Katumbas ng 60 Taong Supply ng Bulaklak ang In-order ng Batang Ito Para sa Kanyang Ina, Lumabas ang Katotohan nag I-deliver ng Florist ang mga Bulaklak

Isang araw, habang matumal ang bentahan sa flower shop, may isang taong hindi inaasahan na pumunta dito.

” Aunty, I want to pre-order a lot of flowers,” sabi ng bata.

Nasorpresa ang tindera ng bulaklak sa bata

“Could I pre-order 60 years’ worth of flower bouquets?” tanong niya sa tindera. Muntikang mapatawa ang tindera sa sinabi ng bata. Sino nga ba namang oorder ng bulaklak sa loob ng animnaput taon? Dagdag pa ng bata, “I want to pre-order a bunch of flower bouquets, mainly carnations for the next 60 years to be delivered on September 22nd. Is it possible?”

“I want to give these flowers as birthday present to my mother and September 22nd is her birthday. My mother is 40 years old now and she may live until 100 years of age, so I would like to pre-order 60 years worth of flowers. After that, you need to help me deliver a bouquet of fresh carnations to my mother on every September 22nd. This would make my mother feel happy and blessed.”

Pero napag-isip-isip ng tindera kung tatagal nga ba nang 60 years ang kanyang flower shop

Dahil naiintriga ang tindera sa bata, tanong niya rito, “Why do you want to pre-order 60 years of flowers? My florist might not be opened for that long! Could you come and book once every year?”

“No, I couldn’t. I need to pre-order 60 years of flowers. If your florist closed down, please get another florist to continue to send these flowers,” sagot ng bata.

“Please tell me the total cost of the flowers.” Seryosong pagkakasabi nito.

Nararamdaman na ng tindera na baka niloloko lang siya ng bata. Marami nga namang bata ang mapaglaro.

Pinag-isipang mabuti ng tindera ang kanyang sinabi, “Let me think….Ok, the total cost would be $30 dollars. How far is your home from my florist?”

“It’s very close by, my home is just opposite the road. Here is a $100 bill. 60 years is a long time and who knows when inflation hits, the price of flowers will increase.” Pagkatapos magsalita ng bata, kumuha ito ng $100 sa kanyang bulsa at nagulat ang tindera sa pananalita nito.

Kahit 11 o 12 years old lang ang bata, parang matanda na ito kung makapagsalita!

Binigay ng bata ang $100 sa tindera at sinulat niya ang kanyang address sa isang papel. “This is my address. Please remember to deliver the flowers to my home,” sabi ng bata.

“You need to tell me your mother’s name”, tugon naman ng tindera.

Sagot ng bata, “My mother’s name is very nice. Her name is Catherine and I am Toby.”

Habang nagsusulat ang tindera, nabanggit ni Toby na “Right, it is July now and my mother’s birthday is in two months time. Please remember to deliver a bouquet of carnations to my home.”

“Thank you aunty! Remember to deliver them this year, next year, the coming year until the 60th year!”

Sa sumunod na araw, dumating ulit ang batang lalaki at ipinaalala ang kanyang order sa tindera “Don’t forget to deliver my mother a bouquet of flowers on September 22nd”. Sagot niya sa bata, “Don’t worry, I will not forget.”

“When you deliver the flowers, could you please wish my mother ‘Happy Birthday’?”

Hinawakan ng tindera ang kamay ng bata at sinabing “Aunty promise you.”

Nang umalis ang bata, nahalata ng tindera na abot tenga ang ngiti nito.

Sa pangatlong araw, nagulat ulit ang tindera kay Toby. May dala itong malaking stationary box at sinabing “Aunty, could I draw a portrait of you?”

Nabigla ang tindera sa sinabi ni Toby at nahalata ito ng bata. “Aunty, thank you for promising to deliver flowers to my mother. I cannot give you anything in return but I could draw a portrait of you and give it to you as a present. I have been drawing for the past six years and it would be a very beautiful portrait.”

Naisip ng tindera na wala naman siyang ginagawa kaya pumayag siya sa request ng bata.

Kahit bata pa lang, magaling nang magdrawing si Toby at natapos siya sa loob lang ng 30 minutes! Sabi ng tindera sa bata, “Wow! It looks just like me!” Umalis si Toby na may malaking ngiti sa kanyang mukha.

Sa pang-apat na araw, inasahan ng tindera na dadating uli si Toby pero hindi niya ito nakita.

Sa pagtataka ng tindera, hindi na dumating sa mga sumunod na araw si Toby. Palagi na nitong inaabangan ang bata araw-araw.

Pero hindi na talaga dumating ang bata.

Nag-antay ang tindera hanggang September 22. Dahil sa pinagusapan nila ni Toby, naghanda siya ng bouquet at magagandang carnation para ipadala sa bahay ni Toby.

Habang naglalakad papunta sa bahay ni Toby, naisip ng tindera na matutuwa ang bata na makita siyang may dala-dalang bulaklak.

Pinindot niya ang doorbell at pinagbuksan siya ng isang middle aged na babae at mukhang haggard ito.

”Are you Ms. Catherine?” Tanong ng tindera at tumango naman ang babae.

“This bouquet of flowers was pre-ordered by your son and I wish you a Happy Birthday.”

“Did you just say that it was my son? Are you sure this is from my son?” pagkagulat na sinabi ng babe.

“Two months ago, a boy named Toby came by my shop and pre-ordered this bouquet of flowers. He said they were for his mother’s birthday.” Paliwanag ng tindera.

Hindi nakapagsalita ang babae at nakita niyang napapaluha ito.

Pinunasan ng babae ang kanyang luha at pinatuloy ang tindera sa kanyang bahay. Sabi niya, “Thank you, I did not think Toby would spend his money to buy me flowers.”

“Yes, he did. He pre-ordered 60 years’ worth of flowers from me to be delivered to you on your birthday every year. Isn’t he cute?”

“What? 60 years? I understand now…” nanginig ang mga kamay ng babae habang sinasabi ito.

“Your son is very cute. He even drew a portrait of me and gave it to me as a present.”

“Yes, he is very cute…….my son……but….” Hindi natapos ng babae ang kanyang sasabihin at biglaan itong napaiyak.

Ano nga ba ang nangyari kay Toby?

“Toby… he was suffering from leukemia. I have tried my best searching for the best doctor and the best treatment for him but it was all for nothing. He must have realised that he was going to die soon so he got the flowers for me. Three years ago, he gave me a bouquet of carnations on my birthday. I felt like I was the happiest mother in the world. I did tell him that it was a blessing to get flowers from him. He then told me he would get me a bouquet of flowers every year. He even made a promise with me. Oh my son, my poor, unlucky child….”

Matapos marinig ang istorya ng babae, napaluha ang tindera sa kanyang narinig.

Hindi alam ng tindera ang kanyang gagawin at ang nasa isip niya lang ay ang imahe ni Toby na may malaking ngiti sa kanyang mukha.

Hindi niya rin alam kung kaya niya pang patakbuhin ang kanyang tindahan pero ipinapangako niya ito habang may buhay pa siya. Ipagpapatuloy niya ang kanyang pangako na palagi siyang magdadala ng bulaklak sa nanay ni Toby kada September 22.