EXCERPTS FROM OUTNUMBERED

The sun was beginning to find its way out into the open sky. It was 11am, almost time for the close of the second mass. Ann is seen walking towards the chapel where her daughter is seated patiently waiting for her.

"We can go now," she said. Finally, Katrina let out a sigh of relief, she muttered. Adjusting her seatbelt in her mother’s Volvo, she asked, "Did you see Aunty Becca? Her mom replied, “No my darling, but she sent me a message.” Thank you for reminding me. I will give her a call once we get home to reschedule.

Becca and Ann had become pretty close. Ann wasn’t one to make friends, but in some ways she found a sister in Becca, and that friendship has blossomed and even extended towards their kids. She met Becca at the grocery store on one of those days. She was having a sapa episode but needed to buy something for her child to eat. Becca found her crying in front of the counter while staring at the things she needed but couldn’t afford. She quickly comforted her without saying a word because she understood. She recognized a sisterhood, beaten by the struggles of life, abandoned with no provider, a single mom with a child. That was their identity. So without words, she consoled her and bought what she could afford with the little she had and drove Ann home.

This was the start of a beautiful friendship. Till now, Ann hasn’t told her full story to her. Becca didn’t ask either, but yet they understood each other perfectly, as if they had weathered the storms of life together. This was a good development for Katrina; seeing her mom find one friend who was allowed to visit home was a miracle. Who could this be? What did she do differently? How is this possible? These were the questions she asked herself the day she heard their doorbell ring for the first time. Walking towards the door to see the face of this lost woman, her mom excitedly overtook her and opened the door without asking who it was, as though she was expecting someone

"Mom," Katrina called, "This is Becca Her mom replied, "She’s my friend. With her eyes bewildered, like they were going to fall off from the socket, Katrina said, “Hello Mom’s friend” and walked back to her room without looking back, in order to go and process the scene she had just witnessed in a real-life movie. Mom’s got a friend? How? She couldn’t fathom it. She was her mother’s only friend, so hearing her mom address someone else as “friend" was shocking to her. In the middle of that shock, she was happy for her mom, a lonely woman who has carried the burden of being an outcast alone. Seeing that she found a friend around her age was a good thing and a good start. But... (a thought that interrupted her happy mood). Does she have a child? Her recollection that she didn’t see Becca come in with any child dampened her mood. So if good things only find her mom, what about her? Was she left alone to continue this lonely path? "Katrina,” her mom’s voice interrupted her thought, “Come down, your aunty Becca is going." " My what? She laughed. This was surprisingly funny to her because she hadn’t heard her mom refer to anyone as “her aunty." "Coming,” she replied, impatiently searching for the other leg of her slippers. She hurriedly ran downstairs barefooted.

After what seemed like 1 or 2 hours had passed, Becca was ready to go home. She called to Aunt Becca, "Do you have a child? Becca smiled and responded, “Yes I do. He is 13 years old and his name is Alex." a bit disappointed by the response she got, although she hid it so well and smiled back in acknowledgement. “I hope we can come visit you too at your house," Katrina inquired. "Of course, Katy, your mom and I already discussed that. What do you say about next weekend? "Really"? "That’s fine," Katrina said.Thank you for being a good friend to my mom’s aunt Becca, talking as if she knew the story behind their friendship. Thank you too, Becca said, for giving me a chance. Smiling back at both mother and daughter, she waved goodbye to them and entered an Uber that was already waiting outside.

So how did you two meet? Katrina asked almost immediately after the door closed behind Becca. She replied, "You don’t have to know everything. Is that so, mom? I see now, "she said with a chuckle. But deep down, those words pierced her heart deeply because her mom always told her everything. They were like sisters, so why the secret now? No one ever guessed what was going through Katrina’s mind. She was the master of fake appearances. She learnt how to do this so well from childhood when she had to pretend and put up a brave face to support her mom and prevent her from overthinking. She did it again perfectly, like the pro she is.

             •.        •.        •.      •.   

The feeling of guilt sometimes found its way to her heart whenever she remembered the plan she had made with Alex, but then she was reminded of her mother’s exact words, “ you don’t need to know everything." That came in handy as the perfect excuse to dismiss guilt. Alex was the perfect disguise she needed. Nobody would suspect a thing as they were often called siblings.

Smiling sheepishly at her own thoughts, she muttered, “Siblings we are." We help each other out, right? As if waiting for a response from her mind...

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