'Too bad. I'm going to pay for it. If you want to waste the money, then that is up to you.' I told her.
She started to get indignant until Kelly took her hand and said 'Marlyn, I promise you – Dan will do exactly what he just said. Dan and I have been together for over six years, and when he gets like this no one can argue with him – not even me. So accept the gift he is offering, and enjoy your time with Marilyn.'
The fire in her eyes told me that Marlyn didn't think the matter was closed – but*I* knew it was. And when Kelly looked at me again, she knew it, too.
Part Two
The next morning, while we were having breakfast, I asked Kelly to keep Marlyn distracted for a couple of minutes after Bhoy showed up. She asked why, and I told her that there was just something I wanted to talk to him about. She knew I was up to something, but didn't bother trying to find out what it was.
All of us were ready and waiting in the lobby of the hotel shortly after 9:30; little before ten o'clock, Bhoy pulled up in front of the hotel.
We quickly had the luggage loaded, and Kelly and Marlyn took their traditional seats in the van. I stayed back with Bhoy, and when he closed the tailgate to the van, told him 'There's something I'd like your help with, if you would.'
He looked at me blankly, and I said 'Bhoy, I know your English is better than you pretend. When we left Manila, you laughed at my joke, without Marlyn having to translate it for you. Since then, whenever I've asked Marlyn to have you take us someplace, I've seen that you were already starting to do it before she started telling you. If you want to pretend not to understand or speak English, that's fine with me – that's your choice. All I'm asking you for is a little help when we get to the hotel in San Fernando.'
He didn't say anything, but didn't move away, either, so I went on to tell him 'We're going there so Marlyn can have some time – a few days – with her niece, Marilyn. I'd like the two of them to have as much time together as possible, so I want to pay for her niece to stay with her in the hotel; but I think she's going to try to stop me. The help I would like from you is just for you to listen while she gets our rooms, and if she doesn't include her niece, to let me know – I'll do the arguing with her.'
He grinned at that, but didn't say anything as he turned to head for the driver's seat. I went around the other direction, and took my seat next to Kelly. Marlyn didn't seem to notice that I'd been anywhere*near*
Bhoy, since the two of them were engrossed in conversation when I got in and closed the van door behind me.
An hour and a half later, we were pulling up in front of a smallish hotel in the suburbs of San Fernando. All of us got out and went into the lobby – Kelly and I stayed a little distance off while Bhoy positioned himself a few feet from her. I discretely watched Bhoy, and saw him use a Filipino gesture to indicate that there was something needing my attention at the desk. I made my way over to where Marlyn was and asked 'So what is the damage?', inquiring about the rates.
She told me what it would cost for us to stay there for the 3 days we'd agreed on during the trip, and I pulled out my wallet. As I was counting out the money, I asked her 'Is that including your niece?'
She immediately got the fire in her eyes I'd seen the night before, and told me 'No! It is too expensive.'
I counted out an additional 30 percent, and handed it to the manager.
When he picked it up, I told him 'There will be another person. Miss Ramos' niece will be staying with her, too.'
Marlyn tried to protest, but I just stood there and looked at her until she finally ran out of steam. Next she tried to argue with the manager; he just looked at her as though she'd suddenly sprouted antlers. She was still aggravated with me, but had settled down when I told her 'I've given him the money. The rooms are paid for. Now, let's unload our bags so we can go get your niece.'
She tried to stomp off, but there simply wasn't enough of her for her to really pull it off – though it was still fun to watch. I moved to follow her, and as I passed Bhoy, I told him 'salamat po!' – getting a grin and nod in return.
Half an hour later, we found ourselves in front of the orphanage. Bhoy, Kelly, and I all stayed in the van so that Marlyn could have some private time with Marilyn. We'd been waiting – patiently – for about an hour when we saw Marlyn coming toward us, her niece at her side. As it turned out, they weren't quite ready for lunch yet; rather, they wanted to show us around the orphanage. Kelly and I quickly accepted, while Bhoy passed in favor of a nap in the van.
I didn't know what to expect, but had a fair suspicion of what we'd find. Kelly kept her composure, though I could see how much it hurt her to see the conditions the kids were living in: crowded, barely adequate food, many of the younger ones dressed in third-or fourth-generation hand-me-downs. Even the clothing worn by the older kids was obviously worn.
Kelly and I both had plenty of time to take a closer look at Marilyn.
She was clearly intelligent and fun-loving, even if she obviously didn't get much chance to enjoy herself. Roughly four feet tall and slender, she bore a clear resemblance to Marlyn. Though her dress was slightly too large for her, I thought I could see the first faint swellings on her chest and the slight narrowing of her waist that would soon define her figure. She was shy with both of us, me more than Kelly.
After we'd had our informal tour of the place, the staff readily agreed to let Marilyn stay with Marlyn – I suspected that they were just as happy to not have to stretch their meager food supply to include another mouth. The two of them had a brief conversation in Tagalog, and when it was over, Marilyn was clearly delighted to be able to stay with her aunt for a few days. As we made our way back to the van, I saw that Marlyn had decided to forgive me when she gave me a look of gratitude.
Bhoy was waiting for us, and greeted Marilyn as she got into the van – sitting on the other side of Kelly, away from me. She responded in kind, if a bit shyly. Apparently, the idea of two Americans in her life was somewhat overwhelming for her.
After leaving the orphanage, we quickly decided that some lunch was called for. Opinions were solicited, and we decided to go with Marilyn's tentative suggestion: a Filipino fast-food place with the improbable name of Jollibee's. Kelly and I were both pleasantly surprised to find the food rather good. While Kelly and I quietly talked, Marlyn and Bhoy were discussing something else. Marilyn was too busy wrapping herself around some spaghetti (Kelly and I were both amazed at how popular it was in the Philippines) to say anything.
When all of us were relatively full, I mentioned that I'd like to spend the next day at the beach. Kelly seconded the idea, and went on to say that Marlyn and Marilyn were both welcome to join us. Marlyn looked a bit hesitant, but Kelly quickly assured her that we wanted to get to know Marilyn, too. She thought it over a bit – getting some whispered input from Marilyn – and eventually agreed.
Kelly's next suggested that the three of them go shopping. Marlyn readily accepted that idea, though Marilyn looked a bit reluctant.
Kelly seemed to know what the problem was, and asked Marlyn 'Does the orphanage accept donations?'
'Oh, yes!' was the answer, 'That is often the only way they can get the things they need.'
'Then I'd like to get some clothing for the children there – all of them.'
Marlyn easily understood what Kelly was getting at, and told her 'I think that would be fine. I know that they would appreciate it very much.'
That settled, I tossed in my own thoughts: 'I do not want to go shopping with you three – I know who'd wind up carrying all the packages. How about if we find someplace where I can sit outside and drink beer, but is close to some stores? That way, when your arms get full, you can just put the stuff in the van, and go back at it while you leave me in peace?'
Kelly laughed, as did Marlyn, and both of them cheerfully agreed. I went on to say 'Marlyn, if Bhoy wants, he's welcome to join me. I trust him not to drink too much, and I'm not looking for someone to talk to – just drink beer with.'
Marlyn had a quick conversation with Bhoy, then told me 'He says that sounds like a good idea to him, too – he doesn't want to carry packages, either!' with a laugh.
With our plans for the afternoon settled, we all decided that some ice cream was called for – Marilyn being the
