The sun was shining brightly at the construction site of Vista Verde Towers. Everyone was busy because tomorrow was the deadline for the turnover of Unit 405. The walls were smooth, freshly painted, and ready for inspection.

Mang Karding, a veteran mason, was walking down the hallway when he was stopped in front of the newly built wall of Unit 405. He felt different.

He pressed his ear to the wall.

Meeeow…

It was so weak. It felt like it came from underground.

Meeeow…

Mang Karding was nervous. He knew the schedule. The Night Shift Team had just finished cementing and plastering that wall last night so it would dry this morning.

Mang Karding turned around. He saw Project Engineer Engr. Santos approaching, carrying a checklist. Engr. Santos was grumpy and always got angry when something went wrong.

But Mang Karding didn’t think anymore. His life was at stake.

He quickly ran to the tool box and grabbed the heaviest mallet.

He turned back to the smooth wall.

“Mang Karding! What are you going to do?!” the Foreman shouted.

Karding didn’t answer. He hit the wall with all his strength.

BLAG!

The paint cracked. The cement cracked.

BLAG!

Another blow. Hollow blocks came out. Debris splashed on the shiny floor.

Engr. Santos arrived, his eyes almost popping out with anger.

“KARDING! ARE YOU INSANE?!” the Engineer shouted. “You just finished that this morning! Why did you destroy it?! Do you know that deduction on your floor?! You’re fired! Get off my site right now!”

Mang Karding stopped, panting, still holding the mallet. The hole in the wall was huge.

“Sir, I’m sorry. Get rid of me if you want, but listen to this first,” Karding pleaded.

He pointed to the hole.

“What should I listen to?! The sound of your stupidity?!” Engineer yelled. “Guard! Get this out!”

The guard was about to drag Mang Karding away when suddenly everyone fell silent.

Page: SAY – Story Around You | Original story.

From the dark and dusty hole in the wall, they heard a sound.

Meeeeow! Meeeeow!

Engr. Santos was stunned. “Cat?”

Mang Karding quickly approached the hole. Using his hand, he carefully removed the pieces of cement. He shone his cellphone flashlight on it.

Inside the cavity of the hollow blocks, at the very bottom, there was a small kitten. It was full of cement, wet, and shaking. It seemed to have entered the hole in the hollow block last night to sleep, and the Night Shift didn’t notice that they had already covered it with cement and plaster.

“My God, he’s trapped,” the Foreman whispered.

Mang Karding slowly snatched the kitten away. His hand barely fit. When he pulled it out, the cat could barely breathe because of the dust and heat inside.

Mang Karding immediately got water and wiped the kitten’s nose and mouth.

Uha… Uha… Meow!

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the cat screamed. It’s alive!

Engr. Santos looked at the damaged wall, then at Mang Karding, and finally at the kitten who was now drinking water from the bottle cap.

The anger on the Engineer’s face disappeared. It was replaced by shame and admiration.

Engr. Santos approached Mang Karding.

“Karding…” began the Engineer. “I’m sorry for what I said. If you don’t break that, the cat will die of hunger and suffocation inside. We’ll just smell it when it rots.”

“It’s okay, Sir. Even if you fire me, as long as the cat is alive,” Karding replied with a smile while petting the kitten.

“Who said you were fired?” Engineer smiled. “You’re not fired. And don’t worry about the wall, that’s a company expense charge. Your hearing is amazing. Thank you for your concern.”

Their coworkers applauded.

Mang Karding took the kitten home and named it “Semento”. He became the lucky charm of Karding’s family. That day proved that the true value of a worker is not only in his ability to build a building, but in his ability to appreciate every life around him.

Disclaimer: The stories here are only fiction and not news. What’s important is the lesson and emotions that can happen to anyone. Thank you, SAY members!