An October Memory

I can still smell
the burger they sold
at the canteen
at grade school.

It was
a 10-peso burger
for goodness sake.

Ten pesos
and my baon was 20.

There we were,
lined up horizontally,
our hands,
no arms,
stuck through the railings
as if the canteen girls were
imprisoned loved ones
sentenced to be hanged
in a few hours.

"Ate, how much is that?"
"How about that?
"And that?"

Then
a canteen girl
finally noticed me.
Our eyes met,
mine wide,
her brow pulled up.

"Hm?" she moaned.
Short
but the sweetest sound
I've ever heard.

"Burger po," I demanded.
She grabbed one,
handed it to me
and I parted with my 10-peso bill.

I can still smell
the burger they sold
at the canteen
at grade school.

Is there any other memory
worth remembering
this cold
windy
October morning?