Aaliyah and Allysa

I see these two petite girls everyday aged 4 and 5. They are Aaliyah and Allysa. They are my neighbors. Everytime I get out of the house, I see these girls playing with the other children right at the doorsteps. Climbing the pole. Enjoying the tumbang preso. At times, I see them sitting conspicuously on the pavement. Giggling with each other. They are funny. Aaliyah has eyesight problems but she joins the rest of the children without feeling inferior. Their mother sells refreshments to make a living. They are a typical family who struggles everyday like the rest of us.

I make fun and tease these girls when I met them. They always shrugged it off. They would race back to their house, one of their options or join the throng of children playing merrily. When I see them, they asked coins. Nevertheless, I don't give what they want. I thought giving money to these innocent souls would tarnish their fragile minds in the long run. Days before Christmas, they asked for Christmas gifts. I told them to be back and sing simple Christmas songs like what others do.

I haven't seen the girls from that day onwards. They probably had a vacation to their home place or province. Yesterday, I've spotted them again playing with each other. When they saw me, they asked again the gift. They waited patiently as I climbed upstairs to get something for them. I gave raisin bread and ready to eat jelly. They smiled upon receiving the food. It could be the best gift they have received.

Surprisingly, I wondered they did not mention about coins. The never-ending pleas they constantly utter every time I met them.