Summary of "The Dancers"

The Dancers

Alberto S. Florenino, Jr.

(Summary)

          Tony is a 24-year-old man who helps his family by driving a jeepney. He comes home that night and sees his brother and sister outside their house. His sister, Nenita, is reading a Pilipino Komiks while his brother, Juanito sits in a wooden chair looking at the children playing near their house. Tony earns five pesos and fifty centavos from driving the jeepney throughout the day. He hands fifty centavos to Nenita.

          “Thank you, Kuya! At least I can buy a new copy. I’ve read this so many times,” Nenita told her brother. She asks Juanito to join her in buying a new copy of Komiks but Juanito seems to be sick that night and irritated. Nenita gets mad and leaves home.

          Tomas, the father of the family, goes out and sees Tony. He asks how much does he earn that day and asks him if he can have a peso. Tony likes to give all of his profit to his mother to pay off some debts but because his father tells him that he will try to find a work, Tony gives him a peso.

          He sees his mother coming from the street and he goes to help her in some loads. His mother works in the market selling fruits. He hands her the remaining four pesos and her mother becomes glad. “Thank you, son,” his mother tells him. She sees her husband standing in the doorway.

          “Oh, so there you are… where were you this afternoon?” She asked her husband. Tomas tries to reason out that his back is not that strong as before that is why he cannot help her anymore. Tony says that he sees him at the bar so he counters it by saying that he is there because he is trying to look for a job for Nenita.

          “Nenita? To work in that bar? Have you gone crazy?” Tony asked his father. The question follows arguments between Tomas and his wife and between Tomas and Tony. His wife does not like the idea of letting her daughter work in the bar since she already has a daughter named Rita dancing in the bar. Tomas insists that if they let Nenita work in the bar she will earn enough money. The arguments cease when Mother decides to go to church.

          Elena, Rita’s friend, who also works in the bar arrives at their house and Tomas sees her. He asks her if she can teach him how to dance but Elena refuses. Elena sees Juanito sitting on the wooden chair and teases him about the girl named Norma. Juanito got irritated and shouts at her.

          “Stop it, stop it! You harlot!” Elena is appalled of what Juanito has said so she runs away but Rita catches her. She asks her what happened and Elena whispers in her ear what Juanito has said. Rita is enraged and shakes him violently. Juanito asks her to stop and tells something about a Chinese who went with her inside the room last night. Tony responds and defends Juanito. Rita is more enraged of what he did. An argument rises between Rita and Tony.

          Juanito runs away and doesn’t want to go with Rita in the bar to be her companion when she goes home. Nenita who just comes home from buying a Komiks is pulled by his father and is asked to dress up and go with her sister in the bar. Tony tries to stop his father but he hits him, Tony immediately goes out of the house and his mother sees him running. Mother enters the house and asks her husband what happened, then she sees her Nenita dressed up and with Rita.

          “Nenita, where are you going?” She asked her daughter.

         

“Juanito is not well, so Nenita will go with her Ate,” Tomas answered.

          Mother tries to hold Nenita but Tomas insists that she should go with Rita. Mother cannot do anything with the decision so she just cries in the corner, then she calls for Juanito who appears in the house. Juanito falls on his knees, buries his face into his mother’s lap and cries.

          “Oh God, what’s happening? What’s happening to all of us? Oh God, oh God, oh God!” cried Mother.