MONETTE

Monette is infront of her dressing table. How come my new curling iron is not here? Carmina, Carmina , she called her Executive Housekeeper. Rushing steps approaching. Yes, Madam. what can I do for you? Look I cannot find my new curling iron. I'll be late for work. Carmina opened the drawers but couldn't find it. She called their housecleaner. Bonny come here. Bonnie rush to Monette's room. Did you keep the curling iron of Madam Monette? No, I have'nt seen it. The curling iron cannot be found. Bonnie called their dog Rusty. Rusty was barking to her. Huh, maybe you hide the curling iron. She followed him to his doghouse. The plug is out the doghouse. Bonnie pulled out and it was the curling iron. She wipe and cleaned before handing to Monette, Plug it, Monette said. Pushing the on button , the curling iron didn't start. I'm in a rush going to work. I must hurry to fix my hair. Breakfast is ready, Bonnie called. Carmina was at the table. She poured coffee on Monette;s cup and Henry's cup. Monette sat on her chair next to Henry who has already seated. I maybe late tonight , said Henry. Wait for Arky to pick you up. I am going shopping for your mother's birthday. I ,maybe late coming home too. Then call me when you are home and tell Arky to pick me up. Arky dropped Monette at Sophies Cosmetics the store Monette's mother opened 10 years ago. Now with twenty branches nationwide. Monette went straight to the boardroom to meet her managers. Good morning, she said. I want to see your sales report of each of our branches. Amira went to the board. The most saleable items in my store are perfumes. Perfumes coming from Italy. This is a growing trend. We know how the Covid 19 affected the atmosphere in Italy when Covid 19 hit there. Can you imagine the stench of decaying corpses inside the hospitals and they are also on the streets. Amira added, the next product on the list makeup. Why makeup? Women tend to make themselves attractive. When they go to a party the first thing that they mention to each other is what kind of makeup did one used. Mirasol raise her hand. In my store women tend to buy body wash rather than perfume and makeup. I think women is concerned about their whole body to be clean thoroughly. What branch has the highest sales? The long Christmas holidays is coming strive to increase your sales. Remember the bonus you can get to go on a holiday. I want you to have an increase sales to get a higher bonus. Do you think we can raise your pay, it's up to you. the meeting is adjourned. Monette closed the meeting and went to her office. Polly her personal secretary handed to her the papers she would look into. Polly can you make my coffee please, with cream but no sugar. At the counter, a customer asked, Why did you stop the promotional offer. What offer? The make up, lotion and cream. They are a good combination. Besides , the price is right. I will check if we are out of stock then I can order one for you if it is still available. With a few clicks the saleslady said. There is one more available. Do you want to order? Oh yes, the customer handed her credit card. You can come back in five days. Monette after going through and signed the papers she decided to find a birthday gift for her mother in law Pura who lives in the outskirts where she lived. At the department store she cannot decide what to buy. What will I buy for her if she is not going anywhere else except in her garden of trees and vegetables? What kind of shoes can I buy her when she walks under the trees and till her flower and vegetable garden? Monette doesn't really know what to buy. That makes a lot of difference on how to live like a princess and married a pauper. Monette went against the wishes of her parents to marry the son of their business acquaintance the normal process of dating among rich families. They match their children when they are still young. Monette choose Henry whom she met in the university. Oh I can ask Henry what to buy, Buy her a dress for church wear and a matching pair of jeans and Tshirt. What color is nice for an old lady? I'll pick one for you said the saleslady. At another store. Give me this size for a jeans , oh I think

