Reaction: Midsummer -- Manuel Arguilla

        This short piece talks of the meeting of these two characters referred to in the story as Ading and Manong. Manong, a tall and strong man travelling with his bull and cart, came across Ading, a small slender young woman, while she was on her way to getting water from a well.

    Both of them went to the well, not acknowledging each other. However, this did not mean that they were not keenly observing one another.  The story went on with Manong offering his meal to Ading, Ading refusing then accidentally drenching the food manong had offered, then Ading leading Manong to her home so that he and his bull could hide from the heat the sun was giving off that afternoon.

     I actually found this piece very enjoyable to read.  For one thing, the author was very descriptive in his writing.  This really helped me get a sense of the environment and what the characters looked like.  Another reason I enjoyed reading this piece is that the author truly made the story seem to unfold in front of your eyes.  Though it was a very short and simple story, I coulnd't help feeling a certain degree of suspense while reading it. In the five pages of the story, I could already feel a connection with the characters.  So in conclusion, I believe that what made the story interesting was the exemplary writing skills of the author, who was able to make a simple encounter of two strangers so full of meaning and emotion.