BUBBLES

It's early morning. The sun rays is peeping through the glass window shutters at her kitchen. Sitting at her dining table waiting for her tea kettle to whistle Berta blinking her eyes at the thought of being alone. Something popped up in her mind about the recent events that made her feel isolated. It seemed that she is holding some sad feelings. Blinking her eyes was to stopped her tears to fall. Why does she feel this way? Berta had been left by her parents when they met an accident driving through a rainy day under the dark sky. Why is it so early at her young age? To whom was she given up? Was it to a relative or an adoption agency? She was only 10 years old at the time. Staff at the hospital tried to contact her family but no one came forward to give her a hand. The school authorities gave the hospital about her personal information. They found out no one else in the community knows her family who are new in the locality coming from a far away place. One of the hospital staff brought her home and gave her the comfort and care she needed most. Berta grew up with this lady physician who happens to be living by herself. To a child's heart it was unfathomable what she really felt after losing both of her parents. What may have occurred to her was to feel of being lost in this world and any one are strangers to her. Dr. Joy Martin took Berta as her own child and she minded everything about the things she needed at school. One thing that Berta wanted from her was her attention, What kind of attention? She needed to know from her why her parents die. Don't they know she needed them.? Dr. Joy Martin was surprised . she didn't know what to answer her, Berta was disappointed, Who will answer her why her parents left her? At school she don't like to make friends. The homeroom teacher was worried, Setting an appointment with her guardian Dr, Joy Martin , Miss Princess Cruz and the principal Mr. Rey Cortez met together to discuss Berta's situation of being unfriendly. She must have to socialize with her classmates. Mr, Rey Cortez asked Dr, Joy Martin if she was bringing Berta to church on Sundays, Dr. Joy Martin said no. "Maybe you can bring her there to let the chaplain explain why she can not have her parents and why she lost them". the principal suggested. Dr. Joy Martin thank the principal. The next Sunday Dr. Joy Martin and Berta attended the church service. After the church service she asked the chaplain Pastor William Ver if there is time for them to talk about Berta, Pastor William Ver told her to come back in the afternoon and she can bring Berta with her. When Pastor William Ver learned that Berta was an orphan he clearly understood where the little girl was going through. It was not the first time that this kind of situation arise under the circumstance of losing both parents at the same time. He told Dr. Joy Martin that the child will attend Sunday school to help Berta. Miss Rosy Demetrio the Sunday School Teacher read her books about Jesus. She related to Berta that Jesus cares about children. He wanted children to be happy. It was very important to be friendly to others too. Miss Rosy Demetrio had some experience handling orphaned children. Orphans had the same question why they have to lose their parents who are taking care of them. This time Miss Rosy Demetrio tells a story about the time of birth. A baby was born because their parent love each other. But their was a possibility that when a baby was born she may not live long , She may die. Miss Rosy Demetrio explained to Berta that the baby may get sick and she will die. The parents will be sorry because their baby left them. What happens when the baby die? She will go to heaven and live with God the Father of Jesus Christ. " Oh so my parents went to heaven? " Berta said. " I know where they are now, I feel happy." Berta said. Children die. Parents die but they go to heaven. Berta can relate to others after learning her parents went to heaven leaving her alone. She also learned from Miss Rosy Demetrio to be kind to others. She began to help Dr. Joy Martin at home At school she became friendly with her classmates and she joined them with their activities. At the playground she participated with sports activities. How much help did the church change her socially. Dr. Joy Martin worked hard to give her support to her. Raising a child was not easy. She must give up some of her own time for pleasure being a physician steal her time. Dr. Joy Martin however didn't promise not to have a child of her own.

When she met a visiting physician Dr. Greg Torres she didn't expect that he could accept Berta who grew into an active ambitious young lady. She wanted to be like Dr. Joy Martin. She was able to develop her talents to be a leader in her own field of expertise. She was in her first year of residency and it made her excited to be at the same hospital with her foster mother. How wonderful for her and Dr. Joy Martin to have reach this level of relationship like a real mother and daughter. Dr. Greg Torres pursued Dr. Joy Martin. They started to date. Berta seemed to be affected knowing Dr. Joy Martin will have a divided attention to look after them It maybe a big adjustment for Berta, Since she had grown up and fully understood the facts of life she must have to be more understandable. It was time for Dr. Joy Martin to raise her own child and her own family. Berta must be considerate remembering what her Sunday School Teacher told her to be kind and considerate to others. She can do this to Dr. Joy Martin who sacrificed gave herself to her to be good kind and loving to her, She didn't mind if she will take care of the baby of Dr. Joy Martin and Dr. Greg Torres, She will not mind if she will do the chores inside the house when the helper was not available, She will not mind if they will go on vacation and will be left behind, Remembering her parents made her feel confident and comfortable knowing where they are that they are resting in heaven with God the Father and Jesus Christ who helped her carry the burden of being and orphan. The wedding was set in summer to be held at their own garden. They invited one hundred guests to grace the occasion. Berta was the bridesmaid of Dr. Joy Martin. The best man of Dr, Greg Torres was a friend of Berta working with her at the same hospital. To make their wedding special they ordered a couple of white doves and let them freely fly in the air after the wedding ceremonies. Not all knew about Berta so Dr. Joy Martin announced that she has a wonderful daughter who was a gift to her from heaven, that was the time when Berta's parents left this world. It was a beautiful and wonderful wedding day. Dr. Joy Martin and Dr. Greg Torres left for their honeymoon in an undisclosed location. Berta went to work at the hospital. She missed Dr, Joy Martin not being with her. Her acquaintance Dr. Isko Batungbakal approached her and asked how was she doing. I'm a little bit lonely being alone as if the memory when my parents suddenly left me in this world. "Are you busy after our shift." "No, I have nothing to do after," she answered." "Then we will go for dinner." Berta woked up with nostalgia of being alone This morning for the first time Berta felt extreme loneliness then the a tea kettle whistled . As she lift the lid the boiling water burst into bubbles and popped up to become a vapor lifting up into the air. Bubbles that Berta saw with her almost teary eyes but they can be tears of joy for her newlywed foster mother. She uttered a short prayer for them to have a happy life ahead.