The Vendor

By Johnnie J. Lim

Larry had just arrived from London the other day. He was a total stranger in town where he wanted to cover a news story about the culture of the people living in a place called “Land of the Promise.”  He was so eager to begin his mission. However, his colleague had not yet arrived from California, USA.  He was actually waiting for Henry who would accompany him as a camera man. It was such a fine Sunday morning that Larry couldn’t resist the beauty of the environment. The streets were not so busy compared to that in the city. On the opposite street, he saw an old man selling Durians. He had only learned about the fruits from reading. So he took  the chance to buy in order to taste it.

 “Hmmn…It tastes good, huh. I like it, but I don’t like the smell,” the young man said. “Yes, sir. This is good Durian,” he exclaimed. “This nice Durian, sir. You don’t eat many because it’s not better for you, sir. Especially you drink soft drinks, no, no, sir. Your stomach will pain. And you have high blood, Durians is dangerous. You know, sir, this is nice Durian, but eating many Durians very very bad,” the vendor said.

Larry looked at the man while he was cutting another Durian into halves for him. He knew that the old man was there to sell the fruits, but he felt more comfortable with the vendor by listening to his advice about the danger the fruits may cause when much is eaten. “You new here?” The vendor continued. “you  no friends? Don’t walk away here. Not good, sir. People kidnap you. They get your money. Many, many money they get. So you no money, you die. You understand, sir?” The vendor added. Larry only gave him a smile. He listened while eating the second fruit. The vendor took his mobile phone from his belt bag and used it. After  awhile, he continued talking, “Sir you get my number, you want?” “Huh? No, thanks,” Larry replied. Minutes later, his cell phone rang. It’s a call from Henry who was already in the airport. So he paid the vendor, wiped his hands, and went back to the hotel. “You go now, sir?” said the vendor. “Yup!” Larry said. “Okay, sir, thank you,” the old man said.

On the next morning, Larry and Henry were ready to go for their mission. They needed to ride a jeepney and travel  about 40 kilometers away from the town proper to reach the target place. They were already in the terminal waiting for the next trip, when the vendor passed by pushing his cart loaded with Durians. “Hey, sir!” The vendor shouted. “Where you go? Oh, this is your friend? You two go there very, very far?" Said he. Larry looked at Henry and noded at the vendor. “Yes!”  Said Larry. “Ah…no good going there. So you brave. Many, many bad persons there, sir. Be careful.” Larry only smiled at the old man. “The next trip is here!” Shouted the dispatcher. “Okay, let’s go, Henry,” Larry invited.  Both took the ride heading to the place where Larry assumed to be the best place where he could cover a very interesting story about a group of people who had been fighting against the government. However, a day after, the news about them broke throughout the town. The local government became worried about them for doing such move without due permission. KKIDNAP FOR RANSOM was the issue. And Four million pesos was the price set for the freedom of the two aliens. A week passed. The two international reporters were not yet freed since the national government was hesitant to give the demand. There was actually negotiation between the two parties but it didn’t work. On the following week, two pieces of pictures were found outside the police station. Those were the pictures of the two victims. One was beheaded and the other one was cut into pieces. Immediately after few hours, the pictures were published in the newspapers. Many people learned about it including the vendor. “I told them, many, many bad persons there. They take money. You don’t give, you die,” the vendor said to the reporters.