THE four farmers were listless and melancholic. They loaded the sacks of unhusked rice (palay) on their respective carabao-drawn carts. It was as though they were unduly burdened by the activity. The four remained quiet as they mechanically went about their work.
It had been a bad year. The rains came late and too little fell. Most damaging was the absence of sufficient water at the time of the flowering (pagsapaw). The result was the lowest rice yield in several decades.
The farmers had to pay in kind for their advances in the form of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and insecticides. When they mentally added their indebtedness and subtracted from the yield, the net was certain to be negative.
The thought depressed the four. Yet their sense of honor demanded delivery of all their harvest.
True enough, when the sack count was made, the mill owner announced the transaction to be insufficient even if payment for the usurious interest rates were postponed until the following year.
Almost like a gift, the farmers received twelve pesos. Just enough to buy a bottle of gin. Which is exactly what they proceeded to do.
The four sat morosely by the roadside under a spreading mango tree.
"Let us just accept the reality," the first farmer suggested. "We can no longer alter our present fate. But, hey, let’s talk about what we would do if we did get money for our harvest."
"Good idea," slurred the second farmer as he quickly gulped down a shot of gin. "If I had the money I would buy a sewing machine. That would really be something for my wife and we would not have to spend for the clothing needs of the family."
"In my case," volunteered the third farmer, "I would buy a stereo. Why, my whole household will really enjoy the drama, the news, and the music."
The first farmer gave his thoughts. "Me, I would buy a television set – one of the big, new models. That would be an excellent source of entertainment and information."
The fourth farmer remained silent. When he was egged on to say his piece, he blurted, "If I had the income, I would still have to pay off my great debts. So just pass me the bottle of gin and I will have a big gulp."
