the kid opener rescued

We often hear the word rescue from men in uniform to the paramedics. It's like a technical term they use everyday in their job.

That word is alive to me only when a news reporter uses it in the midst of a coverage of a landslide, conflagration, inundation, shipwreck, stampede or what-not.

But last Monday, I was like a cat on a tree chased by an unfriendly dog named hunger. I needed some rescuing. Good thing I was the kind of cat that carries a mobile phone.

ME: HUHUHUHUHUHUHU

TIN: Why? (Hugs)

ME: Kasi I don't know how to cook rice. I'm starving. Yaya is nowhere. I can't go out to buy food kasi I'mthe only one left at home.

TIN: Put 1 cup rice in pot. 1 cup water. Medium fire. Kaya mo yan!

ME: How many times do I let it boil before I remove the water?

TIN: Basta whenever nag-bubbles, lift the cover then put it back. You'll know if it's cooked na. Go go go (smiles).

I was about to follow the instructions when my master Pauline arrived. She came from the bank to do errands.

To save me from what could have been a kitchen calamity, perhaps God sent her home right away.

It's a good thing she arrived before I turned on the stove. I forgot to ask Tin about my viand.

I have a feeling, though, that she will tell me to open a can of Century tuna, her fave. Now any cat will risk one of her 9 lives just to feed on tuna.

* * *

One day I'm going to read Dan Brown.

One day I'm going to know the secrets behind that Davinci code.

One day I'm going to see that mystery novel on film.

* * *

They used to tell me not to eat siopao (pork buns) because it contained cat meat.

When I was in grade school, other kids warned me about the mysterious white siopao. Someone swore to have found cat's hair inside.

But another kid said it was all BS. The siopao has only to to be undressed of its outer covering before eating.

I'm over the cat meat urban legend. But I still remove the first layer.

* * *

kids should know that...

Legend in Japan has it that a cat waved at a Japanese landlord, who was intrigued by this gesture and went towards it. A few seconds later a lightning bolt struck where the landlord had been previously standing. The landlord attributed his good fortune to the cat's fortuitous action. A symbol of good luck hence, it is most often seen in businesses to draw in money. In Japan, the flapping of the hand is a "come here" gesture, so the cat is beckoning customers. (wikipedia)