Today is Charlotte’s eighth birthday, and her family is too poor to do anything to celebrate. I doubt that they’ve ever celebrated birthdays ‘American-style.’ I walked down to Baguio Gold and went in their shack to blow up balloons while the kids were in school. I carried a bag of inexpensive gifts that I’d bought when I shopped for Nick’s and Rose’s birthdays.

My intention was to go to Baguio City with Nanay and her grandchildren so that Nick could go to his first Taekwondo class and Charlotte could have a little shopping spree for clothes and/or shoes. Nick’s class would be an hour and a half, so I thought we might also visit a bookstore for new or used children’s books. Or we could walk to Burnham Park so that the sisters could enjoy bicycling or tricycling.

Well, Baguio Gold Elementary School did not ‘let out’ the students at 3:00, as scheduled, so Nanay and I waited and wondered. After inflating the party balloons, I hiked up to the school to try to ascertain what’s up. It was like a ghost town, because the schoolyard was empty, I saw no signs of life, and the weather-beaten clapboard building reminded me of Old Tucson. So I went to the principal’s office to ask when the kids would be released. He said something about 3:35 or 3:45. So I walked down to the shack again to await the arrival of Nick and Charlotte with Nanay.

Eventually the kids showed up, and Charlotte was pleased to see all the balloons, a gift bag standing on the table and me. I sang “happy birthday” to her, and she opened her greeting card and gifts. Then she, Rose, Nanay and I tossed the flying ring toy for a few minutes while we waited for a jeepney ride from Baguio Gold into Baguio City. Nick had to leave for his first Taekwondo class as soon as he came home and dropped off his school bag and picked up the backpack containing his uniform.

Downtown, in Tiong San Harrison department store, Charlotte and Nanay picked out a blouse and pants and flip-flops while Rose and I waited and Rose perused flip-flops. Rose’s flip-flops were a stiff, transparent plastic that had cracked almost all the way through. And although I’d bought for her two pair of Crocs-type slip-ons and she has another pair of flip-flops, I bought green foam flip-flops for her when I checked-out with Charlotte’s picks.

We walked from Tiong San on Harrison Road up to Pizza Hut beside Session Road, across the street from the post office, because Charlotte wanted to dine there. I’d like to have visited the post office before the “lockbox section” gate was locked at 6:00. Oh, well. Nick came from the Taekwondo studio to join us and we feasted on pasta and pizza. You know, I’ve eaten alot of pizza and pasta in five months here in Asia.

After dinner, at which I sang “happy birthday” again, we strolled down Session Road’s east sidewalk to Goldilocks bakery to get a cake to take home. Charlotte chose a chocolate cake, and an artist decorated it with her name. We got a taxi ride for the five of us into Monterrazas Village and the girls, Nick and Nanay began watching cartoons immediately while I unboxed the cake, inserted lousy, cheap candles in it and tried to light them.

I sang “happy birthday” again with Nick and Nanay attempting accompaniment, then I had to tell Charlotte, “Now make a wish to God. … Did you make a wish? Okay, now blow out the candles.” I could see that this is all new to her. She didn’t blow out eight flames in three breaths. Will her wish be granted?

Here are some photos. Please pray that Charlotte has a blessed new year and a fruitful year in grade two in Baguio Gold Elementary School.

Charlotte (left) and her sister, Rose (right)