"That stingy editor is really too much. The money he gave was not even enough for me to last a night here. I can't even get room to stay or even a good meal at least. I think I shouldn't have taken this job. " He was grumpily yelling at nothing. He was trying to vent his anger and disappointments out from his chest.

"Brrr, the wind is getting cold . . . Man, where will I sleep tonight? I think that bench can accommodate me for tonight." He stood up walking unsteadily toward a wooden bench under a small hut while rubbing his arms to warm them.

"Boy, what are doing here? The night is coming, the wind is getting colder nowadays for monsoon is approaching." Grand Daddy approached Ronald after hearing him shouting at the beach, but he did not ask him to his house. The guy was not a local with no money, so he was careful. People going for a vacation should at least had some money to spend for food and lodging, but this guy he heard from his shouts was sent there by an 'editor' for what purpose he did not know with no cash at all. This could be dangerous. He was here to probe this newcomer.

"Oh, hi, Sir. Is it not allowed to stay here? Just for tonight?" asked Ronald.

"Well, no one said it's prohibited but why here? There's a big resort over there. If you want a cheaper room, a lot of houses here can provide for you." Grand Daddy probed more.

"Ah . . . it's just . . . I'm in a difficulty now. Ah . . . ah . . . yes, I lost my wallet and I don't have any cash. How about in your house, Sir? I'll make a call to my Mama tonight so she can send me some money. Ah, I can a.s.sure you I'm not a bad guy. I promise I'll really pay after I get the money."

"Hmm, boy you're really a lousy liar. How about staying in the police station for the night?"

"Sir, Boss, Chief, please, I'm really a good person. Please have mercy to a poor young man with no money and never have had any girlfriend in my life, not even once in my 26 years on this earth. I still want to get marry a good wife and have children. My father and mother are already old. They still need me as they grow older. Who will take care of them if I'll be imprisoned? Please, Chief boss, have mercy. Just let me go, please, please." Ronald helplessly begged while kneeling and kowtowing on the sand a lot of times.

Grand Daddy felt lost with this scene. Simultaneously, Ronald continued as if not going to stop unless the elderly in front of him would leave him be.

"Ahem, get up and tell me who you are and what's your purpose for coming here." Grand Daddy spoke with a strict face. The truth, he was unsure what to do after that kowtowing, so he tried to look angry so that this guy would tell him the truth.

Ronald did not notice any abnormalities on the elder's face but directly said, "I'm Ronald Kidlat, a newspaper writer and I'm here to interview someone." He spoke rigidly for he was frightened to offend the other person more.

"Oh? Then show me your ID if you are telling the truth."

After hearing that, Ronald became wimpy as he spoke, "ID . . . ID, ah, actually I'm still on probation. The editor promised that if I'll get the news now then I can become regular." He was now fidgety, at the same time playing with his fingers. Then suddenly he started to cry.

"Please, (sniff, sniff) Sir, that is really my name, I just want to work honestly as a newspaperman (sniff, sniff) but I couldn't get a good job (sniff, sniff). It was only this newspaper company (sniff, sniff) who was willing to take me but I need to prove myself first (sniff, sniff)."

Grand Daddy scratched his head as he felt lost all the more on what to do in this situation. His probing led to the young man's confession and voicing out his frustrations in life while crying to him.

Suddenly, an idea came to his mind.

"Come, let's sit over there and talk." He brought Ronald to a small store selling daily necessities. "Hey, Tomas, can you give this guy a gla.s.s of water, you know what I mean. Also, send out some 'puso' and barbecue to fill his stomach first. Just put them on my tab." He winked a little to Tomas as he spoke as hinting something to the other man as his partner in crime. Tomas nodded and smiled a cryptic smile.

Tomas gave them Grand Daddy's orders but slyly gave Ronald a gla.s.s of white liquor. Ronald ate right away without even saying his thanks as he saw the food. He ate everything hurriedly and finish the white liquor in one go without knowing what it was.

"Whoa, what the, you gave me wine." An unknown energy was surging inside his chest and he felt bolder deep inside. Slowly his eyes started to get red. He became drunk and no control at all. This guy was clearly had very low tolerance to any alcoholic drinks.

With his newfound boldness, he spattered out almost all the griefs, disappointments and secrets of his life, including the editor's bad intentions for sending him. After sputtering he suddenly b.u.mped his head on the table, sound asleep as a baby.

"Whew, at last, we got what we wanted. Good work, Tomas. Now, help me carry him to that bamboo bed in that hut. "

"How do you know he will get drunk and spit out?" asked Tomas.

"I felt he was quite innocent to the world by the way he talked to me earlier, so I just tried to experiment if my a.s.sumptions were true and it worked." Grand Daddy felt satisfied