Can I Reach The Sky

An extended family that lives a simple life in their rental apartment in Manila. Their life is simple in a way that they are happy and content with what they have. Then, after nine years of living there, their life is about to change because of a miracle about to be given to them. On a bright sunny afternoon at church, a family is attending mass. While the mass is still going, the mother is about to give birth. The people in the mass were bewildered. So, they hurriedly took the mother to the nearest hospital at the church in Manila. Then, a little girl was born at the wish of her parents. She was called 'Miracle Baby'. A miracle from above was given to this family because, after eight years, they had a chance to bear a child again. The baby was named Mary, born on the 13th month of January 1998. The doctor carries the baby to the mother, and the mother is surprised because the baby is yellowish-skinned. So, the doctor tells the parents that the baby needs to be incubated until the baby's skin is already normal. After the results, the mother and the baby can already go home. Two days later, they are discharged from the hospital and go home. Now they are back home in their apartment in Manila. Finally, the whole family gets to carry Mary. The grandfather adores Mary because she never cries when he carries her. The grandfather holds Mary on her feet to see if she is going to cry or react differently. It turns out Mary pulls herself up to her feet rather than crying. The grandfather is amazed and says that Mary is a smart child and she will do everything to achieve her goals. That is from the point of view of Mary's grandfather. Her brother also loves her and he plays with her when he has time. Since Mary is the only sibling he has. Mary is the first granddaughter in the family. So, the family always protects her like a princess. They enjoy the moment of having her around. They need to hire a nanny for Mary because her parents are both working. Mary's grandmother hired a nanny recommended by their 'kasambahay'. So, Mary's mother can continue to her job without worrying much about Mary. But Mary's mother is still hands-on to her after work. A year later, in the 13th month of January 1999, Mary is already one year old. Her mother saw Mary was trying to roll over. Day after day, Mary is really an intelligent child because she can sit on her own and say her first word. Mary's first word is 'Mama'. Her mother is delighted to hear Mary call her. Mary's parents plan to baptize her since she is already a year old. They are going to throw a Christening Party for Mary and invite their relatives and friends. Mary's mother dresses her in a white dress and white shoes. Just like any other baby Mary cried when the Priest poured the Holy water on her forehead. Welcoming Mary to the Christian world. They continue with the party along with their relatives and friends. Mary is the apple of the eye of each and everyone at the party. Mary is the star of that day. Another year passed. In the thirteenth month of January 2000, Mary turns two. She sees her brother drinking from a glass, so Mary wants to drink from a glass rather than drinking from her baby bottle. Mary whines to her mother that she wants to drink from a glass. So, her mother buys Mary a plastic mug since Mary might break it if she buys a glass for her. Now, her mother wonders where Mary gets her intelligence from. *Ring... ring... ring... The sound of the telephone ringing. Mary's grandmother answers the call and Mary's family gets invited by her grandmother's friend to Baguio. After the week, Mary's family is busy getting ready to go on their family trip. While Mary's nanny dressed her in her favorite red dress which was given as a gift by her godmother. They get to rent a car and travel to Baguio and have a family day trip. When they get there, they check in at the hotel and off to enjoy their entire trip. Mary sees a three-wheeled bike. So, she asks her nanny to ride it with her. Mary's mother sees her and finds it adorable and takes a picture of her. Mary also rides a swan-liked boat with her mother and father. She also flies the kite with her brother. It was a memorable day for Mary because that is her first trip with her family. After their three-day trip in Baguio, they go back home in Manila. After the days go by, Mary was playing alone in their living room when she suddenly smells something delicious. She climbs up to a stool up to their dining table and sees that there is a bunch of Monay. She reaches for one and takes a big bite out of it. Her nanny was shocked seeing her sitting on a stool. "Jusmiyo! Mary good thing you did not fall down." her nanny said. Mary giggled while finishing her Monay. Mary hears the opening of their main door and sees her mother home. She runs to her mother smiling. "I have pasalubong! It is your favorite. Donuts!" said Mary's mother. Mary is so happy and surprised. As the months go by, in the thirteenth month of January 2001, Mary turns three. Mary is in her nanny's room playing her favorite toy where she learns how to speak and enhance her intellect about things. She always plays alone because her brother needs to go to school. But when her brother got home Mary run to her brother with a smile. She asks her brother to play with her but her brother has an exam tomorrow so he needs to study first. Mary is curious about how her brother studies. So, she went to their room and sit beside her brother. "I also want to study," Mary said to her mother. So, her mother gives her a paper and a pencil. Her mother finds it really amusing that Mary is interested in going to school. So she plans to take Mary to school in May since the school has an interview for children who will be enrolling there and see if they qualify for a scholarship. In the month of May, Mary's mother takes her to school to be interviewed by a teacher. They waited in line for their turn. After two hours of waiting, it's their turn now. Mary's mother comes along with her. The interview starts. The teacher asks Mary questions like "What is your name?", "How old are you now?", and more simple questions about her. Thankfully, Mary can answer all those questions easily. Then, the teacher starts making Mary choose between two objects in front of her. "Mary, what will you choose, chocolates or books?" asked the teacher. "Books" Mary answered. The teacher wonders and asks Mary, why she chose the book rather than the chocolate. Mary said, "Chocolates will give you cavities." The teacher was surprised by how Mary answered her. The interview go on. After Mary's interview is done, the teacher give Mary a chocolate flavored lollipop. The teacher talked to Mary's mother and said, "Mary is an active, bubbly, and smart child but she can't enroll yet this year because of her age." Mary's mother replies, "I just wanted to see if she can already enroll. Since she is so interested in studying and going to school." The teacher says, "Well, Mary can enroll next year along with the children her age." Mary's mother thanked the teacher and say goodbye. Now that Mary's mother knows that Mary can enroll next year and qualify for the scholarship. Mary can go to school next June, a year after. On the twenty-seventh of October 2001, Mary's aunt is going to give birth to her cousin. So, they travel to Quezon City to visit her aunt. After hours go by, her aunt finally gives birth to a girl, named Celine. Now, Mary is not the only princess in the family. Mary is happy to see her younger cousin. She is going to be a big girl now. Mary's family gathers together and lives to the fullest. Mary's family and relatives always have a gathering in their apartment in Manila every Sunday. As time goes by, things change a little bit. Mary is already preparing to go to school and her brother is graduating from grade school. Mary grew faster than her family already knew. Continuation will be at the next chapter.