Nenet, 7 years old and is always teased for not knowing how
to read yet, came to my room to see what I was doing. I had my manuscript
beside me as I played pinball on my computer. He looked at the thick sheaf of
papers and asked, “Ikaw nagsulat nyan? (Did you write that?)” Proudly, I said,
“Oo, ako nagsulat lahat ng yan! (Yup, I wrote all of those!)” He then leafed
through the one hundred or so pages of the manuscript and said, “Ah, sa
computer. (Oh, you used the computer.)” Having an idea where the conversation
was headed, I looked at him suspiciously and said, “Sa computer ko sinulat, oo.
(I wrote it using the computer, yes.)” Quietly, as if talking to himself,
“Mabilis lang pag sa computer e. (It’s easy to write using the computer.)” I
knew more than to argue.
Why do writers never get the respect they deserve? Now let
me go hide in the corner until all you bullies have left.
