The Boy Who Wouldn't Stop Growing

THE BOY WHO WOULDN’T

STOP

GROWING

S TO RY BY

ILLUST R AT ED BY

DC Mostrales

Ariana Asuncion

THE BOY WHO WOULDN’T

STOP

GROWING STORY BY

DC Mostrales

ILLUSTR ATED BY

Ariana Asuncion

THE BOY WHO WOULDN’T STOP GROWING Story by DC Mostrales Illustrated by Ariana Asuncion Design and layout by Anissa Aguila and Eugene Tuazon Filipino translation by Ace Ancheta and Abner Dormiendo ACKNOW LEDGEM EN TS

Mr. Allan Alberto N. Derain Mr. Martin Villanueva Ateneo Gabay S TA FF

Kuwentong Pambata Director: Manuel Iñigo A. Angulo Head Illustrator and Creative Director: Ariana Asuncion Illustrating Team: Corrine Golez, Moli Muñoz, Veron Oliva, Krysten Tan, Jen Venancio Kuwentong Pambata Book Launch Project Heads: Alonso de Leon and Maia Nery Kuwentong Pambata Book Launch Project Team: Christabel Corpus, Lasmyr D. Edullantes, Micah Marie Naadat, Ysa Ocliasa Kuwentong Pambata Outreach Program Coordinator: Christabel Corpus Copyright reverts to the respective author and artist of this book.

No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced in any means without the written permission of the copyright holders.

This book is not for sale.

Correspondence may be addressed to: HEIGHTS , Publications Room, MVP 202 Ateneo de Manila University PO Box 154, 1099 Manila, Philippines Tel. no. (632) 426-6001 loc. 5448 heights-ateneo.org is the official literary and artistic publication and organization of the Ateneo de Manila University.

HEIGHTS

THIS BOOK BELONGS TO

Little Jaime wished he were bigger.

When Mom set about to work, he’d wish there was more he could do to help.

When Mom dusted the tables and the chairs, Jaime stood by ready and smiling.

Hiling ni Jaime Liit na mas tumangkad pa siya. Tuwing nagtatrabaho si Nanay sa bahay, hiling niyang may magawa siya para makatulong. Tuwing nililinis ni Nanay ang mga mesa’t upuan, nakaantabay si Jaime, nakangiti’t handang tumulong.

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But, the duster was much too big. As Jaime reached for the topmost shelves, he ended up knocking over the poor glass angels.

Ngunit, masyadong malaki ang pang-alikabok. Kapag sinusubukang alikabukan ni Jaime ang pinakatuktok ng istante, nasasagi niya ang mga babasaging anghel.

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Mom laughed it off, “It’s not becoming of boys to fret over their size.”

Jaime however didn’t give up that easily.

Matatawa na lang si Nanay, “Hindi yata bagay sa mga batang lalaki na mag-alala sa kanilang laki.” Pero hindi basta sumuko lang si Jaime.

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When Mom baked cookies, eager Jaime ran to the cupboard to fetch a bowl. But, the bowl was much too big. Jaime couldn’t see very far up the cupboard, too. But he grabbed for the bowl anyway.

Pots and pans and spoons and forks came crashing down.

Nang gumawa si Nanay ng mga biskwit, masigasig na tumakbo si Jaime upang kumuha ng mangkok. Ngunit masyadong malaki ang mangkok para sa kaniya. Hindi rin maabot ni Jaime ang paminggalan. Pero sinunggaban pa rin niya ito. Kaya nagsibagsakan ang mga kaserola, kawali’t mga kubyertos.

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When Mom went out to tend the garden, Jaime came running close on her heels.

Nang lumabas si Nanay upang maghalaman, nagmamadaling bumuntot si Jaime.

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But, the rake was much too big, not to mention heavy. Jaime strained with all his strength. He eventually managed to lift the rake. But, it flew and landed on a row of roses.

Jaime couldn’t seem to do anything right.

Ngunit masyadong malaki ang kalaykay, at mabigat pa para sa kaniya. Buong-lakas na iniangat ni Jaime ang kalaykay. Naglao’y nabuhat naman niya ito. Pero tumilapon ito at bumagsak sa hanay ng mga rosas. Tila wala talagang magawang maayos si Jaime.

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Mom came by to cheer up Jaime, “You will always be the right size for a hug.”

Nilapitan ni Nanay si Jaime upang pangitiin siya.

“Saktong-sakto ka pa rin naman sa yakap ko, e!”

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But Jaime was still unhappy.

He stormed out to the balcony to be alone.

Pero hindi pa rin masaya si Jaime.

Tumakbo siya patungo sa balkonahe para mapag-isa.

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A star saw that Jaime was sad so she appeared to him, “What’s the matter, dear child?”

Nakita ng isang tala na malungkot si Jaime kaya lumapit ito sa paslit. “May problema ka ba, anak?”

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“I can’t seem to do anything right, because I’m small,” said Jaime.

“Wala po kasi akong nagagawang tama dahil maliit ako,” sagot ni Jaime.

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“I’m the second star to the left,” the star smiled.

“I make sad little kids grow up and up and up.”

“Ako ang ikalawang tala sa kaliwa,” ngumiti ang tala.

“Kaya kong magpalaki ng mga batang paslit nang malaking-malaki.”

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Jaime was delighted. He put his hands together and wished to grow up and up and up.

The star giggled and sprinkled stardust, “Just you wait until tomorrow.”

