The Thief's Daughter

“Time to set your burglar’s alarm, girls!” the big mouthed fat girl burst as she saw Pilar coming to the locker. “Hurry up and never ever let your eyes blink or else…”

The girls got her message and locked up their things theatrically. Each moved towards the girl who had just warned them. They were such a spectacle that everybody in the hallway followed their stares. Pilar sensed the awkward silence. She dared not look at anyone and chose to quicken her steps instead. She wished she had not locked it up so she could just grab her things and leave right away. She still had to insert the key to the padlock, twist it, open the door, find the books she needed and shut it again. Nevertheless, Pilar did all these while being aware of the eyes that were glued on her. Upon getting her things, she turned to walk but was suddenly blocked by the girl.

“Tell your father not to miss the grocery store in our village,” the fat girl ordered. “It’ll be a big catch for your family.”

“You know nothing about my father,” Pilar said as she tightened her grip of her books.

“Everybody in Sta. Fe knows Polario more than you do, pathetic daughter of the thief,” exclaimed the tall girl.

“My father is not a thief,” she cried. “He never stole anything from the market. It wasn’t him.”

Pilar walked as fast as she could while tears streamed down her face. She could hear another voice yelling at her.

“How did you know it wasn’t your father?” the fat girl shouted. “Ah! You were with him when he broke into the market stall, weren’t you?”

And the girls bellowed with laughter.

Pilar rode a tricycle home and stared at the glass blankly. She realized that it was the worst thing that happened to her life. She never imagined herself being humiliated amid so many people. She was wounded and she needed some cure.

Pilar didn’t notice the tricycle had gone two blocks past her house. She even almost forgot to pay the driver her fare. She took her money and handed it without looking at him. She wondered if the driver knew about his father. She wished he didn’t.

As she walked, she fixed her gaze at the bamboo bench under the Narra tree. It was not long since her father used to tell her stories on that bench. He left without even telling her why. All she knew then was he needed to look for another job. That was according to her mother. Sometimes, the rumors about his father stealing goods were overwhelming that she almost wanted to believe in them. Her mother; however, was firm that the rumors would always remain as rumors- no basis; all were aimed at destroying his father- a simple and good man. Pilar longed for his father but the longing had now been tarnished with rebellion.

Pilar entered their house and found Lorena cooking in the kitchen. She placed her things on the dining table to signal her mother that she was home.

“Why early?” Lorena asked. She wondered why Pilar didn’t greet her with a kiss.

“I want to see him,” Pilar said.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I want to see him.”

“See who?”

“My father. I want to know if he did it.”

“Wait,” she said. She turned off the stove. “Tell me what happened.”

It took a while before Pilar hesitantly told her mother about the ridicules she just received from the girls in school. She couldn’t help but cry as she narrated their allegations against his father. Lorena felt her trachea stiffen.

“Now, please tell me,” she said. “Did he really steal from the market?”

“He couldn’t do that.”

“But why did those people insist that father did?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that your father is innocent. He is a good man, Pilar and you know that,” Lorena said as she stared at the floor.

“If he didn’t do it then why did he leave us?”

“He never left us. He just wanted to avoid those people who have been persecuting him for the acts he never really did.”

“And who’s being persecuted now, Ma? I can’t bear the weight of people’s mockery especially now that we don’t have him at our side. You’ll see, sooner or later, they would do the same to you. They’ll treat you like you were a criminal.”

Tears appeared in Lorena’s eyes hearing the words of the pained young woman. For once, she knew this would come but never did she expect that her daughter would take the hardest blows.

“What do you want me to do then?” Lorena said in a trembling voice.

“Tell me where Papa is.”

Lorena thought it was the right time to tell Pilar.

Perhaps she would endure the pain that the truth would cause her if Polario would tell her. I know she could. She’s strong. I’m not.

Pilar left for San Ildefonso the following day to see his father. San Ildefonso was twenty-two kilometers away from Sta. Fe-- far enough to avoid the torments of the people she now learned to hate. She realized his father had been so lucky since he left Sta. Fe some years ago. At least, he was able to forget the mocking faces, the disgusting rumors against him and perhaps, his suffering daughter.

Pilar reached Sta. Fe after after a few hours. She called for a tricycle and told the driver the place she was headed at.

“You must be new here,” the driver said.

“Yes,” Pilar said matter-of-factly.

“Who do you want in Kamias?”

“Polario Cruz.”

“The slaughter man?” he exclaimed. “He’s a good pal .I never knew he had a daughter.”

Pilar didn’t know what to do whether she would be happy for she could easily find her father’s house or get mad because his father had failed to mention to his friends that he had a daughter. Either way, she still felt good that her mother told the truth when she said that her father found a new job.

How does father do the killing? It must be hard for him who was used to vending vegetables to slaughter pigs. Does this man know my father well? Has he ever been accused of stealing in this place?

The driver pointed Polario’s house before Pilar stepped out of the tricycle. The house was small and unpainted but it was nice to look at because of the green bamboo shafts that were perfectly nailed horizontally. Surrounding the house where pots of healthy pechay and tomatoes.

So he never forgot his good green ways, she thought.

Pilar slowly pushed the gate made of coconut lumber and thought about how she would face her father who opted to not see her for years. She went to the door and knocked. No one came. She turned the knob and was surprised that it was open. She got inside. The house was even nicer inside. There were shiny bamboo seats properly arranged. In the wooden wall hung two picture frames that were familiar. She came nearer and was delighted to see the picture of her and her father on a bench she recognized in Sta. Fe. The other one was their wedding picture. She was so mesmerized by them that she never noticed the man who came in.

“Excuse me? Who…”

Pilar recognized the voice and turned.

“Pilar?” Polario said in bewilderment. “W…hy are you here?

Pilar didn’t expect his father would utter those words.

“I came to see you,” she said. “Father.”

Polario embraced his daughter tight. For once, he knew he was longing to hold her daughter close but he thought it would be impossible for he knew he was undeserving. Now he was squeezing Pilar but he never felt she needed it. His leaving her was unforgivable but he knew it was the best thing to do. Pilar wriggled from his father’s grip and looked him in his eyes.

“Father, why did you leave us?”

“I had to.”

“”Why? Is it because you were guilty of stealing?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course I know what I’m talking about. It’s you who doesn’t know anything how it felt to be ridiculed by people because of having a father who is a thief. Tell me father, you did it right? You did it! You did it! You’re a thief!”

“Yes I did it! I’m a thief! What then?” Polario exploded.

“But why?”

“It’s all because of you, Pilar.” Polario said. You were sick then and we didn’t have any money to buy you medicines. I opted to steal just to save you."

Pilar didn’t bear the truth she just heard. She cried hard and went out.