The Diary of a Teacher: Mom, Wife, Teacher

By Lita T. Cruz

Estelle Esguerra is a devoted college professor whose world revolves around her parents, children and husband. Inspite of her critical situation, worrying about her husband who was missing in action in a country wtth an ongoing war, she served as an inspiration to several students with different home and school issues. She served, not only as a teacher, but also a mentor to her children and to abused women who need help.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lita T. Cruz
• Release date: May 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393343431

Book preview

Lita T. Cruz

The Diary of a Teacher:  Mom Wife Teacher. Copyright © 2017 by Lita T. Cruz. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copy, recording  or  otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

This novel is a work of fiction.  Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in the story are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.

Published by Lita T. Cruz

Published in the United States of America

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Fiction / Romance / Military

Fiction / Family Life

The Diary of a Teacher Lita T. Cruz

Show me a teacher who loves to teach, I will show you a student who loves to learn.

~Lita T. Cruz~

Recognitions

Jeanne Reyes-Geary, the author’s youngest child and her husband Tom Geary, for allowing her to use her inspiring articles from her Graphics Writing class and patiently listening to her on the progress of this novel.

To the author’s daughter, Joanne Reyes-Murphy, and her husband, Bryan Murphy, who shared with  her  information about soldiers and their war life.

Rhonda Cruz-Walton, her niece, for her article on ADHD condition that affects children, adolescents, and adulthood.

Blandina Gauglitz, her best friend, for sharing with her some true-to-life controversial stories about parent-children relationship.

Acknowledgments

To my children, who behaved so well since childhood, sweet and caring, making parenting seemed so easy: Jojo

C. Reyes, Joel C. Reyes, Joey C. Reyes, Jonnie C. Reyes, Jovie C. Reyes, Joygi C. Reyes, Joanne C. Reyes-Murphy, and Jeanne C. Reyes-Geary.

To my children’s significant others, who are all loving and thought-full: Cora D. Reyes, Geline G. Reyes, May C. Reyes, Ludy M. Reyes, Vicky B. Reyes, Bryan Murphy, and Tom Francis Geary.

To my wonderful grandchildren, who make my world a living heaven: Jean Reyes-Poblete and her husband, Christian, Jmee C. Reyes, JenJen C. Reyes, JM C. Reyes, Lyndon M. Reyes, Lemuel M. Reyes, Leonard M. Reyes, PJ R. Bacarreza, Cadence R. Murphy, and Mikey R. Murphy. To John Thurgood R.  Poblete, my  great  grandkid.  Special mention to Mikayla Geary and Caleb Geary.

To my deceased parents, Conrado L.  Cruz and Rosario Principe Tumang, my ideal parents who molded me to be who and what I am today.

To my siblings and their family: (deceased Virgilio T. Cruz and his wife Adelheid Magno, Isagani T. Cruz and his wife Clara Reyes, and Rogelio T. Cruz); Avelina R. Cruz, Carol C. Smith and Randy, Josie C. Santiago and Romeo, Nila C.  David and Hansel (deceased), Joon T. Cruz and Elsa Valentin (deceased).

To the Cruz, Tumang, Principe, Balagtas Clan, to all my friends everywhere who stood by my side come rain or shine, and last but not the least, to all my students who never quit in spite of all the challenges they encountered.

Preface

The author, highly inspired by parents, teachers, and students she associated with, wrote this novel when she was still a younger mother of eight and college professor of two famous universities in her country of birth, Philippines.

The novel features the sensitive and major role that teachers play in the lives of every student who they teach, students who become a part of their daily life, and the growth of their teaching career. The story will define the borderline between a teacher who does a teaching job for a living, or someone who help build the future of the students and the rising generation.

The teacher in this book, depicts  three  roles:  A  mom to two children, a wife to a missing military husband, and a teacher to graduating college students. She however, does not only represent the women teachers, as the stories narrated in the book, may be experiences that may be encountered likewise by the male teachers.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Rafael: The Green-Eyed

Soldier

I shall count my blessing rather than criticism, my ecstasy rather than misery, my ally rather than adversary, my laughter rather than despair, my love rather than doubt, my health rather than wealth, and most of all, I shall count on God

rather than myself.

~Lita T. Cruz~

Dear Diary,

I, Janine, and Jonathan, are back to Galveston, Texas, for our summer vacation. To the home we deserted for a well- founded reason: to save my sanity, which I almost lost three years ago.

No one knows that my dream is also one reason why I am here. I hope to find out, what that stunning green butterfly in my dreams re-ally mean.

