FLORENCE JOHNSON

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Ring.Ring.Ring.

"Hello? Mom? Why'd you call?"

"Listen. Florence, honey.... I'm not going to be home for awhile."

"Why? My birthday's coming up. I thought you will take a day off from work? Mom, what's going on?"

"I... I can't leave. I'm going to be sent to Afghanistan together with other military soldiers. Remember honey, I love you so much. I'm always there by your side even if I'm in a far away land. Okay? I love you honey. Always be a good boy. Take care of Sophia."

"Mom? What's wrong? Don't say stuff like you're not coming back! Mom!!"

-- beep—beep—beep—

"Hello? This is the Army Phone line. How may I help you?"

"Can I speak to Mrs. Flora Johnson?"

"You mean Srgt. Johnson? She's already dead. It's been two weeks already son. Didn't you know about it? She was killed in Afghanistan during the war there. Hello? Are you still there?"

--beep—beep—beep—

Why? Why hasn't she told me anything? Dammit! I couldn't control myself anymore. Then who was it that called? I know that it was mom but I thought she's dead?! I bet she came here to visit before head off. I can't believe it. Mom... Don't leave me alone like this! Tears started to fall from my eyes. I can't stand it anymore. I threw every single thing I see inside this house. The living room was a mess. I remember when mom used to scold me from making the living room so dirty since this was her favorite part of the house. Then when I look at the kitchen, I remember during thanksgiving. She would always invite Sophia and Mrs. Wright over for dinner. I could picture all of us all laughing together in the table. With the big turkey and all the other food served. I remember when she gave me baths when I was little, she would always scrub my back with a stone. She said it was good and I never knew why. All this reminiscing is just making more emotional. There I was. Just crying there like a baby. I need someone right now. The doorbell rang and the door opened. I didn't even care to answer since I wasn't in the mood.

"Florence? What on frankenstein's shit happened here?! Wait, Florence?! What happened to you?" Just the person I needed. Sophia, my best friend. I needed her so bad. She approached me and hugged me.

"There. There." She shushed me and patted my head.

"She's gone Sophia." I cried even harder. I wasn't ashamed to cry in front of Sophia. I knew it was okay to cry in front of her so I cried my heart out.

"Come on. Let it all out." She hugged me tighter and I just... continued to cry. I screamed so loud. Mom... I love you. I hope your happy there. Stay safe always. I promise I'll be a good boy always and I'll take care of Sophia. Hours of crying made my eyes swell. I sat on the couch while Sophia was making porridge. After cooking, she sat beside me and placed the porridge on the table. She scooped a little porridge and blew on it to make it warm.

"Here." I didn't budge. Sorry Sophia. But it's really hard for me right now.

"Look. I'm sorry. I know it's really hard for you now. But please, eat. I don't want you to starve." She looked at me really worried. I'm really sorry. I know you're trying your best to comfort me and I appreciate that Sophia. But I'm not really in a good mood right now. She placed the spoon back in the bowl.

"I'll go home now if you won't eat mister!" She blurted out. Of course I didn't want her to leave. I looked at her. She smiled at me and said,

"You're so cute. I know you don't want me to leave. Of course I'm not leaving you alone like this. I can't just leave you here when you've been there for me too when I was a mess. Now here, eat up." She fed me until the bowl was finally empty. She stood up and went to the kitchen. I turned on the TV and tuned to Disney channel. It was Phineas and Ferb. I love this show. I even have a DVD collection of their shows and movies. I have stuff toys of all the characters including Mr. & Mrs. Flinn and Vanessa. Yeah I'm a Phineas and Ferb addict.

"Your favorite show is on addict." She teased me. I kind of smiled there and I bet she saw it.

"I'm glad I made you smile. I don't want to see you totally broken. You need to move on. Like what I did. Sometimes, I wish my dad just left with another woman rather than have died. At least I could see him once in awhile. But I knew that he'd be happier up there. So I gathered myself together and moved on. I still think of him sometimes but now that I've moved on, I wouldn't cry anymore. I bet your mom is sad to see you so messed up like this. I know she's happier up there Florence. She's with my dad now. So she'll be alright. Someone will take care of her there. No need to worry!" She really tried her best to cheer me up. I was a little bit okay now. Suddenly, Sophia's phone rang.

"Hello? Oh, hi mom. What's up?" 

"Honey, pack up your things. We'll go somewhere. Bring Florence with you. We'll meet at the airport in two hours."

--beep—beep—beep—

"Who was that" I asked her.

"It was my mom. Let's pack up. We'll be heading somewhere."

"Where?"

"I don't really know. She didn't say anything. Let's go." So Sophia went to her house to pack. I went to my room to pack too. An hour later, we met outside her house and called a taxi. We arrived at the airport around thirty minutes later. Thank goodness it was a Saturday. I didn't want to skip class if today were a class day. We found Sophia's mom.

"There you are."

"Where are we going Mrs. Wright?" I asked. She looked at me with sad eyes. But she smiled again.

