from school, since she finished her classes a full hour before they got out. That way, Kelly and I wouldn't have to interrupt whatever we were doing, and could still be certain that Daniel and Janet were being taken care of properly. Marilyn assured us that the kids weren't any problem, and that she could study for her classes while the kids were home for those couple of hours until Kelly and I arrived.
It sounded like a reasonable thing to do, but Kelly and I were still a bit unsure. Not because we didn't trust Marilyn; far from it. Rather, we wanted to be sure that the kids wouldn't disturb her, and make it harder for her to study. Still, it did seem like a good idea, and we finally agreed to try it.
The kids, of course, thought it was a great idea: they got home sooner, and had Marilyn (who they adored) for company. Marilyn had gotten into the habit of showing us her homework and different quizzes after they'd been graded; after she started picking the kids up from school, we could see from the grades she was getting that she wasn't having any trouble keeping up with her schoolwork. Reassured that Marilyn's education wasn't suffering because of her willingness to try and help us, we decided that it would be appropriate to pay her for what she was doing.
That was the time we had our one and only 'argument' with her.
When we first brought up the idea, Marilyn was horrified, then adamant. We continued to try and reason with her, using every argument we could come up with, and finally got her to concede that watching out for the kids that way was something 'extra'. Then we had the problem of trying to negotiate payment with her – with a twist. Rather than us trying to get the price down, we were trying to convince her to accept more money. It was through a combination of cajolery, threats (to start picking the kids up ourselves, telling her that if she wouldn't accept payment then we weren't going to let her do it, among similar comments), and pure stubbornness that we finally got her to accept the princely sum of $75 a week – and even then, it took a lot of talking to convince her that it wasn't 'too much'. One of the things that motivated us was the fact that when she'd gone shopping, she'd bought the least expensive things she could, according to Kelly; we were sure that she was already on a tight budget, and wanted to do what we could to help.
The next few months went by quickly. Marilyn was delighted to help us plan a small party for the kids for Halloween, and was honored when she was included in the invitation to spend Thanksgiving at Paul's house.
She couldn't help but notice that Jan or one of the others would sometimes come by for a visit and spend the night with Kelly and me – but she never said word about it.
Marilyn's birthday was December 8th, and Kelly and I and the kids all took her out to eat by way of celebration – and to get her out of the house so Jan and the others could prepare the surprise party we'd planned.
And it was a surprise.
When we got home, Marilyn started to help get the kids out of the car, and Kelly told her to go on in – that she and I would take care of it, it being 'her' night. She smiled at us, and did as we said; we could hear her shriek of surprise when she saw everyone inside, and the birthday cake and trimmings.
The kids, Kelly, and I came into the house behind her, listening to all the laughter at the expression on Marilyn's face when she realized that all of the fuss was for HER. She turned and looked at us, and simply said 'Oh, you!' – provoking another round of laughter.
She was guided to a seat on the couch, where Daniel and Janet eagerly joined her; happy as could be that their Tita Marilyn (she'd been teaching them Tagalog) was having a birthday party.
Over the next several minutes everyone took turns giving her the gift they'd gotten her. Robyn and the others had each gotten her some nice clothing. Paul gave her a solid gold crucifix with a diamond in the center and a gold chain so she could wear it around her neck. Bill's gift was a fancy graphing calculator that we'd seen her drooling over. Daniel and Janet had teamed up to get her a collection of Tom and Jerry cartoons (her favorites). Sarah and her husband had given her a very nice pen and pencil set. Finally, it was my and Kelly's turn – and she was in awe of the nice briefcase we'd gotten her; inside, she discovered that we'd included a high-end laptop, too. Crying, she tried to protest that it was too much, and it was Kelly that told her 'Marilyn, if you're going to be an economist, you have to have the right tools. I'm sure that all of us know you will make us proud; but now you can do it without having to work so hard. Happy birthday!'
Marilyn started crying in happiness then, of course. I saw a brief wistfulness cross her face, and knew that what she really missed was having Marlyn and Ted there with us. As though on cue, the phone rang then – and when Kelly answered it, she got a mischievous smile on her face and held it out to Marilyn, telling her 'It's for you.'
It was a very perplexed Marilyn that stood up and went to the phone, wondering who could possibly be calling her at our place – then finding out: it was Marlyn and Ted, calling to wish her a happy birthday. The joy on her face was something to see; I think all of us had to blink back a tear at seeing how happy she was to hear from the only mother she'd ever known, and the only man she'd ever been able to call 'Papa'. Kelly and I knew that she'd been writing letters home, of course, and gotten replies; but we also knew that a letter was a poor substitute for actually talking to someone.
The rest of us kept ourselves amused – and out of earshot – as Marilyn spent nearly an hour talking with her family back in the Philippines. When she was done, she hung up the phone and came over to give me a big hug, saying 'Thank you, Tito Dan. Momma told me that it was you that said they should call tonight.'
I hugged her back, and then brushed a couple of tears from her eyes before answering 'Happy birthday, Marilyn.'
She gave me a happy smile, and went in to join everyone as the cake and ice cream were dished out – after she'd blown out all 18 candles, of course.
A few hours later, everyone had gone home, we'd put the kids to bed, and Marilyn was sitting in the den with us.
I saw her start to say something, hesitate, start again, stop again, and finally ask me 'Tito Dan – Kelly – may I ask you something?'
Curious to know why she'd think she'd even have to ask such a question, I hastened to assure her that she could.
Another hesitation, and I listened as she told me 'Tito Dan, Tita Kelly, when I was here before, with my Momma Marlyn, I know how happy and safe I felt here. And I know how kind you and all of your friends were to me and my Momma.'
I nodded, and she went on 'I also know that you made my Momma very happy when you made love with her – both of you. And I remember how afraid I was, that night, when I sat here on this couch and asked you, Tito Dan, to make love with me – and how much it hurt me when you told me 'no'. But I also remembered the reasons you gave me then; and it was a long time before I really understood them, even though I understood, a little bit, what you were saying even then.'
I thought I knew where she was going with her little speech, and opened my mouth to say something – but stopped when she held her hand up to stop me and continued 'I know how kind you and all of your friends were to help us, then, and the orphanage that I had to stay in – until you, both of you, got the job with the factory for my Momma Marlyn. You have all been so kind to us, and the children that are still in the orphanage, and I know that it will never be possible for any of us to repay you for the kindness and love that you have shown us. All I can do, Dan and Kelly, is to promise you that when I return to my country, I will do everything I can to help make the Philippines a good and honest place; a place where the politicians aren't dishonest, a place where poor people don't have to sell some of their children so they can feed the rest, a place where girls like me have the chance to earn money without having to sell their bodies.'
I shared a quick look with Kelly, and listened as Marilyn went on to tell us 'Tito Dan, you are a very strong man – inside, in your heart, where it really matters. You have shared your love with my Momma, with me, and with all the people that the factory helps. You have loved me, and helped me in so many ways, and I love you. The words 'I love you' are not enough to really say how I feel about you, but they are the closest. What I would like to ask you, Tito Dan and Tita Kelly, is if you would allow me to make love with you, so that I can show you the love that I feel for you – both of you.'
Having said her piece, Marilyn simply sat there, looking at us. Mostly me, but also Kelly.
I thought about what she said for a few moments – I could see the fear (of rejection?) on her face – before I finally answered 'Marilyn, we' – I gestured to include Kelly – 'did the things we did because we already know that it isn't right that the people of the Philippines have to live the way so many do. And we did those things because
