Black Clouds in Manila: Fight or Flight by Tessie Jayme

Author:Tessie Jayme [Jayme, Tessie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781483525754
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

THE OCCUPATION OF MANILA

Manila and Banga, Philippines, 1942

After Lucing left for her errand, Inez decided to move all of Lucing’s books into her bedroom. Her sister wasn’t the neatest person in the world, as evidenced by clothes hanging over chairs and thrown over the top of the closet door. But the wall underneath the bedroom windows was clear, so she and the children moved the books from the den and created neat piles all along the empty wall.

When Perry arrived later in the afternoon, suitcase in hand and his photographic equipment piled in several boxes, Lucing still hadn’t returned from her errands.

Inez helped Perry settle into the den, made fried chicken for dinner, and waited for Lucing to return. Perry wanted to know if there was a basement in the house, and Inez took him down the stairs leading from the kitchen and showed him the small space underneath the house. It was packed with boxes filled with books and broken furniture.

“You think your sister would mind if I cleaned up this space? I need a darkroom.”

Inez shrugged. “She’ll tell you herself when she comes back.”

Except Lucing didn’t come back that night. Nor the next night. Inez tried to hide her anxiety from Julio and Cencia, but a few times they walked into the bedroom and saw her before she could wipe away her tears.

“Is Tia Lucing okay, Ma?” Julio’s thin face was drawn. She knew he was anxious when she was anxious, so the trick was not to show him her anxiety.

Inez managed a trembling smile, “Yes, she’s working now, but she’ll be home when she can.”

On the third day after Lucing’s disappearance, Perry gave her a note.

“January 6, 1942

“Dear Inez:

“I am fine, and I am safe. Please don’t worry about me. I’m working for the Commandant at Santo Tomas, helping him organize the campus to make room for all the people they’re bringing here.

“I’ve been provided a room next to his, and unfortunately, I have to make myself available whenever he calls for me, so I need to remain on campus.

“If you have a message for me, give it to Perry and he’ll see that I get it.

“Perry has promised to take care of you and the children. Give him five pesos a week for groceries and two to keep for himself.

“Be careful. Speak Tagalog at all times. Stay inside. Do what Perry says.

“Love, Lucing”

She thanked Perry, clutched the note to her chest, closed the bedroom door behind her, and tried to silence the panic beating in her heart like a trapped bird. How could Lucing do this to her? Lucing was the one who had encouraged her to stay in Manila. And now she wasn’t even here to help her with the children?

And Perry?

She hardly knew the man. What if she gave him grocery money and he disappeared? She knew the story of how Freddie had first met him... how Perry had stolen his wallet, only to return it because he wanted a job as Freddie’s photographer.

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