All In My Family

March 21, 2012

I pushed open the heavy door of my house, changed into my slipers, sensng several figures shuffling around in the room.

"Finish up your cake!" The grandmother ordered Lala, who was holding a paper plate with a big piece of cake resting on top. Judging from the slight hesitation and her past record of diet that we know of, she could take no more. But somehow as I suspected, she nonetheless shoveled a few fairly mouthfuls.

The cake was now a half moon shape laying on the table, I know I missed the cutting cake. Cursed under my breath, regretted having had to receive last two lingering, carefree customers, who took their time in the store, while I got a call frommy wife Jie that they were about to cut the cake for Lala's 18th birthday party.

I was also offered a piece on the paper plate, noticed only two of us who still had cake. I heard myself saying some well wishes and stuff, but noticed her eyes were like being rubbed and her posture was rigid. Her face is beautiful, but her image as a few sharp-pointed bones wraped in a skin, struck me as appalled.

"She doesn't want to grow up to be 18", Jie explained.

I understand what that means. Willing to offer any comfort that was expected from me, as a father, as a grown man full of life lessons and advices to dole off at the birthday party of university-bound daughter, I was more than ready.

I looked around me, I saw Megan, my 13 year old daughter, sitting quietly at corner, just like last time I saw her, many monthes ago on a similar circumstances. She was especially pretty at the moment. I reached over and pinched her right cheek playfully, thinking that, as her father, I still being allowed the gesture that deemed appropriate affections.

As I turned my attention to my twin boys, who were always thrilled to see me, I sensed the grandfather approached Megan, holding out both hands, joined hers in the air.

I turned myself and tried not to look their ways.

I started to feel shameful, I couldn't figure out why I did. I made an effort to fend off the negative feelings, I turned to my boys, who were perpetual enthusiasms, while lent a ear to the table at same time, where Lala and grandmother busied themselves with something: Lala with the trouble of her food, while the grandmother tried to move the rest of cake into a luncheon container, while words never stopped flowing from her. I found I could no longer come up any words for Lala.

Before long, the grandmother gave another order to Lala,

"Time to go upstairs and do your work!"

As if to justfy the validity of her ascertion that could steer the party to an abrupt halt, she added.

"Look how late everynight you stayed up before finishing your work".

It's like been practiced thousands times that happened like this in life, Lala went off, acted on the instruction.

I looked around me again. It was dark now. I was the only one stayed behind.