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I met my godchild, by phone, for the first time. She is the daughter of my nanny. She is now 20 years old.
And she wanted money from me.
She told me in not very many words. Ninang pautang. Godmother, can I borrow money? It was masked as a loan, although the message, I think, is clear.
The day started innocently enough. I asked a friend for the number of my old nanny when I recently had a nanny crisis, thinking I could attain the safe haven that I had for myself as a child by having my old nanny take care of my little boy. But alas, she is unavailable and uninterested. Her daughter, my alleged godchild (I think I was 15 when she had me), started sending me text messages. Have I eaten? She missed me. When will I see her? She loves me.
I found it mildly amusing because I just met her (by phone).
And then after a day of texting, she started asking for money. Her rent was due, she said, and they have no money to pay the landlord. Can I please lend her some? And can I please send it by Western Union? Today?
My husband had to say it: well, you always said ‘ask and it will be given to you’. I had to smile and cringe.
Suffice it to say, I paid up and the godchild got what she wanted.
But what was it about this experience that was so disturbing?
Was it the lack of finesse? Or the sense of entitlement? Or the ambush? Or the brazenness? Or the lack of pride? But if a person is in need, can he or she have the presence of mind and the guile (or cunning) to have finesse or pride?
Maybe I did not believe that she needed money for her rent.
And she has a husband. And a baby. Doesn’t marriage emancipate the parents and the godparents?
Was it because I felt manipulated?
From the beginning, I really intended to give her some money. Or something. But what happened totally turned me off.
Will I ask for my money back? I will not. Will she be able to ask money from me again?
Despite the crassness and the brazenness and the craziness of the situation, after everything is said and done, maybe, I just needed to meet her so I can be reminded of the people in my past (her mother) who helped me become who I am today, that I have a duty to give to them, now that I have something to give.
Article by Issa. Art by Danvic Briones. Copyright 2011.
Website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
Email: issa@youwanttoberich.com
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