A Day at the Pier

By: Nanju Francisco

The sun glimmered on the water as I squinted against the light, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Today, Papa asked me to accompany him to his workplace, the pier. It was a rare chance to see him at work. “So, what do you think?” he asked, looking straight into my eyes.

“It’s… really amazing,” I replied, glancing around at the bustling pier, boats bobbing gently in the water, and workers moving with practiced ease. A wave of anxiety washed over me as I noticed the large ships and the male workers bustling around. I held Papa’s hand so tightly for the first time in my life and it felt very strange.

I had always thought of Papa as a “stranger.” He was always away, lost in his work. He never had time for his family. I grew up believing it was only Mommy who cared for us while Papa was busy with his job and friends, neglecting his own family.

“Papa, why did you bring me here today?” I asked curiously.

Papa smiled and said, “I wanted to spend time with you.” He began telling me about his daily routine at work. I listened intently, trying to absorb every detail. “What is that?” I asked, pointing to the huge metal containers being loaded onto a ship.

“They are cargo containers,” Papa explained. “My job as a transfer checker is to check what’s inside those containers for documentation.” His passion was evident.

“So you do this every day?” I asked in surprise.

“Yes, the whole day,” Papa nodded. “It’s a lot of hard work, but it provides for our family.”

“I can’t believe you do this every day,” I said, completely amazed.

“Yes, it’s my life. But I’m glad to share it with you today.”

As we strolled along the pier, we soon found a small ice cream stand. “Would you like some ice cream?” Papa asked, and I nodded excitedly. We ate our ice creams silently and I was beginning to see a different side of Papa that I never knew existed.

“Papa,” I whispered, suddenly aware of the fragility of this moment, “do you ever miss me?”

He paused, his smile fading slightly, replaced by a shadow of thought. “Of course, my child. Every day. But why do you ask that?”

The air was thick with emotion, and I could feel the tremor in his voice. I squeezed his hand tightly, realizing this day—this simple pier outing—was a precious gift, a fleeting moment of connection I would cherish forever.

“Because you were never there for us,” I choked out, tears streaming down my face. “I can’t remember a time you shared with me or my siblings. You were always busy with work. I missed you so much in my life, but you did not seem to care about our family—”

Papa lowered his head and then looked away from my gaze. “I am truly sorry if you felt that way, my daughter,” he said, his voice sounding defeated. “Every day, I work long hours to ensure that you and your four siblings can have a good education and food to eat. I often push myself beyond my limits, taking extra shifts to bring home a little more money for our family.”

Papa’s face looked so sad. Then, I felt something shift inside me. The warmth of the sun seeped into my bones, melting away the ice of resentment I had built against him over the years.

“Papa, I’m sorry,” I uttered suddenly.

Papa looked at me, his expression a mixture of concern and surprise. “Sorry for what, child?”

“For… not loving you enough. I thought you didn’t care because you were always gone. But I see now that you work hard for us,” I said, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry that I misjudged you. I never realized how much you cared for our family—”

“Oh, my daughter,” he said, hugging me tightly. “I always care. I’ve missed so much time with you, and it hurts.”

“I understand everything now, Papa,” I said, burying my head in his chest. “I’m so sorry for thinking that you did not love us. Can you forgive me, Papa?”

“There is nothing to forgive,” he answered. “I love you, my baby.”

“I love you, too, Papa,” I exclaimed, my heart swelling with joy.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the water, Papa and I walked hand in hand, enjoying each other’s company. For the first time in years, I felt a great sense of peace. From that moment, the distance between us instantly disappeared, replaced by pure love and a stronger bond than before.