“Sorry, Isayaz. I am just following orders.”
I could hear Iya Vellit wailing as she ran to Gasa. “Ang akong anak, ang akong anak.”
Our neighbors rushed out to watch the scene unfold, just as they had done the day before. The Gabrenas were at their veranda, the Abellanas at their gate, and my friends in the street. It was hard to tell that one day had become the next. Even the dogs lay in the same spots. The only one missing from the picture was Karrto, who had gone fishing in the Cagayan River to feed his children.
“Have you made your decision?” the captain asked. He was holding a manila envelope.
Tatay looked at Gasa in the jeep as she tried to comfort her mother. Andres was climbing in the vehicle to hug his mother. Rogelio knew how to get to Tatay.
“Your strength, my friend, is you
