04/12/2023

THE STRAWBERRY GIRL

Of Burnham Park Baguio 2011

Wayne Kochenderfer

04/12/2023

It was March, it was warm, it was midway into the 2011 strawberry season and it was in Burnham Park, Baguio City, Philippines where the story begins and ends. The shallow enchanting pond in the center of the park was teeming with small boats of various designs some shaped liked ducks while others of less artistic design were filled with their elated patrons that were representative of all ages—sprinkled with a variety of nationalities. The moon’s features were strengthening as the sun said goodbye to the day. Rays of rainbow tinted light mostly of a reddish rush glided over the water creating a glimmering surreal glow that added to the nostalgic mood of the moment.

04/12/2023

A young cleanly dressed Filipina girl with a countenance of determination was making her rounds while circumventing the well-kept walkway that surrounded the jagged shaped pond. She broadcast her spiel in a somewhat soft but commanding utterance for all that were near pleading for them to purchase her delicious strawberries that were perched on her head—well arranged—on a circler tray. Well-arranged meaning that the biggest and most delicious looking berries were placed in ever ascending circles on a circler tray showing the best to the buying public. And even those that knew of this trick were still emotionally blinded by previous memories that such occasions garnered and profoundly made their purchase expecting that their procurement would consist of a majority of similar fruit—a dream seldom fulfilled.  

04/12/2023

Of course, I as an American tourist and a lover of strawberries; and no less naïve, made my purchase of a kilo of strawberries and being too lazy to insist on my choosing the ones to be placed as part of my purchase, made my P80/kilo purchase and located a rustic well healed wooden bench and set down to feast on the delicacy that soon seemed to turn more green than red right before my eyes—each berry seemed to be more green, smaller and less desirable than the last.

04/12/2023

The strawberries had been placed in a sack that wasn’t designed to hold a kilo of strawberries and immediately on my opening the bag, strawberries began to tousle from it and a significant number reached the cement and began to bounce randomly near my feet. Simultaneously the event became less significant due to the fact the strawberries became less desirable with the discovery that the ones placed as part of my purchase in no way reflected the ones that were arranged on the outside of the tray being displayed by the seller—at this point and in a more sober mood—no real surprise here! Mine for the most part were much smaller and much greener—after a few I slowed down my initial ravenously consumption of those that had been part of the displayed berries and had accidently fallen inward and became accidently part of my purchase—accidentally from the sellers point of view. Perhaps an angel of mercy took pity on me and leaned on some of the berries?

04/12/2023

On such a beautiful day and totally absorbed in my own little world I was oblivious of my surroundings. Under these conditions, I don’t know at what point a person becomes aware of the presence of someone or something invading their space but when it happens and one does become aware it sometimes is startling and it was such when I looked up and noticed a very young Filipina girl staring intensely in my direction, I became totally alert to my environment and to her. It was as if a lion had spotted its pray and was sizing up its quarry and making its plan of attack. No test designed to measure intelligence could reveal as much as one look into her large glittering eyes. She had an uncanny sense of awareness, presence and concentration—she

04/12/2023

was an intelligent adversary. Pity was not kindled; she showed no degree of neglect in dress or manner. I couldn’t understand the intenseness of the look. There was no fear, no lack of strength, no lack of confidence. She knew her objective, she knew her intent. The only thing remaining was her method of carrying out her objective—which at the moment was a complete mystery to me. She seemed to be trying to decide what threat I was to the carrying out of her objective. Would I become angry, threatening or interfere with the course of her ensuing actions? She must have brought into play her previous experiences dealing with such situations and after considering the risk versus the awards lunged forward in my direction! She was quick, agile and with a great sense of purpose

04/12/2023

reached swiftly down to the ground around me and without a word or notable sound gathered up the fallen discarded strawberries and with great speed and agility made her way to her instigator—a lady across the street—a motherly figure. It all happened so fast and with such skill that an experienced athlete would have been proud to have displayed such a degree of athletic ability. And the display of bravery and accomplishment of purpose would have warranted a medal representing some degree of merit.  

04/12/2023

After the few moments that it took to size up what had taken place, I noticed her movements that had relocated her to a safe location across the street and with her prize in hand she was now standing looking back at me and giving me a look that indicated that she wanted me to realize with the display of her most mischievous grin that she had won the battle of wits. She had a look of pride and sense of accomplishment on her soft youthful face. Of course it was no effort or real sacrifice on my part to go across the street and present without saying a word the rest of the strawberries. I took a few pictures to document the event exchanged smiles and retreated back across the street—two lives crossed for a moment and then each moved on—paths unlikely to ever cross again nor the memory of the occasion ever forgotten.

04/12/2023

It is these rare moments of serendipity that pass now and then through our lives lasting only for a moment but creating lasting memories that make our lives more meaningful for having experienced them—thanks strawberry girl, I know you will do well in life.