Rev&Tax / Devin

I'm not much of a person who likes to wait in line-most especially when the line is unusually longer than expected. This one though, took a turn for some laughs as Devin (our grandson) came along with me.

1 Day Ahead
My better half decided to task me with payment at the Revenue and Taxation (known for short, Rev&Tax). This was towards the end of the month and to make matters worst, it was "end of the quarter" when businesses and others scramble to pay up or be in deep shit. I had just taken her (my better half) to Rev&Tax the previous day just to pay for a simple business license. I waited in the car for what I thought was and endless wait before she came back out, hopped on the car and said "man, there's too many..." I just thought "frustrating and plain arrogant people"

The Next Day

Devin and I got there the next day to find the line spreading from east to west, taking up one side of the entire hallway which was lined with portable chairs. I just held onto my grandson's hand and stood at the entrance observing what was going on when a glass door to my right swung open and out came two people. Two individuals in line nearest to us stood up and entered the door where the two others came out from. We gradually walked to the end of the line, seated and timed the process. Every 10 or 15 minutes, we would all get up, moved one or two chair(s) over until one or two finally enters the cashier's booth area to do whatever business they had to do. I was only there to pay for one damn business license but now stuck in line with the rest.

Picking a Fight

Devin was somewhat getting bored and so he got off my lap after several attempts, stood for awhile when a guy came through the main entrance with his radio blurring some transmission. Devin let loose of me, approach the guy and there he was with a very clear "brod, you want fight". Everyone seating in the hallway who had been observing my boy laughed. I called for him but he kept behind the guy with the radio who didn't pay much attention to my boy's comment.

Getting Fresh

Two females sat to my left (one Filipino & the other Chamorro) before this big Caucasian dude with long beard, mustache and long crummy hair. He had on a T-shirt, shorts with slippers (zorrie) not to mention his round belly. This was the same dude who told me "Let him go. He's only a kid. Let him roam around...besides, he's keeping us entertained". I was a bit uncomfortable with my little one mindlessly roaming and entering the office spaces as I would constantly get off my behind and go after him. Another woman employee came out from one of the doors and there goes Devin running after her "Ay girlfriend-you got money". Laughter came from amongst us with the Chamorro commenting "si dad todo fumunagi enao" or something to that effect.

Feed Time

The line was moving slowly as frustration starts to built into everyone of us waiting. Some employees were seen roaming from door to door before this traffic started calming down. Then we saw some exiting the main entrance with their purses or what have they when the female Chamorro said "esta fanan oran lunch-no" (it's probably lunch time). I just thought to myself "11:30 and I'm still here". Now I can really feel the frustration building in me that I had forgotten about my boy who was no where in sight. I got up and looked around when one of the ladies in line before us pointed towards a door as if to tell me "he went in there". Sure enough, I knocked and entered and there he was sitted with 3 women employees who were having lunch-him too. Our sister-in-law Mona was one of them. I just told them how sorry I was and Mona just said it was okay as it was her lunch time. "I'll bring him out to you when he's finish eating".

Escort Service

I went back out and the Chamorro lady asked "monge i lai mu" (where's your kid) I responded comically "machochochu" (his working). The Caucasian dude "where" same respond "his working" he again, jokingly "he probably has more contacts around here than his pops" and everyone tend to agree with a little giggle. These occurrences made time past as we were slowly (but moving) towards the cashier's booth. A few minutes later, Mona came out holding Devin's hand with his other hand holding on to a doughnut. Another comment from the Caucasian dude to my boy "you work here" with a simple "yeah" from Devin who was truly working on the doughnuts.

Santa Clause

I think it was past 2 p.m. already and Devin had found a new playmate, a daughter of another person who came later and sat herself towards the end of the line. They were both running up and down the hallway and I could care less already of what my boy does when he finally approached the Caucasian dude whom he had gained some friendly trust with, stood in front of him and sort of surveyed him from top to bottom as I and others observed. He approached the dude, placed each of his small hands on each of the Caucasians knees and asked "you Santa Clause" the dude replied "that's my brother". Devin asked again "you shower" dude replies "yes I showered" Devin looking down the dudes feet with his hands still on dudes knees "you wass yo feet" dude replied "yes I washed my feet". I knew where the next question was going I just had to stop him from going further. Then came the Chamorro lady "tomtum boy dai enao lai mu".

Although there is no moral to this story, it only shows how much young ones can easily take your mind off from things you constantly are aware of around you. They make you smile, laugh, good ice breakers to avail of conversation to others whom you hardly know and most of all, great entertainers too.

Church Comedian

The Parish Priest, during one of his Sunday homily, stopped and told the congregation "wait, we have a commercial" and that's when Devin went up front, stood and faced the mass attendees-making face. It was a laugh too which brings me to think of placing ankle cuffs on him next time we go to Sunday church.