BUILDING A DREAM (IN STEP-BY-STEP MANUAL)
By: Iris P. Concepcion

Remember the kids I wrote about who argued a lot and ate grilled bread after?

They were bunking near the porch one time, making makeshift cities with houses, pools, hotels, runways, overpasses and roads, even lighting up torches since they were hankering (bordering to emo blackmail even) by simulating grief for me to provide them electricity connection which I sternly expressed I could not provide. They likewise asked for a cement budget. I declined saying, they should earn it.

When I woke up one morning, I noticed that they already built cemented roads without any monetary help from me. And an overpass. They were discussing that they should elect a mayor from among themselves. They named the airport after myself. Clearly, these are kids who could not be dampened by rejections. They would find ways to build even from scratch. I asked them where they got their money. They replied: savings.

In their ruggamuffin clothes and sleepiness, they did build.

What I provided them is shelter and food and internet fees with loads of reprimanding and lessons about life I suppose. Pep talks which oftentimes sent them to tears and tantrums but they got valuable tips from me on how to get education from within their nomadic structure. I think I merited a recognition for my talks since some of my inputs had already been applied quite effectively. That's MY job, if you need to rub it in. I consider it a waste of time defacing other people's progress. Anyhow, the benefit is for the larger communities out there.

It thrilled me likewise that they relished the first food I had prepared for them: my meat tenderloin with soy sauce and onions. One even cleaned my chamber pot (the one used for urination) since he was aghast by my using a pan as urinal inside the room. It was a funny incident. I told him I still could not use it since it has holes in it.

They were playing house obviously, only, they transported the video games they were playing on the net about owning properties and improvised thereafter. I do not give them internet money daily therefore, they MADE their internet games live. In my porch. Everyday they would ask each other: How much is your money? One adopted my answer of not revolving around their life on money. One finds ways for it eventually.

They were camping in abandoned houses.

Once, a daughter requested: " I need ingredients." I parried: "For food?"

"No," she replied. "For my musical lesson. I need lapis (pencil), and musical books."

Ingredients? Who am I to correct her brilliant noun? I felt like a moron beside her.

I bought toy airplanes (two) for them since they had a long runway.

One day, I heard them shouting loudly at each other. When I inquired why, they said one of the houses was razed by fire. I asked the owner what he intends to do about it. He said, he is going to build again and replan the whole structure.

It was sweet of them to think that way: that after the raze, they plan of building bigger structures over junk food. When the swimming pool was gone, the owner said: "Must transfer it somewhere, in huger form."

I do not breed monolithic thinkers. They never agree with me at all times. In fact they merely show the better option by presenting what they are capable of doing vis-a-vis the existing structures.

They are the types without hefty sums of money in the bank but always surprises by building things that are useful, functional and benefitting everyone. I admit it, they provide quality works without gloating. I could not dole them out with fancy cars, resorts, designer clothes and images worth the covers (hahahahaha, what am I, a joke?) but I sustain a desire for them to dream and dream huge.

One of these types, a leader in forming, I once asked along the sidewalk in scorching heat and congested streets : "Where to?"

The answer: "Take a walk, go to that corner. A ride is waiting there." I had noticed that he had dirty cuticles. But he had dignity by pointing at me the horizon I am to tread.

True to word, I simply hopped in and arrived at the destination.