That little store was my lifesaver

Our viand earlier today was chicken liver cooked in soy sauce with potatoes, leeks and pepper. We call that adobo. It is so much better when eaten with rice. I was not able to take a photo of it though so I have nothing to share.

However, it did remind me of those days long ago of a sundry store that also serves meals.

I was in high school then. I have mentioned in my other articles that I studied far from home, about eight-hour bus ride but it can take longer depending on the situation of the road and the weather. One could get stranded and it may even take you one day to arrive to your destination. The road that snakes up and down to the mountains can have erosions or road slips brought about by inclement weather.

We were not born rich but we have enough to get by. Going home every so often would be costly that's why the duration of the school year, we will go home 2-3 times a year.

There were no cellphones then and internet was unheard of. Our stipend and payment for our school fees were sent through the mail. Whenever a letter from home would arrive, it means money lol! Mom would write letters and asked about us and update us with what is going on back home. We would then write back, not right away but on the weekends where we are more free to go to town to send our mail and also to buy stuff we need from the allowance that we have just received. Another way of sending/receiving letter is through a bus. There my mom would send letters and the bus conductor will then deliver the letter to the school which will be received by the registrar's office and from there it will be given to us. We will also hail buses that are heading back to our place and hand them our letters to be picked up at the bus terminal especially if there is no emergency. There is no way to contact our mom that we had sent a letter. Getting our letter from the terminal would be by chance. So most of the time, we send it to the post office. Unlike when she is the one sending letter for the bus route passes by the school so there is more certainty that her letter will be delivered.

So what's with the little store I talked about? I'm getting there.

Because of this kind of setup, most of the time our stock especially food will ran out before the next time our mom will send us our allowance. Most of the times, we would borrow from our dormmates or classmates and friends.

There is a store that is just a few steps from the school compound. It's where most students hang out during breaks or after school or whenever there is free time. I was not aware that this store exists right away. It was a Sunday I think when we had nothing better to do that a classmate or a friend or a dormmate, I can't remember now, invited us to go there. I haven't explored the whole of the school compound much more outside of it.

Whenever we ran out of food or if there is something that we needed to buy but we don't have money yet, we would go to that store and get what we want and then it will be put in our tab. Once our allowance arrives, we would pay right away what we owe the store. We have to be very careful though with the things we get for sometimes our allowance is not enough and I don't want my tab to keep piling up.

We have learned how to tighten our belts so to speak.

Why did it remind me of liver?

They always serve what is called bopis. It consists of chicken liver, bell pepper and carrots minced and cooked in soy sauce. That became my instant favorite dish the first time I tasted it.

For four years of my high school, that store had been a huge part of my school life. Sometimes when we have activities in school and we were late for meal, we would head there and of course there will be no more food left but they would be kind enough to cook for us. Even when they have closed or are still closed, they would gladly open their doors for you and take care of you.

When students would skip classes, you can find them there. I remember when we were caught cheating in one of our exams, the three of us involved in the answer sharing headed there and ranted. Those who snitched on us were those who would ask answers from us from time to time. I find that laughable when I look back at it now. The things we do when we are young.

Years after high school I would go back to the school to attend alumni or just to meet with high school friends. In one of my visits, I checked on the store but the couple who used to run it were no longer there. They have flown abroad and are living with one of their children. The other child left behind runs the store then but it's never the same anymore.

We do have a canteen within the school compound but that is not open all the time plus their stock is limited that's why most of us back then would prefer going to the store outside the campus.

Have you had similar experience?

Feel free to share.

Thanks so much for dropping by!