Chapter Eight

It’s still science class. We were told by Mr. Delgado to make posters that could encourage people to take care of the environment. Tomas comes over with P60 worth of 5 peso coins and scatters them over the poster I was making.

“Where did you get that?” I ask.

“Boy, you’re going to like what I’m about to tell you!” He says.

“Go away, I’m making a poster,” I say.

“Listen, I told people from the other classes that I knew an atheist and they all said that they wanted to see one. They were asking if you were evil and if you had horns and I told them that I’d show them an atheist if they each gave me P5.00,” he tells me.

“And I am the atheist?” I ask.

“Yes, that’s your contribution,” Tomas says.

“Contribution to what?” I ask.

“Duh! Our corporation!” He says.

“But I don’t even know much about atheist stuff,” I say.

“Neither do they!” Tomas says, “Just make stuff up. Or just tell them why you don’t believe in gods and stuff.”

“Make stuff up? But that would be lying. I don’t want to lie,” I say.

“Why not? It’s not like you’re going to hell, right?” Tomas say.

“I don’t lie because it’s wrong. Not because I’d be punished,” I say.

“Fine! Just tell them the truth then. Tell them about your version of how the world began. You know? The one with monkeys turning into people,” Tomas says.

“Monkeys don’t turn into people,” I try to tell him. “They come from a common ancestor and after millions and millions…”

“Wait! Save the monkey story for later,” he says.