Dodong,17, is impatiently waiting for his father
to return home so that he can tell him of his love for Teang and his
desire to marry her. He feels that at 17 he is a grown man and is ready
for the next important step in his life. When he tells his father that
he has asked Teang to marry him and wants his blessing, there is a long
and cruel silence. His father asks if he must marry her because Dodong
is very young. Dudong resents his father's question, and finally his
father gives his consent.
Nine months later, Dodong is waiting outside while Teang gives birth
to their first son, Blas. He feels young and inexperienced, a contrast
to how he felt nine months ago. Dodong did not want any more children,
but they came anyway. For the next six years, Teang gave birth. Seven
children in all.
Teang did not complain. However her body was now shapeless and thin
from bearing so many children and from the hard work of caring for them
and the household. Even though she loved Dudong, she cried and wished
that she had not married so young. There had been another suitor, Lucio,
who was nine years older than Dodong. She chose Dodong because he was
so much younger. Lucio had married after she married Dodong, however, he
was childless. She wonders if she had married Lucio, would she be
childless? She feels that would have been a better lot in life. But she
loves Dodong, even though life has made him old and ugly.
One night Dodong goes outside and thinks about his life. He wants to
have the wisdom to know why life does not fulfill Youth's dreams. Why
did life forsake you after love? He never finds the answer.
When Blas turns 18, he comes home and tells Dodong that he wants to
marry Tena. Dudong at this time is only 36 years old, but he is
portrayed as a much older man. Dodong does not want Blas to marry so
young. He asks the same question his father asked him. Does Blas
have to marry Tena? He does not want him to make the same mistake he
did. Blas also reacts with resentment. Dodong realizes that he is
dealing with Youth and Love, and they will triumph over this situation.
After that, comes real life. He gives his consent, feeling sad and
sorry for his son.
He called this "Footnote to Youth" because a footnote is an
additional comment or reference on the content of the text. He is
telling youth to pay attention to the lesson of this story.
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