Directions to My Imaginary Childhood

If you stand on the corner of Mabini Street and Legazpi Avenue, wait for an orchid colored mini-bus with seven oblong doors, open the fourth door— an oscillating electric fan will be driving, tell her to proceed to the Escolta diamond district— you will pass Maneng Viray's Bar, La Isla de los Ladrones book shop, the Frederick Funston fish sauce factory, and as you turn left into Calle de Recuerdos, you will see Breton, Bataille, and Camus seated around a card table playing abecedarian dominoes— roll down your window and ask them if Mr. Florante and Miss Laura are home, if the answer is, yes, then proceed to Noli Me Tangere park and wait for a nun named Maria Clara— if the answer is,Je ne se pas!, then turn right onto the parking lot of Sikatuna's supermarket to buy a basketful of lansones fruit, then get back to Calle de Recuerdos until you reach the part that's lined with tungsten-red Juan Tamad trees, on the right will be a house with an acknowledgments page and an index, open the door and enter this page and look me in the eye.