He thought his son came

• “One day uncle had come and visited us. He asked me what I was studying and below was our conversation.
  
  Uncle: Jaime, what are you studying?
  
  Me: Uncle, I had graduated beginning of this year with a degree in IT Management and I’m now working with a software house in financial industry.
  
  Uncle: (with a very proud and happy expression) Oh really! time past so fast, my eldest Son studied IT as well. He is very successful now, earns a lot of money and works in a big company in Singapore. Jaime you will have a bright future.
  
  Me: Oh I see, so eldest cousin must be giving you a big allowance each month right? I am really happy for you uncle.
  
  Uncle: (with a sudden sadness) Jaime I tell you I have never received a single cent from your cousin, not even a sweet or a biscuit.

Then uncle was quiet for a long time and left.

My mum told me since the day I asked that question, he never told other people how well his son was doing in his career. Why wasn’t a father remembered for the effort that he had put in? Why?.. No one ever understands.

*** ***

Another thing I remember is during my uncle’s stay in the care center, my mum and I had paid uncle a visit. The first topic we had when we sat down was from uncle…

• Uncle: Lee Chu, yesterday I went home in the afternoon.
  
  My Mum: (doubtfully) Hah? Who came to pick you, where did you go?
  
  Uncle: (loudly and proudly) My second son came and picked me up. I’ve got a house now and they said that I could go home anytime I like to stay for few days.
  
  My mum: (turning to speak with the care center staff) Kakak, ada orang datang jumpa saya punya abang semalam kah? Dia cakap dia punya anak bawa dia balik semalam la.
  
  Care center staff: Mana ada? Dia terlalu rindu rumah lah!! Mungkin dia mimpi sahaja.

Poor old uncle, he was so homesick he couldn’t differentiate what had really happened and what hadn’t. Why wasn’t a father with 3 sons visited by his own sons in so many years? Do the sons really think of themselves as the Monkey Master (sun wu kong) and were born from rocks? Or are their hearts made from rocks instead? Three highly educated young men that never remembered their father in the care center, are they really that busy?”

- Chng Ming King’s niece Jaime Chia Wai Ling