“Overnight”

Vince Pedraja

Narrator: In a small house in the city of Manila, there was an 18-year-old girl named
Isabel who was talking with his father and arguing about something.

Isabel: Dad, please let me hang out with my friends this night. (begging)

Father: And where are you going again?

Isabel: My best friend Christoff invited me to his overnight party at their house in
BGC. Please, dad, we haven’t seen each other for a quite long time yet. It is his 18th
birthday today and we are gonna celebrate it with some of our friends, his friends, and
our classmates as well.

Father: Boyfriend??

Isabel: No dad! Best friend! Don’t worry, he’s not that type of boy like what you think
dad. And besides, we are just best friends and we will just celebrate and have some fun
overnight.

Father: And you think I will let you go later? (mad)

Isabel: Dad, please.

Father: No.

Isabel: But why?

Father: I don’t want you to go there by your self and hang out overnight with guys that
I do not know.

Isabel: But dad, they are my friends.

Father: And so? My answer is no.

Isabel: What is the problem with girls hanging out with boys dad? Is that a big deal?

Father: You can say that thing because you do not know what might happen yet.
Isabel: You always tell that thing to me dad, and I feel that I do not have freedom. I am
always controlled by you. Why you won’t let me go? You always stop me in everything
that I wanted to do. Fine.

Narrator: Isabel felt bad with his father’s decision so she went back to her room where
her younger sister Ella and baby brother Sean was. She locked herself inside their
room and cried. Her two siblings saw her crying.

Sean: Hey Ella, look at our sister over there. Why is she crying?

Ella: Ooohh I see, maybe she broke up with her boyfriend.

Sean: Boyfriend? I don’t even think she will have a boyfriend HAHAHAHA.

Ella: Hey Sean stop, why are you like that? Let’s just go to her and ask.

Sean: Okay fine, Ms. Ella!

Narrator: The siblings approached their sister and asked.

Ella: Uhmm hello, we saw that you were crying, and we are just concerned about you,
may we ask what’s your problem?

Sean: Did you broke up with your boyfriend? HAHAHA

Ella: Sshhhh Sean, stop.

Sean: Eyyy I’m just joking, you are too serious huh.

Isabel: Hey siblings, thank you for your concern but I’m okay don’t worry.

Sean: You walked by the door, crying, locked the room, and you tell us you are okay?
What is that? A joke?

Ella: Sean!!

Sean: Okay fine I’m sorry, I’m just trying to lighten things up.

Isabel: I’m okay, it’s just that Dad didn’t let me go to the party night with my friends,
and I’m so mad about it. And he is always like this to me. He is always including the
mentality that I am a girl and I cannot go to a party or gathering with guys. He insists
that all the time. And I feel like I do not have my freedom.

Sean: Maybe Dad is just concerned about you?

Ella: Yeah, maybe he is just worried or what.

Isabel: Worried about what? I am already 18 and I know my capabilities,

responsibilities, and limitations. Why don’t they trust me?

Sean: Maybe you really have a boyfriend? HAHAHAHA

Ella: Sean! Can you please…

Sean: Just joking.

Ella: Why not try to ask Mom or open about it to her?

Isabel: Yeah you’re right little sis, maybe I should go to mom right now.

Sean: Or you can call your boyfriend to comfort you. HAHAHA

Ella: Enough Sean!

Sean: Ughhh, fine.

Narrator: After her conversation with her siblings, she approached her mom to open
about what she is feeling.

Isabel: Mom, may I talk to you for a while?

Mother: Oh sure dear, come here, what is it about?

Isabel: Uhmmm It’s just about me and dad.

Mother: You quarreled again?

Isabel: Yes mom, sorry.

Mother: What seems to be the problem, dear?

Isabel: Dad didn’t let me join the overnight party of my best friend tonight.

Mother: What did your dad say about it?

Isabel: Long story short, his always reasons whenever I ask permission to him.

Mother: And what do you think about it?

Isabel: I feel that I am in prison, I am always wrong, I do not have freedom, and
because I am a girl, I cannot do whatever I want to do when there are guys involved.
Can’t it be naturalized?

Mother: Isabel, whatever your dad said, always thinks that parents are always giving
you what is best for you. Yes, you may feel like that sometimes, but you will
understand what I am talking about at some time. Okay?

Isabel: Okay mom, I understand, and I’m sorry.

Mother: Okay, now, you go to your father and talk to him, he seems to be waiting for
you right there, look!

Isabel: Yes mom, thank you!

Narrator: After talking with her mom, she realized many things. She talked with her
father, and understand everything. She just called her best friend and told him that
she can’t go and Christoff understands it. Isabel learned many lessons even if the
problem is she just wanted to go to the party and her dad didn’t let her. After talking
with her dad, they had a family dinner and spent time with each other, overnight.