"We're going to the Philippines." I know what that meant. We're going to my mom's home. I think we're going to visit her grave. I wasn't ready for that. I know they knew it but really, I'm ready to face it. I just knew about it today and I'm going there right away? Are they joking or making fun of me? But I think Sophia thinks this is the best way to move on and accept that it already happened.

"I tried to find time off from work. I even have a business meeting for three days but I needed to move it. Florence, I know it's hard on you but I want you to accept what already happened." Mrs. Wright consoled me. I nodded.

"Flight 1568 for Philippines, is ready for boarding."

"Let's go." Mrs. Wright went and we followed. Sophia held my hand and she gave me an it's-going-to-be-alright smile. I smiled back at her and kissed her forehead.

"I'm alright and I hope I can face her with a smile on my face. I can't punch me."

"How stupid can you get?" She teased me. We laughed there. It felt good to laugh after all the crying I did. We were already on the plane and it took off. It was a 12-hour flight from Miami to the Philippines I think. I'm not sure how many hours was it but we arrived in the Philippines at seven o'clock, Philippine time. We took another flight to Cebu. It was a forty-five minute flight from Manila to Cebu. Who knew Cebu was this nice? After arriving, we took a taxi and went to Crown Regency Hotel. It was a nice hotel with a huge pool and stuff. We booked a huge room I think it was good for five people. It was really huge and classy.

"Take a bath and we'll leave around nine am tomorrow guys." Mrs. Wright ordered us. Sophia took a bath first since she really wanted to be the first one to use the bathroom. After I was done with the shower, Mrs. Wright followed. Sophia was done changing into a short jeans short and a black sleeveless shirt and she tied her hair in a bun. She squatted on her bed and took her iPad. You guessed it right, Sophia's a rich girl while me? I'm just a pauper. Well not really a pauper. Just someone who could afford. Ever since my dad died, me and my mom saved money for my college education. I took night shifts at fast food restaurants and the money I earned I gave it to my mom. Thanks to our hard work, I can go to college. Later, we went to bed. Mrs. Wright was snoring like crazy. It was funny actually. She was a really pretty woman and snoring loudly like that makes her funny. Imagine Victoria Justice who snores louder than a pig when sleeping. Funny right? I sat up and looked at the time. It was four in the morning and I didn't get any sleep. I stood up and faced the window.

"Couldn't sleep?" I heard Mrs. Wright's voice. No wonder the snoring was gone. She was already awake.

"Yeah." It was all I could say.

"I understand." She placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Remember Florence, Life is like a flower. It's beautiful but it will eventually die." I looked at her in confusion.

"But also remember this, Love is like a rock. It's strong and it will never break no matter how hard it's been thrown. It'll always be there wherever you go. That's what I believe." She smiled at me and went out of the room. I guess she was going to get coffee. But about what she said, I've finally come to understand it. Everyone cannot live forever. I think that's what she meant. And also, I think she just told me that my mom's love for me will never fade away even though she's not physically here anymore. I wish I could move on fast. Mom wouldn't want to see me like this, just like  what  Sophia said.

"Hey." Sophia was already awake.

"Good Morning." I smiled at her and she smiled back.

"What's up?" She asked.

"Nothing. Just looking outside. Even though it's still four in the morning, everyone's already busy." I told her. She looked out the window.

"Oh yeah. I heard Filipinos are hard workers."

"Seems like it."

"Oh. So both of you are finally awake."Mrs. Wright came in bringing a mug. She was getting coffee alright. We just smiled and then I went back to sleep. Hours later, all of us were already finished with everything.

"Ready to go?" Mrs. Wright announced.

"Yeah. How about you Florence?" Sophia asked. I took a glimpse of my mom's picture in my wallet. I closed my wallet and looked at them.

"I'm ready." Both of them smiled at me and then we went out of the hotel. Mrs. Wright called a taxi and we arrived at the cemetery in just ten minutes. But hey, who's counting? We went to my mom's grave. We a little boy holding a flower. He placed it on my mom's grave.

"I'll miss you mommy." Wait, mommy? Oh yeah, my mom said I had a little brother. Around five years of age. I bet he's the one. We approached them and they looked at us like they just saw monsters.

"Maayong Hapon kaninyong duha." I greeted them. Mrs. Wright and Sophia stared at me.

"What? I know how to speak cebuano okay? Mom taught me." Sophia just smiled at me.

"Ikaw si Forence Johnson? Anak ni Flora?" The old man asked me if I was the son of Flora, my mom.

"Oo. Ako ang anak ni Flora." I told him that I was indeed the son of Flora. He smiled at me and placed the little boy in front of him.

"Michael, meet your kuya, Florence." Kuya means Elder brother in cebuano. Wait, my grandpa knows English? Then he should've talked to me in English! Honestly, I had a hard time saying the correct accent in cebuano.

"Hello. I'm Michael." He raised his hand to shake mine. Wow, this kid is a gentleman. By the way, my mom said that this old man, which I call grandpa isn't my grandpa by blood. He's my mom's neighbor who was taking care of my brother in my mom's position. I just call him grandpa to give respect.

