The Tear in Daddy's Eye
Gardenia Ramos-Banos
March 05, 2006
Lolo would fetch her from kinder class and together they would walk the short way home.
But before that, she would make a quick stop and stare longingly at the musical carousel displayed in the toy shop window.
For her, it was the most wonderful thing on earth, and one that she couldn't have because it was so expensive. She knew that her parents are saving money for the new baby who was coming three months from now.
Soon you'll have a baby sister or brother, but you will always be my baby,” Daddy told her. After all, she had been the baby for almost five years now. Maybe I could ask Santa
Claus for the music box this Christmas, she thought.
But on Christmas, she didn't get her wish. Instead, Santa Claus sent her a nice, big piggy bank and a note saying: “Have fun filling it up.”
Sigh. Santa must have mixed her up with some other kid.
Still, it wasn't that bad. Lolo, Lola and Daddy helped her fill up the big piggy. And Apol, too.
Apol was the softdrink salesman who came every Friday with his big panel truck. He'd give her one coin for a kiss and two coins for a bite on her chubby cheeks. It was not fun, but she liked Apol and his tricks. He also smelled nice.
When June came, the piggy was almost full. "I will bring you home on my birthday," she would tell the music box everytime they'd pass by.
At night, she would mark the wall calendar to count the days before going to bed. Nine days more and it will be mine!
A week before her birthday though, the little girl got sick and had to stay home.
Lola, being a nurse, took care of her mostly since Mommy was busy with her new baby sister. Her playmates came to visit her, and she told them all about the wonderful, wonderful music box waiting for her on the 24th.
But first, I have to get well for my birthday.”
And she did. She hardly slept a wink that night, but finally her big day came. She got out of bed even before the cock crowed, got the piggy bank and rushed to her parents'
room.
Daddy, Daddy! Come on, wake up! Let's smash the piggy already!” Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and glee.
Because today was a special day, Daddy picked her up from school. Then it was time to buy and bring home the music box.
But something was wrong.
The precious musical carousel was not in the display window. Her heart was hammering in her ears as they went inside the toy shop.
Daddy talked to the sales clerk while the little girl waited in a corner. She saw her Daddy go in an office and talk to yet another man for a very long time.
When he came out, he looked so tired and sad like someone had just died. His shoulders hunched, Daddy knelt and held her face with shaking hands.
Then he told her. Her music box was gone. Somebody had bought it three days ago and it was the last one of its kind.
Perhaps she'd like another toy?
NO. For six months the little girl lived for that music
box and it's gone.
NO. It was the only thing she wanted for so long and
it's gone.
NO. She didn't even had the chance to hold it or hear its
melody.
No,Daddy, I don't like any other toy for my birthday. Can't you understand that?
Then she saw a tear fall from Daddy's eye. It was the first, and perhaps, the only time in her life that she saw her ever-strong and self-composed Daddy openly shed a tear.
I'm so sorry, baby,” he said in a broken voice.
It's all right, Daddy. I'll get over it,” was all she could say to make him feel better. But it was to be the longest walk home in her whole five-year life.
That was exactly thirty-three years ago. Daddy's little girl had grown up and gotten over the loss of a tiny music box.
But the tear in Daddy's eye, she could never forget. Many times, she felt like her Daddy whenever any of her sons would ask her something they desperately wanted but could not have, simply because she didn't have enough money to buy them.
But instead of letting a tear go, I became that little girl once again who assured Daddy that it's all right. After an honest talk with my kids, they usually bounce back and forget
about it.
It's still some time to Father's Day, but still, I want to thank my Dad for teaching me what great things one can learn from a single tear.
I learned that there is more to life than getting what you want. I learned that love and being together are far more precious than material possessions. I learned to be content
with what I have and to count them as blessings. I learned that there is such an ache called "frustration" that we need to cope with in life.
But most of all, I learned that it's really true : we can only understand a parent's love the moment we become parents ourselves.
30-
But before that, she would make a quick stop and stare longingly at the musical carousel displayed in the toy shop window.
For her, it was the most wonderful thing on earth, and one that she couldn't have because it was so expensive. She knew that her parents are saving money for the new baby who was coming three months from now.
Soon you'll have a baby sister or brother, but you will always be my baby,” Daddy told her. After all, she had been the baby for almost five years now. Maybe I could ask Santa
Claus for the music box this Christmas, she thought.
But on Christmas, she didn't get her wish. Instead, Santa Claus sent her a nice, big piggy bank and a note saying: “Have fun filling it up.”
Sigh. Santa must have mixed her up with some other kid.
Still, it wasn't that bad. Lolo, Lola and Daddy helped her fill up the big piggy. And Apol, too.
Apol was the softdrink salesman who came every Friday with his big panel truck. He'd give her one coin for a kiss and two coins for a bite on her chubby cheeks. It was not fun, but she liked Apol and his tricks. He also smelled nice.
When June came, the piggy was almost full. "I will bring you home on my birthday," she would tell the music box everytime they'd pass by.
At night, she would mark the wall calendar to count the days before going to bed. Nine days more and it will be mine!
A week before her birthday though, the little girl got sick and had to stay home.
Lola, being a nurse, took care of her mostly since Mommy was busy with her new baby sister. Her playmates came to visit her, and she told them all about the wonderful, wonderful music box waiting for her on the 24th.
But first, I have to get well for my birthday.”
And she did. She hardly slept a wink that night, but finally her big day came. She got out of bed even before the cock crowed, got the piggy bank and rushed to her parents'
room.
Daddy, Daddy! Come on, wake up! Let's smash the piggy already!” Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and glee.
Because today was a special day, Daddy picked her up from school. Then it was time to buy and bring home the music box.
But something was wrong.
The precious musical carousel was not in the display window. Her heart was hammering in her ears as they went inside the toy shop.
Daddy talked to the sales clerk while the little girl waited in a corner. She saw her Daddy go in an office and talk to yet another man for a very long time.
When he came out, he looked so tired and sad like someone had just died. His shoulders hunched, Daddy knelt and held her face with shaking hands.
Then he told her. Her music box was gone. Somebody had bought it three days ago and it was the last one of its kind.
Perhaps she'd like another toy?
NO. For six months the little girl lived for that music
box and it's gone.
NO. It was the only thing she wanted for so long and
it's gone.
NO. She didn't even had the chance to hold it or hear its
melody.
No,Daddy, I don't like any other toy for my birthday. Can't you understand that?
Then she saw a tear fall from Daddy's eye. It was the first, and perhaps, the only time in her life that she saw her ever-strong and self-composed Daddy openly shed a tear.
I'm so sorry, baby,” he said in a broken voice.
It's all right, Daddy. I'll get over it,” was all she could say to make him feel better. But it was to be the longest walk home in her whole five-year life.
That was exactly thirty-three years ago. Daddy's little girl had grown up and gotten over the loss of a tiny music box.
But the tear in Daddy's eye, she could never forget. Many times, she felt like her Daddy whenever any of her sons would ask her something they desperately wanted but could not have, simply because she didn't have enough money to buy them.
But instead of letting a tear go, I became that little girl once again who assured Daddy that it's all right. After an honest talk with my kids, they usually bounce back and forget
about it.
It's still some time to Father's Day, but still, I want to thank my Dad for teaching me what great things one can learn from a single tear.
I learned that there is more to life than getting what you want. I learned that love and being together are far more precious than material possessions. I learned to be content
with what I have and to count them as blessings. I learned that there is such an ache called "frustration" that we need to cope with in life.
But most of all, I learned that it's really true : we can only understand a parent's love the moment we become parents ourselves.
30-