Unveiling My Life Events Mentoring

The Westside Stories Journey- Episode 8
Short Story by Marita Garcia Sanchez
Category: Fiction

Review of the Past Scenes
In Episode 1, Romia, Tonie, Hoya and Charity met in a train going to San Francisco. Hoya got married there and widowed with a daughter. She volunteered to help Romia and Tonie to their destination to the corner streets of Southeast Market and New Montgomery. This is because someone helped her too when she was a newbie to that place. She knew exactly how it feels to be foreign in that place when nobody offer for help.
In Episode 4, Tonie stayed with a friend, sharing half of all the expenses in rent, light and water with separate food allowance while in that place. Romia stayed in a campus dormitory owned by a former dean of the university. Both are thinking for additional income to. Solve their expensive cost of living. They saw each other accidentally in a children's playground of a community park and Charity relayed what she intended to help Romia and Tonie on their money problems.
In Episode 6, Charity recommended Romia to the Principal to stay in the cottage intended to accommodate the football coach in the person of Charity. There will be free rent, free gas for cooking, free telephone connecting the university and WiFi services provided that she has to maintain cleanliness and light in the clubhouse lighting the fire to prevent the pipes to freeze during winter. Everything seems to fit Romia and Tonie in their growing financial problems and Romia's work with the university is also getting fine.
Scene 6- Togo The campus dog
Togo roams the campus with uncomprehending look in his amber eyes. Tonie came up on him one morning sitting under a tree with his head down on his forepaws. When he saw her, he got up and looked ashamed. He is used to be with campus boys and never been acquainted with any campus girl since he came to exist. "Hello, Dogie" "Can I call you Togo?" She said approaching him with friendly gesture. His tail wiggles and seems to like his new name told by her. "Wow you like the name Togo?" She asked. He stands and gave his two feet to her as greeting for the first time. Then after that, he went with her to the cottage and never leave since then. He became an instant bodyguard of Tonie wherever she go even during nights when they need to light the fire in the clubhouse. According to some campus girls, no one knows where he came from. He is used to eat from the food the frat boys feed him. When they drink beer, the dog also drink what they give him. He became popular in campus and being fed by anybody there including the people who lives within the community. But during summer and winter, he roams around and becomes stray dog without food to eat. Romia agreed to adopt the dog when Tonie asked her plan for Togo.
Scene 7- Going to an Escapade
It was middle of November when Charity need to go to her father's work in Farallon Island. The place is 30 miles outside the Golden Gate and 20 miles south of Point Reyes. She asked Romia and Tonie to accompany her and will be needing them in taking charge of extra driving when she has to rest. The journey is too long to be endured by her driving alone. Using a four wheeled vehicle in going to the port first before they take a private boat in going to the Bay Island. "Yes, we both knew how to drive a little" Romia said. "Thats good, you have to wear your lightweight jeans and jacket, closed shoes and long pants. Sometimes the weather is unpredictable and brings chill in the morning or in the afternoon" she replied. "What about Togo?" Tonie asked. "Let's bring him with us" Charity suggested. "Can he survive there?" Romia asked. "Yes that dog was trained before and knows many things to do in times of trouble" she answered. Tonie likes what she heard about Togo and he seems to enjoy too what they share about him. "We will be passing a community of Mexicans and Hondurans she added. And that dog would be of help to us".she said with confidence and smile. So, let's go then.
Scene 8- The Pompous Meal
After several miles of traveling, Charity needs to rest from driving. Romia volunteered to drive next. After an hour driving, she noticed that a community was celebrating a feast they call Diwali. The people there seemed to be friendly. They stopped the wheel of the vehicle and offered them free food. She didn't know what to do. But Togo was the most excited with the smell of good food. He seems very hungry and started to bark. Charity was awakened from her nap when Togo saw one familiar face of campus frat. He approached them and asked the dog to come and eat his meal. Charity recognized the guy and decided to accept the favor of dining with the people for free. "It was a pompous meal"Tonie said. " They even gave a basket of free foods for Togo and for us" she continued."And Togo enjoyed his meal too" Romia replied. They thanked the folks and later paved goodbye and proceed to their goal. While heading to the next city, Tonie continued to praise the hospitality of native people. "Even for two days, these food in a basket will feed us full and Togo" she said. "Seems that you cannot move on easily Tonie" Charity said. "Well I am just amazed with good people" she answered.
Scene 9- Stuck in a Deserted Island
While Romia is still the driver, Charity noticed that the road they are about to cross is having trouble with two gangs trying to chase from each other on the streets. " Stop and pull off for a while Romia" she said. "Why? Am I making :over sp*eding?" She asked. "No, there's this very notorious gang fighting from each other with bloody weapons. She answered. They are the street gangs. There is no way for us to pass the street without their conflict and rivalry. What will we do next. Nothing except to wait until they are finished. But their rivalry seems to getting worse so Togo step out from the back seat and ran after these gangs. The gangs used knives and sparrows. Romia was scared and confused. Hence Charity asked her to stay at the back seat and her to the driver's seat. Togo was so brave in chasing one after another until all of them were scared and went home. The street was already cleared by Togo while Tonie was still praying aloud asking for their safety especially to Togo. Running from Togo, the criminals were so afraid of the dangerous dog. For them, he was a reincarnate of the brave and heroic dog also named Togo. After the incident, Togo went back to the backseat and seems very thirsty and hungry. Tonie gave him food to eat and water to drink. "Now I know, the purpose of this basket of food. It is to keep Togo well nourished and hydrated" Tonie said with a smile. He is our light of shining armor with his paws. Then they all giggled.
To be continued....

Dish Gardens from my posts in AiPP used as characters in the Westside Stories Journey