"This is Sophia Wright my best friend and Mrs. Wright, Sophia's mother." I introduced them to grandpa and Michael.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Sophia." She smiled at them and my grandpa smiled back. Michael went to me and hid behind me. He's so cute. He looks just like my dad. He got his eyes from mom. I resembled my mom while he resembled my dad. Wow, makes sense since we're their children. Duh.

"Florence." Sophia called me. She pointed at my mom's grave. I approached it and I started to cry. Everyone was behind me. I knelt down and placed the bouquet. Still, I can't believe mom died. But, I have to accept what already happened. I can't bring back the past and neither can I change the past. My little brother stood beside me.

"Why are you crying? Mommy said to me that boys don't cry." He told me. When he told me what my mom has told him, it made me stop crying. I hugged my brother.

"You're hugging me tight. I can't breathe." He exclaimed. I looked at him and kissed his forehead.

"Eew! Boys don't kiss each other." He yelled.

"But brothers do." I smiled at him and they laughed.

"It's good to see you two getting along well." My grandpa told us.

"Yeah Florence. I think you should hang out with your brother while we're here in the Philippines. We're leaving the day after tomorrow. So make the most of it." Mrs. Wright said.

"Grandpa! Can I go with my brother when they leave?" Michael asked. My grandpa looked shocked there. Even Sophia and Mrs. Wright were shocked. I faced Michael and said,

"Look Michael, you're better here with grandpa. I can't support you yet. Besides, you're going to school already, right?" I asked him. He shook his head. What? He isn't going to school yet? Why?

"We don't have enough finance to support him Florence. I'm only a fisherman. I can only support his daily needs but not his education. I'm sorry about that." My grandpa frowned and so did Michael.

"I guess we can't do anything about it. Don't worry, if I finish my college, I'' definitely come and get you Michael. It's a promise." I smiled at him.

"Wait." Mrs. Wright interrupted, "I'll take care of it." All of us looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?" My grandpa asked.

"I'll take care of Michael's education and daily needs." I saw Sophia smile at me.

"Really?" I asked. Mrs. Wright nodded. This made me and grandpa smile.

"You heard that Michael? You're coming with me to Miami. Isn't that great?" I said to him. He smiled at me and hugged me.

"It's good that Michael will be with his brother. He needs you Florence. Please take care of him." My grandpa told me.

"What about you?" I asked. He simply smiled at me.

"I'll be alright. Besides, I have a grandchild coming." He smiled.

"That's good to hear." I congratulated him. I'm so happy right now. I got to see my brother for the first time and he's going to live with me thanks to Sophia's mom.

Dear mom. Thanks for everything. Thanks for the good and bad memories. I will treasure everything that we've shared.  Thanks for bringing me here. Thanks for letting me meet my little brother. Now I know that I'm not alone. I still have Michael. I promise to take care of Michael. I'll do everything for him. I'll protect him and keep him safe and sound. I love you so much mom. I'll really miss you.Love, Florence.

I wrote this letter so that I could burn it tomorrow morning. It's already eleven  in the evening. Everyone was already sleeping soundly. We're going swimming tomorrow at Imperial Palace with Michael and grandpa. Well, time for me to get some sleep too. I better gather energy for tomorrow's trip. I woke up at five twenty in the morning. I turned to face the window and I saw a paper on the floor. I got out of bed and got the paper. It was my letter. How did it fall? There isn't any strand of wind inside the room. I noticed some scribbles at the back of the paper. When I turned it around, I can't believe my eyes! It was my mom's handwriting. My eyes got teary and I read it.

Dear Florence. Thank you for everything too. Always know that I love you and Michael so much. I'm really happy right now. Too see my two little angels together, it makes me cry. Keep yourselves safe always. Remember what I have told you, be a good boy always and take care of Sophia. Enjoy your trip tomorrow. I'm sorry I haven't told you about it. I didn't want you to worry. I also didn't have the courage to tell you. I love you honey. I'm going somewhere now. Some place called heaven. I hope your dream wasn't in a bad light because of what happened to me. Being a soldier is good and you die with honor honey. I wish you'll still pursue your dream to become a soldier.Remember, life is a battlefield. Goodbye honey. Love, mom.

After reading this, I cried. Sophia woke up and sat beside me on my bed. I showed her the letter and it really shocked her.

"I won't read it. It's for you and Michael only." She smiled at me. I hugged her and he comforted me. I became so emotional and my pains are starting to fade away thanks to these people. Especially my best friend, Sophia Wright.

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Oh my gosh... My eyes were teary while writing this chapter.  It's really sad. This chapter is dedicated to those people whose family member is a soldier and died with honor. I salute you all !

So I hope you like this chappie! It's really long. My hands are super aching while typing this chappie. But if it's for all of you, I'll continue typing. Read on! There's still more to come. I'm plannig on something good :D So if you liked my story, please VOTE and comment. I'll post picture of the characters soon. So please read on and stay updated! Love you all.

 Here's a Picture of MICHAEL JOHNSON on the side :)

~~mitsuki09