Hopefully, I made the right decision in coming to visit. Time will tell.

For now, I am trying my best to embrace reality for the sake of my children. I will keep my heart and my mind open to the possibility that my husband Rafael would be back soon, back to my arms, to our children, and to this home.

Thanks to Mother and Father, the house is still well kept and appropriately maintained. Her housekeeper-on-call visited it twice a week to clean and see that every floor, appliances and furniture in the house was dusted. The housekeeper’s husband took care of the plants and flowers inside and outside the house and, mowed the grass at the back yard and the front lawn.

Each time I think of the lonely and traumatic incidents that hap- penned to my life, I divert my thoughts to how lucky I am with my parents, my children, and how fortunate I am to have met the father of my children.

When I feel so downhearted, I have you, my dear diary, to refresh my mind of the beautiful past. I have you to share my wonderful moment now that Rafael is not here with me to feel its glory. I have you to confide my heartaches and sorrow.

he knew and hoped that her escapade from the traumatic episode of her life would be brief and the happy moment she once had would be back very soon. She missed this home so much as this home was where she and her children belong. The initials on the

Mailbox, R & E, which meant Rafael and Estelle confirmed it. Rafael designed and painted it before they moved to this house.

She was not surprised that it was newly painted. It must have been done by her father. The thought made her smile.

Her parents were always there for  her  and  her children. She read her diary on and on and on ... flipping every page, the diary which she had been her constant companion, her confidante ever since she met Rafael.

Earlier this afternoon, when she parked the car in front of the house to unload their luggage, her mom and dad came out from the living room and helped them.

They were so happy to have them back. After taking their suitcases inside their rooms, Janine and Jonathan went to the kitchen to help their grandma and grandpa prepared for dinner. They were starving. They noticed that they were just heating up the food, which they probably cooked from their home.

At dinner, Estelle told them that although she enjoyed her work in Dallas, she missed them and her home in Galveston. Her parents did not comment. They were glad that their daughter and their grandchildren were back at least for the summer. They wished it would be for good.

There was still no spark on their daughter’s eyes, her smiles had no life. They never stopped praying for her, and they trust and believe that God will make their daughter happy again hopefully soon.  

It was a merry reunion with her parents. It was a great dinner. Yet, Estelle kept on looking at the empty chair, where Rafael used to sit.

Well, she would get used to it, seeing it empty. She had to, until such time that he would be back. She never lost her hope.

Her parents were aware, but they were mum about it and kept their grandchildren busy so they would not notice.

After saying goodnight to her children, Estelle went to their veranda and sat quietly at the rocking chair, a gift from her parents on her wed-ding.

The beach was just several minutes away from the condo that she and Rafael bought a year after they got married. The patio was annexed to the living room on the second floor of their home, overlooking the park and the children’s playground surrounded by palm trees.

Their children spent so much time on the playground.  Rafael used to chase them come dinner time when they didn’t want to stop playing. He would come up with two struggling and giggling children in his arms.

She used to enjoy sitting here on weekends, waiting for the arrival of her husband Rafael. They would sit together, cuddled while waiting for their two children to come from school so they could all have dinner together. It was also here where they would converge briefly before the children would say goodnight to them. This patio brought so many memories, that reminiscing them brought her so much pain.

She closed her eyes and gently rocked the chair with her body as she held her laptop where she transferred the diary she started when she met, Rafael. She had read it several times, yet she never got tired of it. Here she is, reading it again for the nth time.

Dear Diary,

I just met the most dazzling man my eyes have ever laid on at a beach celebration. Thanks to my parents who convinced me, or actually forced me to go with them to this seashore party. They knew I was not fond of social events, but as parents, they insisted. They said I need a break for working so hard as a student, from childhood to college and up to my master’s degree.

My mind was not on the party. I was excited about my forthcoming graduation next week. At last, I would get my diploma on master’s degree in education. I could start teaching. The dean of the university not so far from our home had already assured me that I will be hired.

When I looked for my parents, they were busy dancing. So I quietly slipped off the venue and started to walk along the seashore away from the affair.

Estelle closed her eyes. Without reading further, she could never for-get that night. She remembered removing her shoes, held them on her left hand while her right hand rested on her hand bag dangling from her right shoulder.

She played and felt the soft sand between her toes, she looked around her and reveled looking at the lapping waves. Not far from her was the lighthouse. She glanced at tower’s beacon light, which her parents say were there to warn or guide ships at sea. So awesome! So beautiful!

