THE SUMMER OF MY 17TH YEAR by H.O.

Santos
THE SUMMER OF MY 17TH YEAR
by H.O. Santos
Source: http://sushidog.com/bpss/stories_staff/summer.htm

The story was all about a girl, who was having a hard time expressing and living her own life. She live a life, where she
do what other people expect her to do. It's like a life in prison, you are not free to commit mistakes, because if you do, the
whole world will turn up side down.

The story goes like this. Minda is a 16 years old girl who live a life where everybody dictates her, what to do and what not
do. It was summer of April 5,2002 when her cousin asked her to come with him at Masbate pier to meet a long lost friend,
a very special friend. John pointed him out to Minda when he came down the gangplank off the ferry from Lucena.
Although he did not look too unlike the other passengers, there was something uncommon about him. Maybe it was the
high backpack and small bamboo suitcase he carried that made him look out of the ordinary. Tim and John exchanged
greeting and talked for a while before he acknowledge Minda's presence and introduced himself to Minda.

It was the the following day when Minda stepped out the front door and saw Tim. They staretd talking and exchanged
morning greetings. Tim asked Minda if there's a supermarket where they sell cooked food. Minda told him that it was
about a kilometer away from where he is standing right now. Tim asked if Minda could come because he wanted to try
eating in a public market, which he haven't done in his entire life. Minda hesitates for a moment, because if her cousin
John knows about this, he will get mad but later on she agreed in going to the supermarket with Tim. Tim promised that
she will not be in trouble.

Days comes fast and Minda started to like Tim. It was then she decided to dressed pretty for the party for Tim. she wanted
to be in the avenue as early as possible, so she could still talk to Tim. There she asked silly questions to Tim, if he had any
girlfriend. Minda find out that he never had any girl friend and wanted to have one like Minda , but Minda was too young
for him.

After that night they never got a chance to meet each other because John and Tim went busy going to different places in
Masbate while Minda got busy helping her mother with their business. One night when Minda came home, she found a
package waiting for her. It was from time. She took the package to her room and found a book of poems and his
sunglasses inside. With them was a note from Tim.

Minda really felt sad because she wasn't able to say goodbye to Tim and wasn't able to say how she feels for him. It was
then she suddenly realized that she don't want to mope and feel sorry for her self. She tried to make it a normal day for
self and hid how she really feels.

Comment:

When we want to say something to a person, we have let him know. If we didn't learn to take risks we will never achieve
what we wanted to achieve. Life is all bout taking risk, you will loose if you don't take risk. I can somewhat relate to the
story, I once live a life where I am afraid to commit mistakes because I don't want to disappoint my parents and the people
around me, but this is my life and will live my life according to what God has panned it to be. Living your own life
doesn't always mean to be a rebel one but to live expressig yourself and telling them who you really are.
THE SUMMER OF MY 17TH YEAR
by H.O. Santos

FRIDAY, April 5, 2002

IT was hot this morning when I went to the Masbate pier with my older cousin John. School was
out and the dry season had begun. The air was still, making it feel hotter yetthe usual breeze that
comes from the sea seemed to have gotten lost somewhere. We were there to meet his college
friend who was visiting our island for the first time. They hadnt seen each other since his friend
moved to the States right after they graduated from college. That was five years ago.
John pointed him out to me when he came down the gangplank off the ferry from Lucena. Although
he did not look too unlike the other passengers, there was something uncommon about him. Maybe
it was the high backpack and small bamboo suitcase he carried that made him look out of the
ordinary. Or maybe it was because his shirt and pants werent neatly ironed like the others. His hair
was mussed up but he didnt seem to care. He didnt exactly look like a bumhe even made it look
like wrinkled clothes were what everybody else should have been wearing if they wanted to be in
style. He looked like an exciting kind of guy who didnt care what others thought of himthe kind
who might just be the one I needed to make my life less humdrum.
He and my cousin exchanged greetings and talked for a while before he acknowledged my presence
and introduced himself. My name is Tim, it was really Timoteo before I went to Los Angeles. He
laughed as if he thought one had to go to Los Angeles to get an American nickname.
Im Minda, Johns cousin. My family and I live next door to him.
Oh, good. Then well see a lot of each other. After that, he promptly ignored me again and
resumed his conversation with John.
John drove us home in his car with Tim in the front seat. I was in the back with Tims luggage.
They had so many things to tell each other to get fully updated with what had happened since they
last saw each other. I wanted to tell them thered be enough time later for all that. I felt left out.
My cousin John had always been the most adventurous member of our clan. He went to college in
Manila and did pretty well as far as grades were concerned. He surprised me when he returned to
Masbate to stay and take care of his familys cattle ranch. He did that after devoting four years of
his life to earn a college degree. I couldnt understand that.
I wish I can be like John but I cant. Instead of Manila, I have chosen to go to Los Baos for
college when the school year opens. Not only is it closer, it is also less chaotic.
John has always been my favorite cousin because he is the only one in my family who can
understand young people like me. I was born eight years after my older brother, who in turn was
two years younger than John. That makes me a lot younger than all my siblings and cousins. It is
sometimes an advantage in that they pamper me and let me get away with things they normally
wouldnt have. At the same time, it makes me feel lonely because I have very few people I can
share my feelings with. Often, Im afraid they will think the things that bother me are silly so I keep
them to myself except when I can talk to John.

