I was waiting for my fetcher outside a McDonalds in Baclaran when the incident happened. I watched the girl carried along the line of other people sitting on the long stone bench, obviously waiting for something themselves. The girl arrived in front of a couple and gestured. The female gave her corn- on- a- stick freely to the girl who snatched it instantly, and still, showed her hands, looking for money. Irritated, the male shooed the beggar away.
Soon, the girl finished and walked towards the other side of a store where a stout lady sold cigarettes in a green plastic box. It was then that I realized she was the mother of the beggar and beside her was the older brother who took the corn from the girl and nibbled the kernels left by the couple and the girl. The three all showed the same features: dark complexion, worried faces, untidy hair; although the boy wore a black bonnet.
A tall man neared the vendor and asked for a lighter to light his cigarette. Afterwards, the security guard of the restaurant came to view and was offered by the vendor some smokes. The guard declined the offer. Then, the lady sighed and now sat alone staring at the passing vehicles as her children took off somewhere.
Few minutes later, the beggar girl appeared on the walk once more and began asking me for alms, again. Yet, I still refused, keeping to my vow not to give any alms to the street people since they'll get used to it.
About twenty minutes more, no fetcher came, no more other people waiting, but the girl who approached me once more. This time, she checked my baggage, which contained my envelope of readings and a bag of chips, which I planned to eat on the trip.
"Sige na, kuya, pahinging pagkain," she told me, spotting the food. She quickly added, "Akin na lang 'to."
"Hindi iyan akin," I replied, keeping my promise, although shook now. It was then that I decided to give the chips up when the girl continued, "Sige ka, isusumbong kita sa papa mo. Para sa girlfriend mo 'yan, 'no? Kilala ko papa mo, isusumbong kita." Then, she went away.
I frowned, smiling a little. Then, as I jumped towards my approaching fetcher, at last, I saw her took off with her mother who divided a slice of puto into three and gave her children, leaving the place deserted.