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Jun 25, 2016 11:50:44 GMT
Post by jack on Jun 25, 2016 11:50:44 GMT
" Oh," said Nana, pursing her lips together in thought. As if having figured out the solution to a maths question, she then hummed, "Aah, okay." Understanding lit in her eyes, and a smile blossomed on her face. "I am from Kaohsiung, Taiwan!" she said, smiling brightly. Then, as it occurred to her that Benedict might not know where it was, like some of her friends on Base III, Nana decided to continue, "It is small, but people there are very friendly! Have you heard of it?" Speaking about home had sparked something in Nana. She felt happier now, as if the stress from earlier had simply evaporated. RYOU
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Post by RYOU on Jun 27, 2016 0:51:58 GMT
BENEDICT IX “Oh, Taiwan?” I could see the happiness that sparked in Nana’s eyes. I honestly only thought that her smiles had been put up for my sake – to make me smile, to make me forget – but the thought of home brought something wondrous from her. I could almost see the pictures of memories from her face. It made me glad I asked. It lifted the guilt of my weakness for having to make her protect me from my pain and my tears. I shook my head, smiling faintly, eager to learn more. jack |
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Post by jack on Jul 1, 2016 14:43:35 GMT
"Yes, Taiwan!" Nana repeated. She said the name of her country the way an American did - someone had taught her - but her pride in her country was evident. "Some people call it Land of Smiles. Thailand is also Land of Smiles, but we are good too." If not better, she wanted to say, but did not. There was only so much she could say without verging on arrogance. "Taiwan is island, with many cultures. Lots of tourists come in all seasons. We have many foods." Nana paused, frowning. She definitely was not doing her home justice -- she sounded like she was reciting an essay! RYOU
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Post by RYOU on Jul 6, 2016 8:56:12 GMT
BENEDICT X Food. I touched my stomach and felt an ache of hunger. I was feeling lightheaded, weak. Having flown for several hours nonstop, of course I would be hungry. Starving. I did not know how much hunger hurt until now. Every part of my body was ready to give up. I leaned some of my weight on Nana and clutched her by the elbow. “Sorry – Nana, do you think we could get some food?” I looked wistfully at Mcdonalds. Maybe there were some food left there. I wanted hamburger – and water. I didn’t know how thirsty I was until I had pictured myself drinking an entire pitcher. My mouth was as dry as sand. All the simple pleasures I had enjoyed in my cared, ordinary life were suddenly the blessings of heaven, and I couldn’t wait to receive them again. I couldn’t wait to eat, to drink, to sleep, to go back home. I was on abroad for the first time, but I could readily swear right now to never leave the Philippines again. Even for the Land of Smiles - surely a pleasant place - right now, nothing else seemed to be worth leaving for. jack |
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Post by jack on Jul 6, 2016 9:50:42 GMT
McDonald's was nothing more than a happy but vacant smile. Nana too, looked at it as her smile faded. She had been brought back to Kingsport in an instant. The weight of Benedict's words pressed down like the world on her shoulders, and it took Nana effort not to think about home, or anything else. Her leaders had told her to not get sidetracked. She had. And she blamed herself for it -- she shouldn't have forgotten about Benedict's well-being in the name of telling someone about Taiwan. Nana hung her head. She had eaten both the energy bars she had brought along with her. No, I don't have food, but "The Alcove has food," she told Benedict. I'm sorry I didn't keep any for potential survivors. I'm sorry, but "We have to keep going. Oh, wait!" Feeling - or saying that she was - sorry wasn't going to do either of them good. The only thing she had on her besides medicine was water. She steeled herself, and renewed her smile. Helping people made it easy to know what happiness meant to her. "Benedict? I have water." She unhooked her water canister from her waist. Its stainless steel body was dented in a few places from Nana's usual work. She held it out to Benedict. There wasn't much left; it was light. "Finish it; weather is hot." RYOU
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Post by RYOU on Jul 7, 2016 8:40:23 GMT
BENEDICT XI I felt a tinge of embarrassment when I had asked for food and heard that there was – of course – none. I had never been the begging pauper. I was the giver, the spender. For my friends, I provided the house to hang out and have lunch and dinner in, and held grand sleepovers over the spacious gaming room. I showed them the consoles and gadgets that they couldn't buy, the stunning swimming pool that was free for everyone. Had I become conceited? Not until I was stripped of my belongings and left naked out in this merciless world did I realize what kind of person I was. It wasn't humbling. It was humiliating. That I had been so stupid all along, that I had been nothing more than a lucky boy with a false notion of permanent security. I took the canister from Nana and was disappointed by how light it was. I looked over at Mcdonald's, still hoping for an imminent sign that there was a surplus food and water waiting inside. “We should check it out,” I insisted, my heart beating faster for speaking out a hopeful suggestion. I drank the water left inside the canister. Warm. I licked the water over to my dry lips and starved for more. I tilted the canister to get the last drop, but there was none at all left. I grew angry at myself as I felt hotness prick my eyes again. Stop crying! You're not a child! You're not that young and dumb! Crying over water, crying over food. Who ever heard of that? jack |