I will be like a beacon light when I start to teach. I will guide and mentor all my students to success, she whispered to herself. And then she heard someone talking behind her.  "You don’t need to talk to yourself, madam, I can be a good listener

If you allow me to," a man’s voice suddenly came several steps behind her. She turned around, speechless, and the man could tell that she was startled.

Oh gee! I am sorry, madam... I don’t mean to disturb your privacy, sorry, sorry, I just thought you may need some company, the guy said with both hands motioning for her to relax.

Estelle gained her composure and said, It is all right. It is okay. She sensed that the guy was also a guest of the party, a bored guest like her.

As the guy walked towards her, she could see with the little light brought about by the Tiki torches around the beach that he was a good-looking man probably in his mid-thirties.

With outreached, hand he said, Hi, I am Rafael Esguerra. I am a visiting guest here in Galveston, more of a visiting soldier, he further added with a smile.

Estelle Morgan, she said, giving him a handshake. They could hardly see each other, but she could feel that his profile projected that of a handsome man, tall and well built. They barely started talking when her parents came looking for her. Estelle introduced Rafael to them.

Rafael, please meet my mom and my dad, and before she could add anything else, her dad was quick to take over the introduction.

Johnny Morgan, and this is my wife, Holly, and both her parents shook hands with the man she just met. Her parents asked them to go back to the party. They were two bored people who just found each other’s company awesome.

It was a slow dance. While they stepped on the floor for their first dance, Estelle noticed that he had green eyes. Without any word, she knew that this man had swept her off her feet. The rest of the evening, they danced, had petty talks, and exchanged phone numbers.

Rafael: The Green-Eyed Soldier

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Dear Diary,

I miss Rafael so much. He is too busy to see me, but he calls me every night after dinner. His timing is always perfect. We talk of our childhood, our teen hood, and any subjects we could think of just to make our conversation long.

We talked of our crushes. I told him that mine were brief, five days, the longest was one month, that’s it. He had several, he even had girlfriends. But didn’t last as they could not understand the nature of his job.

I felt terribly jealous when he said those things, I wonder why! He might be coming to my graduation as he asked me when it will it be.

She remembered every detail of the conversation that transpired be-tween them.

This coming Saturday, she commented. You are invited. Do you have time to attend? she breathlessly waited for the answer, praying that it would be a yes.

Oh  God!  How  she  missed  this  green-eyed soldier. I would be there, Estelle, he replied alluringly. If only Rafael knew that Estelle was jumping with joy. That night, Estelle slept well. What a wonderful gift on her graduation.

The gymnasium was packed with people at the graduation day. Estelle was one of the proud graduates, holding her diploma close to her heart, silently swearing by it, that she would be a model teacher to all students she was going to handle and mentor.

Her parents were teary-eyed, looking at their only child

standing with pride among the several graduates of the Master’s Degree in Education.

––––––––

At the graduation ball, her parents, as usual, danced after cocktail was served.

Estelle and Rafael were not bored this time. They danced the slow music, they sat and talked, come disco and ballroom time. She learned everything about Rafael. Like her, he was the only child of Lambert Esguerra, born and raised in Italy, with his wife, Sue, a Caucasian born in New York, where they still resided.

He was thirty-five, single, and she was twenty-five. Age didn’t matter, they silently reasoned out to themselves. Rafael had few flings before, Estelle had few crushes, it didn’t matter either.

Rafael was a non-commissioned officer based in a military base in San Antonio, Texas. He was on a military mission in Galveston, which might last for a month or so. It didn’t bother them at all. San Antonio was only three to four hours away from Galveston, they both quietly justified.

After high school, I took up advanced leader course, I became a staff sergeant after few years, he said looking at her so intently. I took the advanced noncommissioned officer course after five years and I became the sergeant-first-class. The dance was over, so he took her back on their table.

Interesting! Estelle said while taking the seat pulled back by Rafael for her to sit. So, what are you now? she asked, looking into his green eyes.

Master sergeant, madam, he replied, gently giving her a mild peck on her cheek before he sat on the chair beside her. Rafael couldn’t believe what he saw.

At her age of twenty-five, Estelle’s face was all red, blushing like a girl on her teen touching the cheek he just kissed. He realized suddenly that she was not used to this kind of endearment from a man. But of course, his inner self cautioned him that Estelle didn’t have any boyfriend! He was so silly, he reacted to his feelings.

I am so sorry, Estelle. I got carried away. Please forgive me!

15

He said offering his cheek in case Estelle wanted to slap him.

