2 Chapter Two - The Shop

It was a good Sunday morning and the Carlos Family is going to the church in Quiapo, Manila. The family is a devotee of the Black Nazareth, especially Mrs. Gracia S. Primivera - Carlos who is a housewife and a good loving mother of Jonathan. She became a devotee of the Black Nazareth at the very young age of 8 when she suffered heart disease. Her mother was the one who influenced her and prayed for her to be healed from her suffering. After the mass, the family decided to go to a nearby fast-food chain to have some breakfast. Jonathan and Mrs. Gracia look for a place to seat while her husband Mr. Manuel D. Carlos a loving and hardworking father buy their food. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gracia and Jonathan are having a good time together.

"Jonathan, Where did you want to go next?", his mother asked him while he is playing around.

"Hmm!? I think we should go to the mall so that you, Papa and I will have time for each other. So that we can bond together as a family. Papa has been busy this couple of weeks." he said to her mother gracefully.

"I think we should tell Papa about it so that we can bond with him. You know your Papa is always busy because of work," she said, upon hearing it Jonathan stop playing.

While they are having a conversation Mr. Manuel arrives with their orders. And he notices that there is something Jonathan should tell him, And he asked.

"My son? Is anything wrong with your order? or there is something you wish to tell me?" he asked as he arranged their orders.

"No Papa, Ahmmm!? I would like to ask you if we could go to the mall after we ate our breakfast?"

"Of course Jonathan. But the mall is still closed and it will open at 10 am." he happily replied to the request of his son.

"Ok, Papa. Let's eat our breakfast but before that, we must say a prayer first." they vowed their heads and say grace.

Jonathan enjoys the Sunday with his family and they have a great time together while having breakfast. The Carlos Family is just a simple citizen, they don't have a car or even their own house but the care they put to each other is something more precious.

After eating their breakfast, the family decided to go to the shop where they buy some cheap things like clothes, furniture and etc, It's like a thrift shop. They bought some new clothes for Jonathan for him to wear where ever they are going out. While Jonathan is in the fitting room he heard his Mama and Papa are having an argument about where he will be taking his elementary school.

"Pa, you know that I want Jonathan to have a good future that's why I want him to go to a private school." Mrs. Gracia madly said to Mr. Manuel.

"I know Ma, but my income is not good enough to put Jonathan to a private school. If he goes to a public school he can still achieve his goals and dreams." he calmly replied to her.

"But you promise that we will put Jonathan to a private school."

"Yes, I know but my income is not enough to put him there."

Then Jonathan went out of the fitting room running towards his Papa and he hugs him tight.

"Papa, it's ok that I will go to a public school. It's not a big deal to me that I am not going to a private school." he hugs his father tight.

"I'm so sorry son. You're Mama and I wishes you to go to a private school because you will learn a lot in there, but my income is not enough to put you into a private school," he said while tears falling from his eyes.

"I understand Papa, and Mama please don't be mad at Papa." Jonathan smiled at his father.

Then Jonathan hugs both of his parents, and he went back in the fitting room to try the clothes. His parents are happy about the reaction of Jonathan, they thought that Jonathan would be mad at them. After a while, Jonathan emerges from the fitting room, and he finally picks clothes to buy and went to the cashier to pay for the item.

The family goes to the mall where Jonathan was amazed at how huge it is. The mall was SM Mall of Asia, it is the biggest mall in the country. The Carlos Family enjoy their visit to the mall, and Mr. Manuel realizes that he was so busy this past couple of months and he did not give attention to his family due to his work.

"Okay. Jonathan stays close to Mama, you might get lost around here. This mall is huge." he said with a bit of nervous because Jonathan is still young and can get lost easily in a huge place.

"Yes Papa, I will."

"Let's look for a good dinner where we can have our lunch."

The family looks for a restaurant or fast food chain where they can have their lunch because the mall was huge the family got tired and instead of looking for a fine dinner they just tried a food stall where they can eat. After eating the family went around the mall, doing some window shopping. Items in the stores are a bit steep and they can't afford to buy some.

Late afternoon the family went to the seawall overlooking Manila Bay, located behind the mall. A huge amount of crowds gathered in to watch the beautiful sunset, they sat on the seawall and picked the perfect spot as the sun touches the ocean.

"Wow, this is my first time to see the sunset and its beautiful. Thank you Ma and Pa for spending time with me." he was so amazed after seeing the sunset.

"You're welcome, son. Sorry that I didn't get to spend some time with you and Mama this past couple of months."

"Don't be so dramatic Papa, we both know that you are doing everything you can especially for Jonathan. I think it's time to go home now and Jonathan is tired, I'll cook something for dinner once we got home." Mrs. Gracia hugs her husband and kissed Jonathan.

"Okay Ma, I'll carry Jonathan so he can rest while we are traveling back home."

Mr. Manuel carries Jonathan and holds the hand of Mrs. Gracia. The Carlos Family was so happy that they could spend some time with each other. As Jonathan fell asleep, his mother kissed his forehead. His parents were happy that they raised a loving child.