The morning of the first day of school greeted me with the sun in my eyes, and the ringing of the alarm clock in my ears. I groggily got up of bed to a meal of sinangag, sunny-side up eggs (the yolk just warmed through – just the way I liked it), hot dogs, and a tall mug of Ovaltine. My school uniform was neatly pressed; the blue slacks creased to perfection, the white polo shirt bleached and starched, my shoes shined to a brilliant black, and my jacket folded neatly over the ironing horse. After the bath, Father slathered pomade on my hair and spritzed me up with his cologne, and Mother whisked me off to school.
