Lost Zen

Below is a true story written by Claisyl, my 13 years old niece (1st of the 3 daughters of Manong Winston and Manang Mel). I thought it's an excellent writing given her age so I'm sharing it here. This is her first draft, unedited. Zen is Czarene, her youngest sister. Lane is Cherlyn, her other sister.-Che

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"Lost Zen"

It was probably the 5th or 6th scariest day in my entire life. It happened last January 15, 2005.

My family decided to go to SM super mall, Baguio City. Immediately I became excited. I tried to imagine all the things we might do there. We might go shopping, play in Quantum or even watch a movie. It was not everyday that we went there as a family. With excitement bubbling inside me, we drove to the mall. The day started out great. We ate at McDonalds. Only, my little sister, Zen, did not want to eat. It so happened that a new place opened beside McDo. It was a children’s play area for 7 years old and below. Perfect for the little devil, I thought. Its advertisement sounded so good that my mom let my 2-year old sister play there. We left her there with confidence in our hearts while we went shopping. Confidence that started our nightmare.

It was hard to choose which pair of shoes to buy. There were so many good choices in SM department store. Finally, after many minutes of changing my mind, I picked a good-looking leather pair of shoes. My mother is a kind woman full of humor and mischief. I do not know what prodded her to fool us, but she told us that Zen was crying and her diaper was full. Well, my sister and I ran for the play area. Even dad quickened his pace. Only mom was walking calmly, with a wicked smile on her face.

I reached the play area first and peeked in through the glass. I looked for Zen but I could not find her. Hmm, I thought, she must be well hidden. My sister and dad arrived and looked for her too. A rock settled in my stomach. I am the world’s biggest worrywart.

When mom finally arrived, I pounced on her and told her we could not find Zen. She told me to calm down and we approached the door attendant. “Miss, could you please take Zen out so we can change her diaper,” mom asked. The attendant looked for her but even she could not find her. “Could you describe her please? I cannot seem to find her,” the attendant said. The rock in my stomach turned into the size of a boulder. Mom was unfazed. “She’s a little kid with pink pants and a white shirt,” she said. Once more, the attendant entered the door. She came back out empty-handed. “I really could not find her,” she said. Mom frowned. She entered the place herself and looked inside. She shouted Zen’s name. No one answered. No one came to her. She came back out and we looked at each other, our faces panic-stricken.

Mom shot rapid-fire questions at the attendants. Did someone bring her out? Is someone feeding her somewhere? Who was guarding the door a while ago? Where is she? As I stood there, unable to move, mom visited the nearest restaurants and food shops, thinking she was being fed. When nothing came out of this, she asked the security guards to page everyone in the mall, to ask them to look out for a little kid with pink pants, a white shirt and a nametag.

Meanwhile, dad scouted the area. He thought Zen might have gotten out accidentally and was wandering off somewhere. My sister, Lane, and I remained at the play area in case someone brought her in. Tears sprang to my eyes. Where is she? She’s only two. She’s so little. Anything could’ve happened to her. God, I thought, please, wherever she is, keep her safe.

Finally, a security guard gave us news. He said he saw a little girl that fitted Zen’s description. “I brought her to the customer service because she was going down the stairs to the entrance of the supermarket all by herself,” he said. As soon as mom heard this, she and Lane ran to the customer service. I waited with my father, hope in our hearts.

While they were gone, a man who I suppose was from the customer service approached us, carrying Zen in his arms. I could not describe what I felt at that time. What I knew is that I cried hard, holding Zen, kissing her many times. I overheard one attendant say, “Hala piman ti dandanag na daytuy ubing ti kabsat na.”(Oh, how this child worried for her sister!) When mom and Lane came back, I put Zen down. I could see mom had cried. As soon as they laid their eyes on Zen, they ran to her, hugging and kissing her, their tears flowing freely. I will never forget that moment.

“Your child was fast asleep in the customer service,” the man that brought her up said, with an amused smile, “I carried her up as soon as she awoke.” I looked at Zen. She was playing with mom’s hair, unaware of all the happenings. I smiled. I was happy and very relieved. After this incident, I realized that a much much stronger bond enclosed our family, and I like it.

A true story Written By:

CLAISYL B. CASIWAN
First year High School, SSP-BCNHS
Home address: 299 Tam-awan, Pinsao Proper, Baguio City
Contact No. 09204060804
Birthday: December 20, 1994