Si Polly sa Palengke

Tinupad ni Berta ang kanyang pangako. Alas-nuwebe pa lang ng umaga ay kumakatok na siya sa berdeng pinto, may basket sa paa, at magkasama silang naglakad papunta sa plasa kung saan bumubukas ang palengke tuwing Sabado. Amoy dalandan at sariwang tinapay ang kalye. “Magandang umaga!” tawag ni Polly sa unang puwesto, at para bang sabay-sabay sumagot ang buong hanay ng mga toldo.

Berta kept her promise. At nine in the morning she was already knocking at the green door, basket in paw, and they walked together to the square where the Saturday market opens. The street smelled of oranges and fresh bread. "Good morning!" Polly called out at the first stall, and the whole row of awnings seemed to answer at once.

Sa puwesto ng prutas, may kambing na naka-apron na guhit-guhit na nagtatambak ng mansanas sa isang perpektong piramide. Itinuro ni Polly ang isang bagay na berde at matinik. “Ano ito? Hindi ko pa nakikita ang prutas na ito.” Tumawa ang kambing, humiwa ng manipis na piraso, at iniabot ito. Ganoon natutunan ni Polly na sa lugar na ito, tinitikman muna bago magdesisyon. “Gusto ko ng dalawang mansanas at isa niyan, para matikman.”

At the fruit stall a goat in a striped apron was stacking apples into a perfect pyramid. Polly pointed at something green and spiky. "What is this? I have never seen this fruit." The goat laughed, cut a thin slice, and held it out. That is how Polly learned that in this neighborhood you taste first and decide later. "I want two apples and one of those, to try it."

“Magkano lahat?” Nagsabi ng presyo ang kambing, tumango si Berta na patas naman, at binilang ni Polly ang mga barya nang isa-isa, masaya sa bawat numero. “Isang supot, pakiusap. Kailangan kong dalhin lahat pauwi.” Sa paglalakad pauwi, habang umuugoy ang supot sa ilalim ng isang pakpak, napagdesisyunan ni Polly na magiging tuwing Sabadong gawain ang palengke. May mga aral na mas masarap kaysa sa tunog nila.

"How much is it all together?" The goat named a price, Berta nodded that it was fair, and Polly counted out the coins one by one, proud of every single number. "A bag, please. I have to carry everything home." On the walk back, with the bag swinging under one wing, Polly decided that the market would be a Saturday habit. Some lessons taste better than they sound.