Impeng Negro By: Rogelio Sikat

...

The moment he reached the water pump, he headed to the end of the line nodding. He gently removed the pails from the hook. In his self, he uttered that hopefully he will not be the subject of the teases of the water boys.

Impen have already loaded six pails. He already has 70 cents jingling in the pocket of his jeans. And there’s still one who he will fetch water. Another 10 cents. During summer he earns bigger as a water boy. The source of water was unsteady in their place. And few own a water pump.

[pic 2]

I would be home by noon, he uttered while counting the pails in the line. The rectangular cement was spacious where the water pump stood and the end of the line was still outside.

Not so far from the water pump was a store. Under the bluish rusty roof stood the other water boys. Some of them were shirtless and their shirts were hanged in their shoulders. There are others fanning themselves. And some of them were eating halo-halo.

In that group, his attention was at once focused on Ogor. He restrained himself from shedding in the store. Ogor was there at the store. Shirtless and smirking. He would just sit at his pails. It is better even he was out in the sun. Sooner, the line would shorten. I would be able to fetch water.

He was tolerating the heat when he heard a shout from the store.

“Hey, Negro, shed here, you might get whiter!”

That was Ogor. Even he doesn’t turn to look, as if he already saw Ogor. Smirking and teasing him again.

“Negro,’ he heard again, “I said shed here, you might be burned!”

He heard loud laughter. But still he did not look back. As if he did not hear anything. He was looking at the pails in the water pump, but in his mind was his mother’s reminder, that he should not give Ogor the attention. Why does he need to give Ogor attention?

Ogor stopped teasing. He still did not move from the pail where he sits. While the line moves, he really feels the heat of the sun. Around the pails, he sees the shadows. He looked up but he was dazzled. He feels pained and as if his nape, back and shoulders were fired up. Sweat was forming in his nape and on top of his nose.

He moved his suspenders up. Continuously blew his chest. Not so long, he scoops water from his pail. He first wet his head. Rubbed his hair and got his scalp wet. He damps his shoulders and arms. He felt relief. But it was temporary. Not so long, he once again felt the pain in his nape and shoulders. He felt a very smarting pain in his nape and shoulders.

“Negro!” He stoop straight from sitting when he heard that. The person who spoke was already at his back. It is Ogor. ”Do not expose yourself to the sun. Go in the cool place.”

It was Ogor’s chance to fetch water. While placing the pail in the water pump, he once again saw him smirking at him.

For him, filling of Ogor’s pails was a very long time. He sighs when he saw Ogor already hooking the pails. At last, Ogor will go, he thinks. Ogor will go. I hope he will not come back…

There’s delight in his chest while watching the other pails being filled. He’s next.

He would already be fetching water. I will be fetching water, he uttered to himself. After that fetching of water he can already go home. He would be passing-by Taba. Buying milk.

However, after the pail he waits to be filled had gone and he will be placing his pail in the water pump, a heavy and powerful hand suddenly touched his shoulder. It was Ogor when he looked up. He delivered the pails near-by.

“I’m already hungry! Negro,” Ogor said, “Me first.”

It was a command. For a moment, he was not able to move. He only looked at Ogor. Ogor placed his pails in the line and the pails rattled.

He moved his pail a little and he was afraid. You’ve only just arrived, Ogor, he wanted to object. I was already here for a long moment.

[pic 3]

“I said, me first,” Ogor insisted.

He hesitantly got his pail. Ogor was still looking. He turned the pail upside down and the small amount of water crawled in the cement reaching Ogor’s feet. I will go home, he whispers to himself. I will go home. I will go home. I will just fetch water again later. Looking at the sun, he took a step to get the pail but with that step, Ogor suddenly disjointed him.

“What are you still whispering?”

He did not hear it. He already fell in the ground. His right cheek hit on the pail’s lips. He unconsciously shouted. He knelt in the slippery cement, two hands were touching his cheek. Fear, his fingers were shaking. Slowly, he looked at his fingers. Wet… Reddish… Blood!

He was frightened. In a matter of few minutes, he did not touched again the scare in his cheek. He was try-eyed.

“O…gor … O…gor” He was looking up at Ogor, he tightly clenched his fist. His head trembles and his teeth were gritting. “Ogor!” at last, he shouted.

Ogor did not like the way he shouted. He kicked him. He rolled. All the pails in the line fell and rolled. Chaotic. He heard laughter. Meanwhile, while lying down, slowly, the dust-full feet were in his sight. It doubles and surrounding him.

He positioned. He saw the figure of Ogor. His arms were ready.

“Ogor.”

Ogor laughed so hard. Catching his breath and closing his eyes. Tear of joy wants to escape from his eye. He was in this state when he suddenly felt a forceful kick in his buttocks. He shouted. He was crying while rolling in the wet and slippery cement. He was in pain. Holding the kicked buttocks, his risen face is a picture of too much in pain.

It took a long period before the pain anguished. He was catching his breath. He eyes were fast moving when he got up using his hands as a support in the cement.

It was Ogor. From the very start, he treated him as his enemy. Why is Ogor like that? Why? Why?

His body was shaking. In grudge. In collected grudge. And when he saw that Ogor’s right leg will hit him, it was as if he felt craziness like a dog, he grasps it, hugged and bites.

Ogor