My innocent, yet, wise little friend: Symon

Who would have thought that a 4-year old little boy will teach me a lesson the other day? I was busy wiping the dusts in my room's window, when suddenly he popped up in front of me. Ah, my annoying little neighbor, Symon. He's a stubborn (as most of the people in our place would describe him), energetic, cute kid who is full of "why" questions. He never runs out of whys. Whatever he sees or thinks he always asks so much whys.

Most of my Saturdays, he used to pay me a frequent visit upstairs while I've been busy dusting and sweeping my tiny room. I used to get too annoyed of his bombarding me the question of whys which before I thought were senseless. Sometimes, I didn't give him much of the attention he needed to satisfy his curiosity about trivial things he observed or thought.

But last Saturday it was different. When I saw him in front of my door, I felt delighted instead of getting bothered of his presence (like I used to feel before). The usual, he started our conversation by shooting me his whys. This time, I answered him in detailed, factual answers with so much patience. Later, I became curious of what's inside the mind of this obstinate young monster. There must be something interesting of this kid that I didn't know and might learn. So at intervals, I fired him with my whys too. At first I asked him if he had taken a bath. He answered a big "NO." Right there and then I asked him "why" and he retorted with his shallow reasons for not taking a bath. While we exchanged our whys I began to feel so amused with his presence and how much he made me smile and laugh.

Until one time, I threw him a question that bogged his tender mind. "Do you know how to pray?" I asked. He looked at me bewildered. I supposed he didn't understand what I meant. So, I positioned my palms in a prayer position and mentioned the name of Jesus. And then I saw a sparkle in his eyes. Bulls eye! He got what I meant! He answered, "Oh, I used to go to the church with grandma," smiling. "Oh, really?" I asked him with so much eagerness. "Who else was with you?" I continued. "Papa Ito (his grandpa)." "That's great!" I replied with a big smile. Moments later, his face became serious. "I want to live in the church," he murmured, eyes rolling. "Why in the church, you have your house here?" I inquired curiously. "I don't like to live here, I want to live in the church," he insisted. "May I know why?" I interrogated him again this time with so much anxiousness of his answer. "There is so much trouble (not peaceful) in the house." (and then he mentioned one bad incident that involved one his family members which I cannot share to the public). I was dumbfounded with his answer. I saw the sincerity in his eyes when he told me one of the reasons. How can a very delicate being be nourished with such terrible thoughts of troubles around him. I was feeling so distressed and sorry for him. Sorry that he had to go through such a plight. I began to asked myself the question, "What will this kid be like when he reaches his ripe age?" I saw some of my awful childhood memories in his situation. Thankfully, I didn't become rebellious and went astray. But how about him? After telling me that shocking reason, he then continued to give his other childish reasons like, the puppies are so noisy and he can't sleep well, and also he's annoyed of the painter's presence (who was paid by the family to paint the house).

After we talked, I asked him to sing the song he used to sing. It's the theme song of one of ABS-CBN's teleseryes "Panday." The only part of the song I knew was the chorus. I told him that we will sing together and he agreed. I jumped right away to the chorus and he corrected me . He wanted us to start from the very beginning. I asked him to do it because I do not know the tune and lyrics, and he began with the "OOohhhh" part...While looking and listening at him intently doing the first stanza of the song, I was filled with awe and admiration of this child's innocence and purity of heart. I couldn't take away the smile on my face, and the joy he brought in my heart. We sung the chorus together, making him the lead singer. :)

I personally knew Symon as a cute little rascal who is very clever, energetic (which made him had accidents for many instances), very talented (he sings very well, in tune, and does memorize the lyrics from beginning to end), full of enthusiasm and joy. Most of the people in our place knew him as someone very stubborn, rebellious monster hiding in the body of a child. I admit, he is, but the character that he's been developing now is NEVER his fault. It's the adults'. The way they wrongfully treated him, specially the crooked kind of discipline they impose on him. I really really feel bad about this reality. I know I am not a parent. I do not know what is the perfect way to discipline a child. All I know is that, the way he is being disciplined at present is absolutely not the right way.