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Post by jack on Jul 7, 2016 9:40:08 GMT
"We should not check it out," said Nana patiently, as she watched Benedict grip the canister within his small hand. They were not equipped to fight alien stragglers. She did not have knowledge of martial arts or any sort of superhuman ability to fight, and Benedict was a child. All she had were her own two hands, and scavenging gear. They were not items used to pierce the hide of alien creatures. They were items used to save survivors and maintain life on Base III. "It is not sanctioned," she advised, using the words her leaders had taught her. She didn't really know what it meant beyond 'no entry,' but that alone was enough as a warning in these times. Softly, Nana reminded him, "The Alcove. Hummingbird Szeto is waiting for us there." RYOU
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Post by RYOU on Jul 8, 2016 11:45:06 GMT
BENEDICT XII Nana’s words reminded me what was going on: there were threats abound. In my exhaustion and in the peace of the place’s desolation, I had forgotten that there really was an alien invasion going on. Suddenly, I was worried that something might jump onto us at any moment. I can fight back. I can protect us. But being this tired, I wasn’t that sure. I have seen in television what the aliens could do with their technology. What if a swarm of them came and attacked? I would be overpowered. I nodded glumly at Nana. “I’m sorry. Is the alcove still far away?” I was hopeful again. The alcove and its food and water were all that I thought of. Who Hummingbird Szetto was stuck my curiosity but it had been brief. jack |
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Jul 12, 2016 13:55:04 GMT
Post by jack on Jul 12, 2016 13:55:04 GMT
Benedict may have looked glum, but Nana remained upbeat. She could muster enough cheer and optimism for the two of them. Someone always had to say that the glass was half-full instead of half-empty, right? And there was nothing to be sorry about for asking a question anyone else in his situation would have asked. “Usually I walk there, from here, in about ten minutes,” Nana mumbled as she mentally adjusted the time taken to accommodate Benedict’s presence. “Maybe … twenty minutes? If we are fast, fifteen minutes.” Figuring that fifteen minutes may have sounded too daunting a trip to make, Nana decided to elaborate. “Hummingbird Szeto will wait for us at entrance. With food and drink. I think after a rest, we will get transport to Base III. “Base III is big, much bigger than the Alcove. So, let's go?” They probably wouldn’t have to stay too long at the Alcove, thought Nana. Base III was where everyone and everything was gathered, and if they were to make a proper diagnosis of Benedict’s condition, they would have to return there eventually. RYOU
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Jul 14, 2016 10:15:41 GMT
Post by RYOU on Jul 14, 2016 10:15:41 GMT
BENEDICT XIII Fifteen minutes… I’ve survived ten hours in the sky, yet fifteen minutes seemed like another eternity to me. But there would be food. There would be drinks. The thought filled me with determination. I was going to get everything I need when we make it the Alcove. But how was I going to get back home? When? I nodded to Nana and continued on with our march, but not before asking, “What’s Base III? Why are we…going to be sent there?” That was when confusion entered my face. “Who’s sending us there?” Nana’s friends? The ones she was talking to on the radio like, perhaps, Hummingbird Szeto? jack |
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Jul 16, 2016 13:03:42 GMT
Post by jack on Jul 16, 2016 13:03:42 GMT
“Base III …” Nana’s voice trailed off as she thought about Base III’s facilities and its inhabitants. It was very different from the Alcove. The Alcove was always intended to be a pit stop. Base III, however, was a basis of operations, and the third of its kind. Base I had been destroyed a few days ago. Only Base II and Base III remained standing, and only the latter had advanced medical equipment and experts in medicine. “It is two times, no, three times the size of the Alcove.” Why was this important information? Nana wasn’t sure. It felt like an appropriate thing to elaborate on. “It has more things. Things that can help Benedict feel better.” She didn’t understand his diagnosis. Someone at Base III surely would. They were now steadily on their way towards the Alcove, past McDonalds and its recognizable golden arches. “Hummingbird Szeto take us there, maybe.” RYOU
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