short story - "The Turtle and the Shark"

This is a short story as a creative response to the short animated film "The Turtle and the Shark" by Ryan Woodyard. The short animated film reminds me of a lifestyle or more like a tradition in Philippines. A tradition mostly Eastern country follows. A family tradition where the firstborn child is considered the responsible, reliable, and strongest out of the siblings.

Daniel was the eldest of five siblings. His parents work as a servant in a wealthy family in the Philippines. Evelyn, Daniel's mother, works 6 days a week as a nanny of the Governor’s children and Allan, Daniel's father, works as a private driver of the Governor in their area. His parents were hardworking people but the money earned could barely give them food in the table.

Daniel as an eldest is responsible to look after his younger siblings everyday due to his parents working late mostly every day. When he was 12, he felt the pressure of being the eldest and the obligation he must do. He once thought that his parents, especially her mother cared more on the other children than her own. This causes him to be reserved in front of his parents. The pressure eases up due to his younger siblings being obedient. He started to be less reserved.

At the age of 15, he dreamed to be a successful doctor someday. And when he turned 17, he asked his parents if he could pursue his dream as a doctor. His parents were delighted about his dream; however, they do not have the money for the tuition fee. Even if he gets a scholarship, it is still not enough for his daily transportation, and daily necessities. He felt disappointed and lost. He do not know what to do next. His father talked to him and tried to convince him to understand their current situation. His father also told him to wait for a couple of years. Allan, Daniel's father, suggested if Daniel was willing to work while waiting for his parents to have enough money to support him. He still felt disappointed but realized that his parents also have his younger siblings to feed and support. He thought there was nothing he could do but agree to his father.

He started finding a job but no one will accept him because he is still not on the legal age for work. For a year, he stayed home and took care for his siblings, learned to cook, and be a father and a mother figure to his siblings. Undeniably, he matured and more responsible. When he turned 18, he decided to try to look for work again. Six months passed by, he found a job he could do. Tomorrow will be a new beginning for him. He has been working in his current job for almost 2 years. Both His parents and Daniel still has not enough money to support him.

At the age of 20, Daniel was in his room, waking up early in the morning opening the curtain. It was a Monday morning. The sun has not yet risen. His two male younger siblings were still sleeping in the room on their small beds. Being careful not to wake them, he leaves the bedroom quietly to prepare himself for work. Before leaving the room, he picked up his overalls draping his brother's study desk. He was disturbed by it he feels that his overalls should not be near his brothers’ desk. It unnerves him, but he brushes it off and leaves the room. While preparing his lunch, he was deep in thoughts thinking if there will come a day that his dream will come true or will it stay as a dream.

It made me realize that we may have different traditions, and culture, but this proves that we are similar in a way, our belief on putting the need of the whole family first before own needs.