Joy's Treasures
Note: Books are shown in the photo.
As Joy stood by the sink, scrubbing away at the dishes, she revealed something to her best friend and co-worker, Patricia. "It breaks my heart, dear friend," she said with a sigh, "to see Mama and Papa constantly struggling to decide between putting food on the table at least three times a day and sending their children to school. That's why, before I became a dishwasher at this restaurant, I spent my mornings and afternoons cleaning houses and offering laundry services to our neighbors for a humble fee after I tutor my younger siblings in their basic schoolwork, just to help ease the burden of my family." Patricia nodded, her eyes full of admiration for her friend.
Joy is a young, soft-spoken, and mild-mannered woman.
Her hair was short, neatly combed whenever she was at the restaurant where she worked as a dishwasher, and of a nondescript dark brown color. However, everywhere else, it was tousled due to the wind or her movements. Instead of being kept in a protective case, Joy's glasses are a constant companion, always perched on the bridge of her nose, revealing the kindness and gentleness that shone from her eyes. The lenses have slight scratches and smudges, which suggest that Joy uses her hands or her shirt to clean them rather than a microfiber cloth or lens cleaning solution, and the hinges are a bit loose from being opened and closed so many times.
People often found themselves at ease around her because she often listens attentively while sharing her own experiences and observations.
Joy had been a dishwasher for four years now. She cleaned plates and cutlery, pots and pans, and glasses after every customer's meal. It was part of her job description, but even when there were no dishes left behind for her to wash, she would still clean the floor, the tables, and the windows. She would wipe the dirt and dust off the chairs, counters, and tabletops, sweep up any crumbs or spilled food, then mop the floor.
Joy stood for hours every day, ensuring that every dish and utensil was clean and ready for the next customer, and her feet often ached from standing in one place for so long. However, no matter how much her feet hurt, she continued to work diligently and efficiently.
One day, as Joy was walking home from work, she noticed a young girl sitting on the sidewalk, and as it turns out, it was the same child reading the same book in the same spot as far as she could remember. The young girl and her grandmother sold Sampaguita on their spot on the streets to earn a living. Joy never learned to read or write, and her lack of reading and writing skills made her feel embarrassed. She didn't want to show her ignorance in front of the child, after all.
However, later on, Joy decided that she was going to learn how to read so that she could finally discover the answer to her question. She started spending her free time reading freely available writing on the internet using her mobile phone and even read signs and billboards on her way to and from work, asking her younger siblings for help with words she didn't understand and practicing writing on scrap paper.
Hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks. But even after weeks of reading and practicing, Joy still struggled to read fluently. One day, she saw the young girl in the same spot, reading the same book as before. Joy mustered up all her courage and greeted her with a warm smile.
"Hi there," Joy said, careful not to step on the other books lying around which belonged to the girl and her grandmother. "What are you reading?"
The girl looked up at Joy and smiled shyly.
"It's a book about a girl who becomes a doctor and helps people," the girl said, pointing to the cover of the book. "It's my favorite book, and I read it over and over again."
Joy was fascinated by the girl's love for reading, and she couldn't help but feel disappointed. She wished she had the same passion for reading and the same access to books. She wanted to know more about the book, but she didn't want to seem ignorant, so she simply smiled and nodded.
"That sounds like a great book," Joy said. "I'm glad you enjoy it so much."
The girl looked back down at her book, and Joy lingered for a moment, unsure of what to say next. She knew she had to go home soon to her parents and younger siblings, but she didn't want to leave the girl's side and her books yet.
"I'm Joy, by the way," she said, extending her hand. "What's your name?"
The girl looked up again and shook Joy's hand. "I'm Maricel," she said, her eyes lighting up with delight. "It's nice to meet you, Joy."
For the next few weeks, Joy made a point to stop by Maricel's spot on the street every day after work. She would bring Maricel small gifts, like pencils and notebooks, and the two of them would talk about books and life. Joy learned so much from Maricel, and she was grateful for the friendship that had blossomed between them.
Eventually, Joy's father noticed that Joy had been spending more time reading and practicing her newly acquired reading skills lately. He decided to talk to her about it.
"Joy, can I talk to you for a minute?" her father asked.
"Sure, Papa. What's going on?" Joy responded, looking up from her book.
"I've noticed that you've been spending a lot of time reading and practicing your reading lately. While I think it's great that you're so dedicated to learning, I'm a little concerned that it's taking away from your time with the family. Your siblings have been complaining that you're not helping them with their homework or playing with them anymore, and your mother and I have noticed that you've been more distant lately. Is everything okay?" her father asked.
Joy sighed, "I'm sorry, Papa. I didn't realize that I was neglecting my responsibilities at home. I've just been really excited about learning to read and it's been taking up a lot of my time. But I understand now that I need to find a balance between my personal pursuits and my responsibilities at home."
"I'm glad you understand, Joy. Your dedication to your job and your new hobby are impressive, and I think it's great that you want to learn more. But remember, family always comes first. Perhaps you can find a way to incorporate your newfound passion for reading into helping your siblings with their schoolwork or finding other ways to spend time with them," her father suggested.
Joy nodded, "You're right, Papa. I'll make more of an effort to balance my time and responsibilities. And who knows, maybe my siblings will even start to love learning too!"
Joy's father smiled, "I think that's a great attitude, Joy. We all support your pursuit of knowledge and want to see you succeed, but we also want to make sure you're not neglecting your family in the process."
One day, Joy visited Maricel again to chat together and when she was about to leave, Maricel stopped her and handed her the book she had been reading.
"Here, Joy," she said. "I want you to have this book. Maybe it will inspire you, too."
Joy was touched by the gesture and accepted the book with a grateful smile. She promised Maricel that she would read it and take good care of it.
From that day on, Joy made reading a part of her daily routine even more. She continued to read books and articles online, borrowed books from her friends and family, and even asked her younger siblings to read to her when she struggled with certain words. She was determined to become a better reader and to learn as much as she could.
Years went by, and Joy never forgot about Maricel and the impact she had on her life. She continued to read and learn, and eventually, she went back to school to earn her high school diploma. She then pursued a degree in education and became a teacher, determined to help other children like Maricel and her siblings discover the joy of reading.
In the end, Joy's determination and love for reading had not only changed her life but also the lives of countless others. And it all started with a chance encounter with a little girl on the street who loved books just as much as she did.
Note: Joy's Treasures is a short story written by Khadijah (Jaja) M. Masorong.