She was quiet for few minutes, then broke up the silence between them. If you will do that again, at least, you must give me a warning, she half-jokingly blurted out. It was just a petty kiss on the cheek, you silly you, she said to herself.

Before the evening was over, both Rafael and Estelle felt so drawn to each other. Something that both of them were trying to ignore. It was just too soon. They just met.

Estelle left Tuesday afternoon to meet with the dean of the university. The manager of the human resource department had scheduled her appointment with the dean at 5:00 p.m. She however had to fill up the application form at the HR office before the interview.

Dean Jack Smith was a nice person, an undeniably professional educator who, through question and answer, could judge a person’s character and talent. Besides, he personally knew Johnny and Holly Morgan. They were highly respected in the community, retired professors from the university.

The interview was quick. Her family background, outstanding grades, and her enthusiasm convinced the dean that she would be a wonderful instructor. Classes would start the following month and she would have time to prepare the syllabus on two collegiate subjects she was assigned to teach.

She hurried home, all steamed up. Her parents would be happy to know the good news. Being the only child, they were always excited to listen to all her accomplishment, no matter how small, it didn’t matter to them.

As she entered the living room, she saw her father talking to Rafael. She felt breathless just by looking at him, she wondered why. She had crushes before, but she easily fell out of crush in a span of days. She thought of them as threats to her dream of becoming a full-fledged professor.

This man was different from all of them.

Oh, there you are, dear, her father opened his arms for  her hug. You have a visitor, he added. As if she didn’t see, she said to herself. Her parents always treated her as their baby.

Hi, Estelle, he said, how was the interview? Hmm, her parents told him. She usually was peeved each time her parents bragged about her, but this time, she felt flattered!

Dad, Rafael, you are looking at a full-fledged professor right now, to start teaching this coming semester! she proudly exclaimed.

Her father embraced her tightly, while Rafael said congratulations, his eyes gleaming with pride. Estelle felt like melting with the way he looked at her. She was scared however that she was looking at him the same way. Shame on her. She just met the guy. She barely knew him.

Honey, honey, come here, Johnny was looking towards the kitchen, Our daughter got the teaching job!

Holly came rushing out, holding the plates on her right hand. Her father was quick; he hastily took the plates from her mother’s hand be-fore she got close enough to give Estelle a tight hug.

After all the excitement, they looked at each other and started laughing at the sight of his dad trying to save the plates from falling on the floor! They invited Rafael for dinner as their way of early celebration for Estelle’s first employment. Estelle’s parents spent some more time taking their tea with them, after which they said that it was time for them to go to their room to watch their favorite show on television.

Rafael invited her to walk on the park which was close to their home. Along the way, Rafael held her hand. She wanted to take pull it away but didn’t have the strength to do it.

As soon as they reached the park, they sat on a bench close to the fountain. The dancing water was shut off as it was past 7:00 p.m., but the lights were still on.

Estelle, Rafael broke the deafening silence between them. Estelle looked up and gazed into the green eyes looking down on her.

Their eyes locked up, and before she knew it, Rafael’s lips were on hers. It lingered slowly, tenderly, then it became fiery. Estelle could no longer temper her simmering emotion, she automatically and passionately responded to him. After a while, Rafael embraced her tightly and whispered, Estelle, I love you. To this, she answered, hugging him back, I love you too, Rafael.

Dear Diary,

This must be my lucky week. I passed my interview and I will start to teach this coming semester. I promise that I will be that kind of teacher who will give my students the best prod behind them so they can jump up to their dreams. I also experienced my first real kiss.

I previously thought that kiss was just a simple touching of lips be- tween two people who like each other. I was wrong. A kiss out of love is spontaneous. The longing does not come from the mind. It comes from the innermost feeling, which is mystifying and beyond comprehension.

Rafael and I were simply just drawn into a gentle to a passionate kiss where we both felt the satisfaction of our mutual desire to be together. I love him, and I can feel it in my heart, he loves me too.

After a month, Rafael completed his mission and went back to San Antonio. It posed no problem to them because on weekends, it was either he visited Estelle or she visited him. While Rafael was busy with his job, Estelle was also preoccupied with her teaching occupation.

It was on her twenty-sixth birthday, amidst her parents,

Relatives, and friends that Rafael gave her a big surprise. Right after she cut her cake, Rafael, wearing the light brown polo shirt she gave him on his birthday, knelt down, removed the cake knife from her hand, and said in a loud voice, Estelle Morgan, will you marry me?

Estelle was so overwhelmed she