Still getting used to the UK colloquialisms.

Well this first girl was really a nice kid, I say kid because she was young, not too young, but basically a province girl with little education. Dinner time conversations were sparsely sprinkled with conversation, no… there was no conversation. She was bright, and like many local folks could express herself very poetically in the written word. But I felt more like a tutor than a suitor.

The family lived right behind us in a one room plywood hut. Dad worked as a driver for the property owner from whom I rented and was provided the house. Mom did not work, and stayed home with the two remaining children. They were actually good people, I bear them no malice, but they were so poor, having a “rich” foreigner living with their daughter was a dream come true. They actually asked for nothing from me at first. I sometimes shared food with them, taught the younger brother how to use the computer, he was 6. A delightful lad I was happy to help out.

But them I noticed mom was always at the back door, then, I would come home from and errand and the family was watching tv at our house. Now they had a Tele at their place, but the sala was nicer at our house.

Then Cathy reluctantly asked on behalf of mom if I would “lend” them money to bring Lolo home from Manila where he was staying with other relatives. I agreed, even suspecting I would not see money returned. It was a small thing. I was new to the Philippines but was getting an education.

Cathy was not a balanced girl, and as time passed I realized mom was the force behind the relationship. She was uncomfortable with her mom’s requests to ask me for things. Again there was no evil here, but I soon realized what an effect I had on their lives as a potential benefactor. At times Cathy would have fits of depression, become withdrawn and not speak for days; I was worried, for her, but more worried about me, especially when she locked herself in the CR with a kitchen knife one night. If anything would happen to her, I would be held responsible.

After a month, I tried to get her to go to counseling, or talk to another adult besides her mom, to no avail. I had better luck talking to her sister. The sister actually supported my concerns. Eventually I knew I had to extricate myself from this situation. But how was I to do this? I would have to be clever, and careful. After all I lived next door, I could not just leave, I had a lease to terminate, and I knew quite well danger was associated with any attempt to terminate this situation. Papa had a bolo.