15
Antonio’s Baby
Tony was furious when Baby married an American. “Occupiers,” he called them. “They are no different than the Japanese, or
the Spanish before them. They come here, big and ugly and smelly. They eat our food and take away our sisters to be their wives in their own stinking country.”
“The Americans are different,” Isabel pleaded. “They are good for the Philippines. I got a letter from Baby. She says she’s fine. She has a daughter now. Her American is
nice and he doesn’t drink too much rum. Ate Carmen and Ate Grace are even sending money every Christmas from their American husbands.”
“You’ll never see your sister again, Bel. And if you marry that
Philadelphia boy ‘IF’ he comes back you’ll never see any of your family again.”
“He will come back, by and by. I’m going to
