smiled at Mr. Silayan. Bella had known Mr. Silayan her entire life. Bella visited the stores many times with her mother, but this was her first trip alone."
"Good evening Bella. What can I do for you?" greeted Mr. Silayan.
"Mom sent me down here to buy some pork loin," said Gemma.
"Let me see what I have," asked Mr. Silayan.
"Mr. Silayan went to the freezer, but came back empty handed. He approached the counter and looked at Bella.
"I’m sorry dear, we’re fresh out of pork loin. Can I interest you in something else?"
Bella stood tiptoed and looked across the counter. Mr. Silayan leaned towards her. He let out a small groan Bella couldn’t quite make out what he said, but it sounded like..."
"Hungry..."
"Bella darted out of the store, while Mr. Silayan shouted after her. Bella dared not look back. She cut back into the woods, ignoring the trails, which she could barely see in the moonless night. Voices emerged from the shadows. As Bella scurried through the woods, her left shoe stuck in the mud and stayed there. Bella continued running. The breathing grew louder behind her. Tree limbs poked out of the shadows and flicked in her face. Bella stuck out both arms, trying to get free..."
Before Marco could continue on with his story, he was interrupted by Gemma, who had become transfixed by scared little Bella, trying to escape the forest alive.
"Run, Bella, Run!" shouted Gemma.
Everyone laughed at Gemma as the story had come to a climax. They were probably relieved to have a break too. Marco always told campfire stories that took the listener wherever Marco led them. Gemma was embarrassed. She ran towards the Dive Shop and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Marco, Pidro, and Josie found Gemma a few moments later, tears streaming down her face.
"I’m sorry, Gemma," said Marco,
"It’s not your fault. My emotions get carried away sometimes."
"The story’s over now, so come join us by the fire," said Pidro.
"I don’t want to."
"It’s not the same without you," said Josie.
Gemma took Josie’s hand and returned to the fire. Most of the kids went over to the volleyball court to play volleyball.
"The fire’s dying out. Can you get us some firewood?" asked Marco.
"Okay," said Gemma as she wiped the tears from her face.
Gemma walked toward the brush pile. Within a few steps, it went from warm and cheerful to cold and dark. The brush pile sat at the top of the dune. Tree limbs splayed this way and that. "A gnarled mess of dead tree arms," thought Gemma. Creatures slithered in the shadows beyond the brush pile.
Quickly, Gemma tugged several small logs from the pile. The pile shifted, then some of the logs crashed to the ground. A creature tittered in the darkness. Gemma took what she had and hurried back to the safety of the campfire.
"That’s all you brought back?" said Pidro.
"It’s your fault, filling her head with Aswang stories. Come on, Gemma. I’ll go with you." Josie took Gemma’s hand and walked with Josie across the sand. As they gathered wood, Gemma noticed it was quiet all around the brush pile. They each returned with an armload and fed the fire, piece by piece, until it was blazing again.
Everyone gathered around the campfire as people took turns playing guitar and singing songs. Glowing embers rose like angels, flying towards the black sky.
Gemma leaned against Josie’s shoulder, then fell asleep. Pidro woke her some time later. Only Marco and Josie remained.
"Time to go home," said Pidro.
"Already?"
Pidro picked up Gemma and carried her toward the bike. As he arrived next to the bike, everyone said their farewells and went their separate ways.
She clung onto Pidro as they rode home. She rested her head against his back and looked at the trees. They sped by in a blur. Gemma looked into the woods and thought of Bella. She also thought of Marco’s Aswang story. She thought it was fantastic.
Gemma smiled as she watched the shapes passing by. The moon threw silvery blue shadows across the road. The tiny headlight shot out a bright yellow beam, leading the way home.