BENCH-IIE Serial Reading
Chapter 7
Miracles in My Life
LAST Tuesday: The day of the prom finally arrived and Ramon’s prayers were answered. He found his sketchbook. Evan attended the prom. And, best of all, so did Tess.
1. Evan showed up at the prom. 2. The prom was a success. 3. Only one balloon popped. 4. I have my sketchbook back. 5. I got Gemma to dance. 6. Even I danced. 7. Tess is well. 8. VJ knows my name. 9. Ate Po has feelings. 10. I’m going to be a regular volunteer for the Kapwa Club.
He couldn’t spend the rest of the night hiding at the taho stall. Teacher Grace had given up hanging onto his arm, and had gone back to her seat. Ramon decided to follow her there.
“Teacher Grace, may I have this dance?”
Teacher Grace said, “I think you should try Gemma again.”
Gemma sat still smiling shyly up at him.
“Would you like to dance, Gemma?”
She nodded. Ramon held Gemma’s hand and led her to the dance floor, but not too near the others. Then he didn’t know what to do. He just knew he had to keep busy and not look behind him.
“So how do we dance, Gemma?” he asked, out of desperation.
She was a bit taller than him so he had to look up.
“Like this,” she replied, and moved her hands around in circles.
So Ramon followed her. This made her smile some more. When she bent her knees, he did the same.
“You are copying me,” Gemma said, even though she was looking past him between his ear and shoulder.
“Because I do not know how,” he said. “You are doing okay.” “Thank you.” Ramon realized he meant it and was glad Gemma was his partner. They were okay. Then VJ tapped him on the shoulder. Gemma said, “I will go back to my seat now,” and then ran to Teacher Grace without waiting for Ramon to escort her back.
“Teacher Grace mandated that I give you your sketchbook back,” VJ said, holding out the sketchbook.
“Why did you take my sketchbook?!”
“You said you would give anything to see her again, so I asked Teacher Grace to take it to Miss Spectacles at the hospital.”
“I’m glad he did,” Tess said behind him. “I’m sorry I read your lists, but they kept me company, and I’m keeping the page with my portrait on it, by the way.”
Ramon turned around and was shocked to see Tess had become extra short. Then he realized she was sitting in a wheelchair, with Evan pushing at the back. “What happened?” Tess stuck out a leg in a cast. “I got into an accident. I wanted to tell you, and I suppose I could have tried Po’s phone, but … I wasn’t sure.”
“Now Evan’s your date,” he couldn’t hide the resentful tone in his voice.
Evan grinned. “Sorry, Ramon, but she asked me.”
“I didn’t ask,” Tess said, digging her elbow into Evan’s side. “I bullied him into going.”
“Stop thinking about your own discomfort. Just go and enjoy yourself,” Evan mimicked. “Take me to Ramon, or else!” “I didn’t say that,” Tess cried. “Yes, you did, and dared me to face my
fears. So now I have to face my fear of dancing,” Evan joked.
Ramon said, “It’s not so hard. Gemma can show you how.”
Gemma hopped to her feet. Evan looked at Gemma and hesitated. Tess pushed Evan toward Gemma. They watched as Evan followed Gemma to the dance floor.
Evan stopped, tugging at the collar of his barong Tagalog, and shook his head. Gemma said, “Like this. It’s okay.” She waved her arms in circles and Evan followed her movements. Evan shook his head again. But his grin was back.
“What are you all waiting for?” he called. “Let’s dance! This is fun!”
VJ grabbed Teacher Grace and joined in. Anna stood and danced by the wall, waving her handkerchief. Tess said, “Let’s dance!” “Okay,” Ramon said, even if he felt more like levitating.
He wheeled her chair next to Ate Paula and the leaping Lon.
Ate Paula said, “The prom’s a success, congratulations!”
Then she kissed Tess, and then Ramon, before bursting into tears. “Ewww!” Ramon cried. “Sorry,” Ate Paula whispered. “I’m all nervous energy.” “I thought you’d never admit it.” “Haha.” Lon lunged towards Ramon and said, “Friend? Dance?” He took Ramon’s hand and then took Ate Paula’s. On Ramon’s other side, Tess held his hand too. Before anyone knew it, a lot of them had held hands and formed a circle, jumping and dancing from side to side.
Tess laughed in her wheelchair, her glasses gleaming. Ramon looked at each face smiling back at him. Even Anna, who hadn’t joined them, was smiling to herself by the wall.
We’re all connected, he thought, we’re all in this cosmos in a fiesta together.
A balloon popped and a lot of students, from both Cortona and Margaret, screamed in surprise.
Ramon looked at VJ, and VJ looked at Ramon. He had raised his hands to his ears, but now he wiggled his hands over his ears and stuck his tongue out. “Funny?” Lon said. “Is that funny?” “It’s hilarious.” And Ramon laughed. The Cosmic Fiesta was beyond all he had hoped and prayed for.
The End