I grew up in a family of five, Mom,Dad , me and my two brothers. We were a happy family. My parents loved us and helped us when we needed them. My Dad was a surgeon and Mom was a teacher.
Our school was near our home,we were able to walk to school. My mom taught in the same school. Everyday we gathered together and watched TV shows . Mom and Dad loved the children’s shows.
We’d sit and do our homework in the evening, Mom helped us if we had problems.
We lived in a small town,there were seven thousand people. Most of the people knew us because of my parents jobs.
On week-ends we helped Mom with baking breads and cookies. We helped by tasting and gave our opinion.
Then something terrible happened. My Dad agreed to bring in his cousin’s children. He thought they’d get better education here. Mom had to work extra hours because of the two addition in our family.
We grumbled, Dad ignored us. I noticed my Dad was giving them more attention than us. I told my friends how these two have taken over our house. They sided with us, they said, “Get rid of them.” I know it was easy to say it.
At the end of the school year those two cousins went home to spend summer holidays with their parents. We breathed a sigh of relief at least we thought we’d have peace for two months.
At the end of three years,they graduated and left. I was glad because now I thought Mom and Dad would pay more attention to us.
One day I told my Dad let’s watch the comedy show, I taped , it seemed funny I wanted Dad to watch it with me. A guy was showing off a book he published. His friend didn’t seem to be interested. I tried hard to understand what he was saying I thought he spoke with marbles in his mouth ,it sounded like Audrey Hepburn in ,”My Fair Lady.” Good gracious I thought at least in the movie the professor repeated the sentences, here I thought it sounded like a whole lot of gibberish. I was curious I went and played the tape a few times, I got it I told my dad,” He said anaseptic frasmotic, pericombobulation.”
“Really, what does it mean?”
“It means , I’m sorry if I said anything to upset you.” It was a light hearted comedy. We enjoyed it.
Time was passing faster than I wanted. My brothers left. I missed them. I found myself hanging out with Dad. Sometimes we played board games or listened to the news. My Dad’s favorite show was watching news. I’d spend half hour with him, then move on to do some work on my computer.
Life was good. One day Dad asked, “What would you like to do after you finish your education?” I had no idea, what would be best. While I thought about it he said, “You should work as a programmer.”
“Programmer? No Dad It’s a boring job, besides sitting in front of a computer is tough, I want to do something else.”
“Like what Dad asked?”
“Acting I said, I like it ,my teachers told me I’d excel in it.”
Dad was quiet,I saw his facial expression changing. I could not tell what he was thinking.
Next day he told me, he knows what I should do. “Tell me now”, I was excited.
Well he said , “go to medical school, You’d be a perfect physician you’re kind and thoughtful, the world needs you.”
I was unhappy I didn’t like Dad’s choice. We decided to take our time and decide what was good for me.
The months that followed were stressful. Dad became very quiet, I often wondered what was going on in his mind.
One day he came dressed and sat beside me. I felt Dad would tell me something. He only said, “let’s go for a walk .” I was overjoyed I thought Dad wouldn’t push me to medical school. We walked to the park,he told me to sit on the bench and wait, he’d be back soon. I sat there and waited,but he never came back.
This is my entry for SPEAKEASY #146
Word count: 707
Sabethville 