My Magical Leather Coat

When I was around nine years old, my Dad immigrated to the United States after his long awaited petition to work in the US was approved. He knew that for a better future for his family he must sacrifice and work hard in this new land. It was not any better for his family in the Philippines. I knew my Mom missed my Dad very much, but sacrifices must be undured for a better tomorrow. My Dad would come home "Balik Bayan" every year to visit us. I remembered the wornderful things he brought home from the mysterious land across the ocean. I treasured everything he brought home.

I remembered he brought me Matchbox cars on one of his visit. I played with those toys and I would always put them is a safe place so I would not lose them. In his other visit, he brought home a fishing pole and tackle box. Everytime he would used it to fish, I would be smiling as I hear the swish of the line as he cast it to the river. I guess, I was amused easily when I was young.

The best of all the treasure he brought home from this far away place was a brown leather coat. It was so warm and the smell was intoxicating. I always wore it to school wearing it with pride. I always told my friends that my Dad brought it for me. My friends would be a little envious about my good fortune. It protected me from many a rain storms. I was thinking it was a magical coat and that as long as I wore it everything would be okay. I wore that coat for two years or so until it was too small to fit me. I was really sad that I had to leave it on the hanger.

Now that I am here in the USA and I have my pick of leather coats, I still remembered that little brown leather coat. I don't think that anything would feel as comfortable and as warm. It helped me through those years when my Dad was away. I knew he was somewhere out there working hard to get us all together in this mysterious land called USA. It was my magical little brown leather coat and it kept me safe.