In grade school I couldn’t buy snacks from the canteen. I always had packed lunch. Although I had an allowance (5 pesos) I refused to part with it for some lame snack. I always saved it. Being a kid, it was hard watching your classmates indulge on combos, yan yan, and chocolate bars while you eat your sandwich or nothing at all. Don’t get me wrong though. I’m not complaining; just reminiscing. Those times were hard but when I look back at it I feel proud of myself. For a child to practice self control and not whine when he can’t get what he wants is a big step towards maturity.
Since I don’t have enough money to address my wants, I decided to enter into business – 5 pesos is enough to support my needs because I always convince myself that I don’t need what I don’t have and anything other than that is just something I want. My problem then was what business and how to establish it.
Fortunately, the idea presented itself soon enough. My classmate wanted badly to get back at some guy from a higher batch for embarrassing him during lunch. Then when I got to my cousin’s place from school I saw him holding the answer (it was one of those classic cartoon moments when a big bulb lights up above your head) – a gun. So I approached him, asked about the price, how to get one, and if it wouldn’t get us in trouble. I was satisfied with his answers so I decided to push through with it. I floated the idea to him and he agreed to help me out. When I offered it to my classmate he excitedly agreed. And so it started. This guy told that guy who told another guy and this guy’s friends what I was selling. Orders came pouring in. I even had to bring brochures because they wanted varying models aside from the favorites Desert Eagle and Beretta.
I was getting what I want. I was doing good business. But of course, not all good things last. I wasn’t matured enough to anticipate problems and act to prevent it. I was so into the business that I failed to consider how dangerous it was for us kids to be playing with big men’s toys. I failed to take the side of safety, of prudence, and of discreetness. I erred.
At the time when business was done so publicly that exchanges were made under the cover of huddled students, my business venture slipped away at an instant. One of the buyers, after getting his item, immediately opened it for testing. In a blink of an eye he took the gun, loaded its magazine, and popped at an unsuspecting nerd who, of the most unfortunate of circumstances, was just passing through. He got hit in the eye. His scream echoed through the classroom. The huddled students quickly dispersed. I knew right there and then that it was the end of my booming business. I slipped all the pellet guns in my bag and walked away from the scene all the while thinking that what happened was my fault.
Luckily, the victim didn’t complain. Teachers asked questions but no one squealed. The code of silence among kids prevailed. Pellet guns were never seen in the hands of students again… at least in my classmates’.
