Danger

This story happened about two years ago.
But first let me introduce Danger.
Originally known as Junior. But when my brother was still a kid and can’t pronounced his words right, he insisted to call Junior as Danger.
And the name stuck until this day.
Kuya Danger, is like the right hand of my Dad. Or something like that. He doesn’t work. I don’t know how he support his family. I think his family left him one time. Then he rented his place to have money. Unfortunately, that was his only collateral. Now he resides at Dad’s Baguio Van Terminal. He has his own room there, where he and his family resides. I don’t know if they pay for their electricity.
But I just heard that he has three sets of family now. Hmmm.
When my parents marriage was already on the rocky stage, my dad named all his newly bought thus secret lands under Kuya Danger’s name. And we said that, if dad had an untimely death, Kuya Danger will be a rich man.
Kuya Danger is also Dad’s jogging buddy. Dad always wakes him at four in the morning and they jog. Then Dad would treat him breakfast.
We jokingly said that Kuya Danger is Dad’s first born, even if he older than Dad.

Now, that you have a bit of a background of who Danger is… I shall tell you a little story about him.

“Have you heard that Danger is in the jailhouse?”, Ate Cheryl, my cousin, said.
“Really?” Nana said, surprised.
“What did he do?”, I asked.
“He stabbed his nephew with a knife.”, Net-net, my niece and Ate Cheryl’s daughter, answered.
“Where? Which part of the body?”, Yen asked.
“Near the stomach.”, Ate Cheryl said.
“Dead?”, I asked.
“No. But he’s in the hospital now.”, Ate Cheryl said with a solemn nod.
“But what happened?”, one of us asked.

So Ate Cheryl, the towns biggest gossip, told us the gory details.
Apparently, Danger and his nephew were drunk. Got into a heated argument about cards that ended when Kuya Danger stabbed his nephew to prove his point.

“Is he still being held prisoner?”, Nana asked.
“Yes. We are gonna visit him later. Want to come with us?”, Ate Cheryl asked.
Seeing the glaring sun, “So where is he being held?”, I questioned. If I have to walk far in this heat, then I have to decline and wait until he gets out.
If he does.
“Oh, just the next block.” Netnet said.
“Okay. At least I have my Chinese umbrella with me.”, I said.
“I bet he’s still wearing his usual attire.”, Ate Cheryl chuckled.
“Oh yeah, the one that he keeps on wearing this past few days.”, Yen said.
“Haha. The tight fitting cycling shorts where you can’t help but notice his crotch.”, I laughed.
“Yeah. And that famous vest that he keeps wearing!”, Ate Cheryl added laughing out loud.
“Why don’t we go now?”, Nana asked.
“Okay then let’s go.”, Net said.
“Lets pass Cindy’s on the way first. I’ve been craving for this monay putok of theirs. I’ll buy some for Kuya Danger too.”, I said.

When we entered the jail house. The first thing I noticed was the officer sitting on top of this skyscraper-high chair of his. He was looking down on us from his lofty height and with his huge notebook of his that when you add a white beard you can say that Saint Peter doesn’t just guards the pearly gates of heaven but also guards the gates of jail rooms.
“Ah Madam! What can I help you with?”, he said to Manang Cheryl.
Smiling, she answered, “We’re here to visit Danger.”
“Danger”, Saint Peter hollered. “You have visitors.”
Then we saw Kuya Danger appear behind his bars.
“Hello!”, he greeted us jovially. Then he looked to Saint Peter and said, “I’ll take care of them.”
And with a wave of his hand Saint Peter gave his blessings.
Smiling, Kuya Danger swung his prison doors wide open and said. “Come in, come in.”
Stupefied, we followed him inside where he entered one of the many unoccupied cells. After locking us in, himself. He sat on the unmade bed, took out a pack of cigarettes and asked us what’s up with the world.