WE EAT, DRINK AND WEAR GARBAGE

Lyndonn Stephen D. Santos

The wind’s gusting towards the school with the smell of garbage trailing behind. Dump
trucks keep passing by the gates filled with waste from different barangays. The school fences are
decorated with Christmas garlands and poinsettias, classroom doors with multi-colored yet
perforated lanterns, tables with worn-out cloths and the ambiance with annoying songs on repeat
playing from the speakers.

A science teacher named Ms. Dianne Tan look around while taking a gulp from the bland
juice from her plastic cup together with two sleeping pills. She couldn’t sleep thinking about the
earthquake that happened a two days ago. She just started teaching at San Marcelino Elementary
School as a substitute teacher. Dianne wasn’t accustomed yet to the stench in the air blowing from
the mountains of garbage in the dumpsite approximately near the school. Her passion for teaching
and helping the poor allows her to concentrate on the students rather than the unpleasant
atmosphere. She bathes them sometimes if given the chance. Throwing a Christmas party for the
students was the highlight of her teaching experience in the school. The joy and laughter resonates
in their smiles They gave their biggest smiles during the whole event and she receives countless
thanks from the students. Now, she puts down her cup on a near table. The party was over, so she
begins to clean up with the help of the parents and her colleagues. The sun was almost setting. After
the students left with their parents, she prepares to leave as well.

“Teacher Dianne?”

She looks behind and saw a boy.

“CJ? What are you still doing here?”

CJ was one of her quiet students that only talks when you talk to him. He’s usually just at the
back of the room, listening intently whenever Teacher Dianne speaks in front. CJ might just be shy.

“Teacher Dianne I want to say thank you.”

“Aww thank you CJ. Did you enjoy the party?”

“Yes! I did Teacher Dianne! Thank you! Thank you!”

“I’m glad that you enjoyed CJ. Aren’t you going home?”

“Teacher…”

“What’s the matter CJ?”

“…”

CJ keeps his head down, looking at the ground.

 “C’mon CJ tell me.”

He glances back at Teacher Dianne.

“Can you help me go home?”

Teacher Dianne checks her watch and gazes back at CJ. It was already nighttime. She has
nothing else to do as the Christmas break has started. And also, it’s must be safer for CJ if she
escorts him home.

“Let’s take you home CJ.” She gives him a reassuring smile.

“Thanks Teacher.” He said with a sly grin.

They started walking. Dianne asked her student where his house is. It’s at the dumpsite.

As they made strides towards the dumpsite, Dianne notices that the earthquake changed
some of the landscape. The dusty roads were wrecked and the dried up trees were damaged. A dump
truck passed by and Dianne felt a little dizzy. She asked CJ if the smell bothered him. He tells her
that he was used to the smell since he grew up in the dumpsite.

They were getting near the dumpsite, the moon was silently shining in the night sky and the
smell of garbage was penetrating her nostrils intensely. CJ was holding his hand as he guides her
inside the site. He tells his teacher about how sometimes his father collects leftover food from the
piles of garbage. Dianne slowly felt nausea. They finally stopped. In front of them was CJ’s
dilapidated but standing house, no one is home.

“CJ I guess I’ll leave you here, I’ll wait until you get inside.”

“Thank you Teacher Dianne! Won’t you come inside?”

“No need CJ. I guess I’ll just go ahead. Good bye.”

“Teacher Dianne! Can you stay until my father comes home?”

“CJ I’m sorry but I can’t.”

“Sorry teacher…”

Dianne holds her head and she starts to feel light. She steps inside the house and her
sleeping pills finally took effect.

.
 CJ walks to an unconscious Teacher Dianne with a cup of water from the dumpsite. He
gently touches her shoulders. It’s been almost three hours and she hasn’t woken up yet. CJ tries to
wake Dianne again this time by shaking her with what little force he has. He throws the cup of water
in her face. Dianne slowly opens her eyes and was still a little drowsy.

“I’m so sorry Teacher Dianne I couldn’t wake you up! You need to leave right now!”

The sound of heavy steps echoed outside the house.

“My father is here.”

Dianne had a difficult time to stand up. She went towards the door but it suddenly burst
open. The foul smell of rotting garbage permeated the air. A monstrous figure standing six feet tall
covered in mucky rotting garbage enters. It opens its mouth and attacks Dianne. She gets thrown
down the floor yet she couldn’t scream as she instantly puked. Her clothes get ripped apart and then
the monster gripped her thighs and spread it apart. She chokes on her own puke. Dianne attempted
to break free by trashing her arms violently but it was futile. Time and time again she tried until she
lost her energy and then her consciousness.

She wakes up outside the dumpsite although she is bloodied. She musters the strength she
has left and crawl towards a tree. She used it to rise from the ground. The sound of an approaching
vehicle dawn on her and she met it up front. The lights of the dump truck coming close shined
down upon her as she screams for help, she closes her eyes.

Dianne opens her eyes. She nearly gets hit by the truck. A truck that left no trace of being
there. CJ’s father appears behind her and dragged her back inside the dumpsite. She screams until
her last breath. Her body will just be buried in the landfill with all the garbage in the dumpsite.