Tay Roding Again, and His Friend, Tay Polding

Apol Cleope has another story he loves to tell. Tay Polding was the inspector of CBCo (not so sure if it is spelled correctly, but what I mean is the bus during their time which was the predecessor of 606) and his buddy, Jepe Roding, was asking him to produce beer. The opportunity came when a bus of the company he worked with passed by. As the bus stopped over for its routine inspection, the inspector flailed the conductor and asked him how much money he had in hand. When upon showing the money, he requested that the said amount be turned over to him as he badly needed it. He promised the conductor though that he will return it by the morrow. And so the conductor obliged and Tay Roding and Tay Polding went into their usual carousing session.

That one particular day passed idly over several bottles of San Miguel and suddenly the next day was hailed by Tay Polding's rooster. The morning was wonderfully gay and yet Tay Polding was cranky. He voiced out his worry to Tay Roding who rebuked him to keep quiet as he was considering the remedy to their predicament. When they spotted the approaching bus, the Jepe handcuffed the frantic inspector and sent him inside the detention cell. As the conductor alighted from the bus, Tay Roding called in angry voice: "Hana ro ing Inspector sa kulongan! Makahuya-huya! Mag-ininom ag owa man it ikasarang magbayad."

Shocked by the sight of his incarcerated boss, the conductor pleaded with the Jepe. But the Jepe was too smart to let go of the inspector. He informed the conductor that his inspector owed a sari-sari store some money. He would only be released on the condition that he pay up the debt he incurred during his drinking spree. Upon hearing, the conductor produced the collection of the day and gave it to the Jepe as bail for Tay Polding. He then reiterated his plea to forgive his boss for his shortcomings. So Jepe Roding released the erring inspector and the conductor beamed with pride. He then went back to the bus and signaled the driver to proceed, happy to have helped his boss out of his predicament.

As for Tay Polding, well, indeed he was glad that he was relived of his predicament. He was more than happy that day that his compadre was not only a smart guy but a resourceful one. The morning was early but with the bail money in hand of his buddy, the warm San Miguel beckoned them seductively to square up.