Tuwang-tuwa si Jaime. Pinagdaop niya ang kaniyang mga kamay at humiling na siya’y lumaki nang lumaki nang lumaki.

Humagikgik ang tala at nagsaboy ng pulbos-tala, “Abangan mo na lang bukas ang mangyayari!”

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The next morning, Jaime did see a big difference.

He was now big enough that he could see and dust the topmost shelves.

Kinaumagahan, napansin ni Jaime na malaki nga ang kaniyang pinagbago. Lumaki na siya at kayang-kayang abutin at alikabukan ang pinakatuktok ng istante.

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Mom was a little puzzled, but delighted nonetheless. Jaime kept growing.

Nalito ngunit natuwa naman ang kaniyang Nanay.

At lumaki nang lumaki si Jaime.

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Jaime could now easily fetch the bowl from the cupboard.

He was even big enough to stir up a batter. Mom tried to help him bake.

Kayang-kaya nang kumuha ni Jaime ng mangkok mula sa paminggalan. Malaki na rin siya para maghalo ng mga sangkap-pangluto. Tutulong sana ang Nanay niya sa pagluluto.

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Jaime pushed her away now that he could do everything by himself. Mom started to worry about this sudden change.

Jaime kept growing.

Pero tinanggihan ito ni Jaime ngayong kayang-kaya na niyang gawin ang lahat nang mag-isa. Nagsimulang magalala ang Nanay niya sa biglaang pagbabago ng anak. At lumaki pa nang lumaki si Jaime.

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Jaime could now lift the rake, the hoe, and even a shovel.

Ngayon, kayang-kaya na ni Jaime na magbuhat ng kalaykay, asarol, pati na rin ng pala.

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And to top all of that, he climbed a tree to pick a guava fruit.

At higit sa lahat, kaya na niyang umakyat ng puno upang pumitas ng bunga ng bayabas.

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But, Jaime didn’t stop growing. A branch snapped because he was too heavy.

Ngunit hindi tumigil sa paglaki si Jaime.

Nabali ang sangang inakyat niya dahil masyado siyang mabigat.

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Soon, he found it more and more difficult to get through doors. Eventually, he could no longer fit inside the house.

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Di naglaon, unti-unti siyang nahirapang pumasok sa mga pinto. Di nagtagal, di na rin siya magkasya sa loob ng kanilang bahay.

He couldn’t join the family when they were having a warm dinner. Mom gave him a warm pot of soup, even if it could scarcely cover his hand.

Hindi na niya masamahan ang kaniyang pamilya tuwing maghahapunan sila. Binigyan siya ni Nanay ng mainit na sopas, ngunit ni hindi matakpan ng kaserola ang kaniyang palad.

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Because he was so big, it was difficult to find a roof big enough for him when it rained.

Jaime was wet and cold, but he still wouldn’t stop growing.

Dahil sa sobrang laki niya, wala siyang masisilungan sa tuwing umuulan. Basangbasa’t nanlalamig na si Jaime, ngunit di pa rin siya tumigil sa paglaki.

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He was now so big, his head was up in the He was now so big, his head was up in the clouds. Mom tried to call him home, but he clouds. Mom tried to call him home, but he couldn’t hear her at all because his ears were couldn’t hear her at all because his ears were way up high. He missed everyone. way up high. He missed everyone.

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Ngayon at sobrang laki na niya, umaabot na ang kaniyang ulo sa langit. Tinatawag siya ni Nanay, pero di siya marinig ni Jaime dahil masyado siyang mataas. Nangulila siya.

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The star saw that Jaime was more miserable than ever, “I can turn you back but you’ll once again be a little boy stuck with things that are much too big.”

Nakita ng tala na mas naging malungkot pa si Jaime kaysa dati, “Kaya kitang paliitin muli pero di mo na magagawa ang mga kaya mong gawin ngayong malaki ka.”

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Jaime thought for a moment then said, “It doesn’t matter how big or small I am, if I can’t come home.”

Pinag-isipan ito ni Jaime at sinabing, “Hindi mahalaga kung malaki ako o maliit, kung di rin naman ako makakauwi.”

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So, Jaime closed his eyes as the star once more showered him with stardust.

Kaya ipinikit ni Jaime ang kaniyang mga mata at sinabuyan siya muli ng pulbos-tala.

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Jaime felt his body shrink and shrink until he was back as he once was.

Naramdaman ni Jaime na lumiit siya nang lumiit hanggang bumalik siya sa dati niyang anyo.

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Jaime ran up to Mom who was waiting for him all this time.

Nagmamadaling tumakbo si Jaime papunta kay Nanay na matagal na siyang hinihintay.

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He was the right size for a hug after all.

Saktong-sakto lang pala talaga siya sa yakap ni Nanay.

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ABOUT TH E AUTHOR

DC Mostrales DC Mostrales enjoys reading books of fairy tales, myths, and medieval mysticism when he isn’t torturing himself to write. His thoughts may occasionally pop up on kittychocklit.wordpress.com. He is currently working on a master’s degree in Chemistry.

ABOUT TH E I LLUSTR ATOR

Ariana Asuncion Ariana Asuncion studies at the Ateneo de Manila University and majors in Information Design.

She likes watercolors and drawing cartoons, and dreams of a world without trash on the beach.

Please save the turtles.

Jaime is a boy who finds it difficult being small, so one night he wishes to grow tall. What happens when his wish is granted? Join him, and find out what it means to be the right size after all.