a matching pair is better. After all it was not too late coming home. Henry, I already send Arky to pick you up. We'll have dinner at home. I can't wait to have dinner with you. What will they prepare. Do you need something that I can bring you home? I think I want to have buko pie. (young coconut pie) for our dessert. It is better than the sugary cake. Well I'll be waiting for you. Remember to take a bath before I come home. I'll take a bath before our dinner. Monette went to the shower. Carmina asked Mina to prepare lentil soup for the couple and a cup of brown rice each. The main course would be grilled fish. Remember to remove the skin. One more thing, how about Mediterranean salad with balsamic vinegar and virgin olive oil. Henry has arrived taking his shower immediately. Monette went to Mom the kitchen. Did you prepare the side dish of your Sir Henry? Yes, Madam. I don't know why he like that simple dish of sliced onion and tomatoes. That is nutritious Madam. Onion makes the lungs healthy and the tomatoes is for the heart. That makes sense besides they are really fresh. My side dish is mostly processed with a dressing. You don't know how they concoct those dressings. Are they not starchy> Even with vinegar their taste is artificial not natural like the tomatoes and onion. After supper. Henry asks Monette if she wants to watch a movie . Yes, absolutely. I can cuddle to you if the movie becomes scary but can we choose a comedy? Okay, I can still cuddle you but don't tickle me. I can't assure you. If it becomes a romantic scene maybe we cannot finish the movie. Monette smiled anticipating what comes next. Well the movie is quite hilarious and Henry has to stop and carried Monette to their bedroom. Oh , you can change now. If you want something from me you have to change my clothes. Monette dropped herself in the bed. Henry took off her upper blouse then pull down her jeans. In this intimate moment a man and a woman feels what they would share together. It's all silence but the union of two bodies and two souls consummate the act of love. Good night whispered Henry. Good night answered Monette after a soulful kiss. The next morning they are going to her mother in laws birthday. Arky checked the engine and everything. We have a full tank and a reserved gas, the same with an extra tire and my tools. You must be sure, we will have a long drive. When they arrive at the barangay (village) Mabuhay, Mabuhay (welcome) the people shouted merrily. The music play while people are street dancing to welcome them. Monette felt very special. All eyes are focus on them. Monette wave her hand. The car they have used maybe the first kind the village folks have seen. Do they want to have a ride? Monette asks in her mind. It's impossible but Henry made it himself. Arky stopped the car at the entrance gate and Pura came out to open it wider. Then Arky drive the car inside. How's your trip? It was a long drive. There is not much traffic it's a weekend. said Henry. You may sit. It is time to take our lunch. Pura set the dining table. Oh , Monette feels being a stranger. The dining table is quite different and the food is also cooked differently. Henry offered Monette the stewed chicken that is served in a bowl. This is a native chicken with papaya and pepper leaves. They don't cooked this in plushy restaurants but you can taste it. It's flavorful. Monette took a spoon and sip the soup. It really taste good. This one is grilled fish, a fat catfish. I haven't taste a catfish. They said catfish are scavengers. There are many of them in the ricefields the mud is what they eat or grass. Henry said. Monette took a fork and have some bite of the catfish. It taste good with the vinegar and soy sauce dip. Rambutan, lanzones and jackfruit was in season to be their dessert. I have to peel them before eating. Mina must have been here to peel them. Sitting on a bench under a mango tree Monette said. Henry , how do you sleep in the hammock when there are lots of mosquitoes? Swinging the hammock will drive them away. We can go and swing ourselves. Let's try. Monette likes it to be beside Henry while they were swinging the hammock then they were already side by side. Having rested they decided to go home. Pura liked her gift from Monette. I have a dress for Christmas she said. Monette thought of bringing home Henry. Her parents didn't met him yet. I can take care of Henry and he can take care of me. She called her parents when they arrived home. Can we come over tomorrow evening? Yes, yes, his father answered. You must tell Arky to drop you off and pick you up later so you can stay a little longer. Monette wondered what would her father say? They didn't show up since they decided to live

together. There house was well lit even it is daytime. Dad, where did you go for vacation? Monette asked. We went as far as Bahamas. A popular destination they call Atlantis. It is an island that appeared from nowhere a former British colony. You can see the stark division of the rich and the poor where the poor work for the rich. Fishermen sell their catch at the seashore. Divers of conch shell them out and what would you say of their bodies , are they healthy of being divers for a long time? The new island became the hub of rich people but fishermen lived as they are. There is a contrast in society how the rich and poor lives, There's nothing to be done. It happened in centuries. Henry listened quietly while his father in law is talking. What could he say? He is on the same situation. Monette is very very rich and he is poor. After dinner Monette's dad said. Being born is not a choice. Even parents does not choose to have a baby but they are the fruit of their love together. I give you my blessings and make your choice to have a baby or not.