SATURDAY, April 6, 2002

I SAW Tim again this morning when I stepped out the front door. He was in the yard next door,
looking lost and alone. He came over when he saw me.
Wheres everybody?
Oh, John will be back soon. He must have left early to check on the ranch.
What about you? Why arent you in school?
Dont you know its summer break?
Gosh, I forgot. Summer in America starts in June.
Besides, its Saturday today.
He looked at me sheepishly. Oh, my God. I cant even keep track of what day of the week it is
anymore. Im getting old.
I didnt mean to embarrass him so I was glad he took it lightly. I said, Its okay. Its still Friday in
America. I was beginning to appreciate that the useless information I had learned in school
wasnt so useless after all.
He gazed at me as if trying to figure out what kind of person I was. I suddenly felt shyit was a
strange and unfamiliar feeling for I wasnt a shy person. I didnt know why I felt that way.
Anyway, what school do you go to?
I just finished high schoolI went to Sacred Heart College in Lucena.
Thats far from here. Do you have relatives there?
No, I stayed in a boarding house. Im quite independent and can take care of myself.
You look so young
Not really, Im sixteenIll be seventeen this year. And Im going to college in June. Away from
home. At University of the Philippines in Los Baos.
That doesnt necessarily make you an old woman.
But Im not like the other sixteen-year-olds you may have met before.
How?
I can take care of myself.
He smiled but said nothing. I couldnt tell if I impressed him or if he didnt understand what I said.
I wanted to say more but was unable to find words that would have explained further what I meant.
He was silent for a while before he spoke again. How far is the public market from here?
Not too far, about a kilometer.
Do they sell cooked food theredo they have places where one can sit down to eat?
Yes, lots of them.
Can you come with me?
To eat? John wont like it if he finds out you went somewhere to eat. Theyre probably preparing
something special for lunch.
Come on. Be a friend. This is my only chance to go and eat in a public market.
Why do you think so?
Because my friends always steer me away from places they think I shouldnt see.
I knew I was betraying a cousin, my favorite cousin at that, but there was something in his request
that thrilled me. My father had always forbidden me to eat in the public market. I had gone there to
eat with my friends a few times before, all without my fathers knowledge. I didnt understand all
the warning about sanitationdidnt cooking kill any germs that may still be in the food?
Okay, I said. Ill take you there.
Go ask your mom for permission.
I dont have towere not going far. But Ill have to tell our help where Im going in case she
asks.
Dont you feel scared going with a stranger?
Youre not a stranger. Besides, youll never get off this island alive if something happens to me.-
He laughed loud. I knew he was beginning to understand right then that I was not the typical
sixteen-year-old he assumed I was.
We walked to the public market. The sun was hot but I didnt mind. I wanted people to see me
walking and wonder who the man with me was. I didnt see anyone I knew but they could have
been peeking from their windows, hiding from my sight.
He looked around the market, curious about everything. Vendors were cajoling us to come to their
placeeach claimed to have the best food in the market. I wanted very much to have known the
area better so I could steer him to the right place. It maddened me that I didnt.
Whatever youre thinking, dont eat too much, I told him when he started looking at the food on
display.
Whys that?
Because
Huh?
John will find out I went with you here and hell get mad. When we get back I want you to eat a
lot of whatever they serve you.
Do you always tell people what to do?
No, but I know it will be a problem for me if you dont eat lunch in my cousins house. You dont
want me to get in trouble, do you?
He patted me on the shoulder and said, I promise you wont.
So we each had an ukoy although I could tell that he wanted very much to try the kare-kare that
looked so tempting. I felt sorry that I was always sensiblewhy couldnt I have been more
adventurous and off-beat like he was? All my life I had deferred to my elders, tried hard to please
them. They praised me for being mature and responsible for my age. They didnt know that Id
rather do things because theyre what I want to do, not because theyre what they expect from me.

SUNDAY, April 7, 2002

TODAY was a very busy day for everyone. John was having a party in his house in honor of Tim
and my family was helping prepare the food. I was given the task of cutting the vegetables to pieces
of the right size. There was so much to cut I was afraid it would take me the whole day.
I wanted to wear the dress my mother had given me for my graduation. It had been pressed and
ready for me to put on. It was a simple but elegant off-white, sleeveless dress. My friends had
gushed about how I looked in that dress. They said I looked like I was at least twenty years old.
I finished my assigned chore as fast as I could because I needed to go to the beauty parlor to have
my hair done. I wanted so much to look nice for that evening. It felt like graduation day and a lot
more.
I went early to Tims partyI wanted to have a quiet talk with him before everybody else arrived. I
know people will say Im being irrational but I like him very much. I like him because he is so
modesthe never tells anyone he is from America. He isnt like the boys in school who are too
immature for my taste. I know he is right for me even though I have only known him for a few
days. People dont understand that a girl just knows.
We got to chat for a long time before the guests arrived. He told me about life in the U.S.he said
Filipinos who are used to getting pampered would have a hard time adjusting to life there.
After working all day at the office, we still have to cook and clean up when we get home, was
one of the things he said.
Im glad I can take care of myself I wont have a hard time if I ever go there.
He smiled with a smile that seemed to say, You may think so but theres more to adjusting to a new
life than that. Maybe he wasnt convinced that I was an independent woman who can live alone.
I felt bold and asked him directly, Do you have a girl friend?
No.
Why not? Cant you find anyone you like? I hoped he didnt notice the lilt in my voice that was
there because his answer had pleased me.
Im sure there are lots of nice women around, its just that I have been busy the last few years
trying to get my career going. You try harder when youre in a new country.
Would you prefer a Filipina or an American girl friend? I wanted more details.
I really dont know, he said. But I know I want someone like youpretty, happy, and not afraid
to speak out. Too bad youre too young.
He was probably teasing me but I knew for certain I wasnt too young.
Im not too young, was all I could say, however. I wanted to tell him about John and Jacqueline
Kennedy, how she was much younger than he was, but couldnt do it. I didnt understand why I
could never say all I wanted to say when he was around. I let it go at that.
The food at the party was good and everyone was pleased. I felt proud when I told Tim I helped in
its preparation. I havent done much cooking but I feel confident I can do a good job if I have toI
had watched my mother lots of times and remember most of the recipes.
I was thrilled when Tim asked me for the first dance. He said he didnt care too much for dancing
and would do it only with someone like me. I thought it probably wasnt true so I asked why. He
said, Because Im not a very good dancer and I know you wont complain. At least, he knows Im
not the complaining type.
The night would have been perfect if that Christina hadnt showed up. She always comes late for
anything and makes a grand entrance so she can be noticed by everyone. She tells everyone she is
twenty-six but I think shes really twenty-eight. I dont like her because she thinks she is so
beautiful that men find her irresistible. I know she uses too much makeup and spends too much
money on clothes. She is lucky her father is rich.
She began to monopolize Tim with her conversation. She couldnt tell that Tim was simply being
polite to her. I hardly think he will fall for her because she is too old for him. Anyway, she ruined
the evening for me. I dont just dislike her, I really hate her.

TUESDAY, April 9, 2002

IVE hardly seen Tim the last two daysJohn has been showing him around the island and I have
been busy helping my mother arrange to ship live cattle to Manila. That was my familys business,
making sure cattle from the ranchers in Masbate get to their buyers in Manila in good shape. I saw
Tim only in the evenings when everybody got home but never got to talk to him. I know its crazy
but I miss him so much.

WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2002

WHEN my mother and I got home this evening, I found a package waiting for me. It was from Tim.
I took the package to my room and found a book of poems and his sunglasses inside. With them
was a note from him:

Dear Minda,

Im sorry I didnt get a chance to see you today. I was hoping I could speak with you before I went away but they told me you
wouldnt be home till later. Im leaving early this evening on the M/V Maria Carmela to go to Lucena and on to Manila. I wasnt
planning on leaving until Saturday but your friend Christina begged me to escort her to Manila. She said the trip always terrified her
and I couldnt refuse.
You have been my best friend on this island and Ill never forget you. Im giving you my sunglasses and this book of poems by Louise
Glck that I have been reading during this trip. I hope youll like them, but more than that I hope they will remind you of a friend. You
have been very nice to me and I wish to thank you for all the nice times Ive spent with you.
I wish you all the success you deserve as you go on to college. Im sure youll make your parents proud.

Your friend,
Tim

He was wrong. Christina wasnt my friend. She was a shameless witch who would do all kinds of
tricks to get men to like her. I couldnt help but cry as I ran to the street to catch a tricycle to the
pier.
The ferry had already left when I got there. The ship was still visible and I could see its lights in the
distance as it sailed away. I couldnt understand why this was happening to me. Tomorrow, I would
have been home the whole day because my mother had finished her work for the week. And I
already knew how to tell Tim about John and Jacqueline Kennedy without making it look too
obvious that we could be a pair. I also wanted to give him a picture of me when I graduated from
high school and tell him to remember to write me in Los Baos. He wont even know how to get in
touch with me after all this. I only needed one more day and that Christina had to ruin everything.

THURSDAY, April 11, 2002

I WOKE up late because I hardly slept last night. Perhaps, Tim will find a way to write me. Maybe
John can tell him how to get in touch with me. But inside me is a terrible feeling that he will never
write and that I will never see him again.
I dont want to mope and feel sorry for myself but I really feel like crying again. Nevertheless, Ill
try to make this day a normal day for myself and not let anyone know. Theyll never understand.
I will read the book he gave memaybe, theres a message in the poems he wants me to read. I
will wear his sunglasses when I go out later. But first, I will have a good breakfast and listen to the
news on the radio. I need to know whats going on out there for I havent been outside my own
little world for almost a week.