Childhood Memories
"Come on, vomit……" those were the words urged repeatedly by the doctor. I was a little girl with little or no knowledge of what was going on in those days. Mom was worried, so were dad, grandma and most of all grandpa! (I had mistaken grandpa’s bottle of pills for heart problems for candies and was made to swallow an uncooked egg to induce vomiting.) I stared at all the anxious adults with a blank look. The good doctor was amazed and said she had never met anyone, young or old who could swallow a whole raw egg and not vomit. Anyway, I came out unscathed from the experience.
At the age of five, I was living with my grandparents who cared a great deal for me. Little as I was then, I could not comprehend what money meant, let alone understand the rough times my elders were going through. Although my parents and I were far apart, we were close at heart. I knew how to cry for attention when I needed them. As a result, the old folks instilled in me some useful discipline lessons – the old-fashioned method that they had implemented on my dad.
My grandfather was and still is a person who does not tolerate any nonsense. I can recollect my very first day in kindergarten. He took me there himself. Unfortunately, grandmother who was a very soft-hearted lady was not there for me to hide behind. I held on tightly to my grandfather’s hand and would not let go. I was afraid that I would be left there forever with my peers. Grandfather was stern and solemn. He would not tolerate any nonsense from me. Through his expressions, I quickly learned to hold back my tears. In fact, I was very tensed. It was a tough day and decided not to go back there again.
The next day I was shoved into the car. I creamed, cried and struggled, almost begging him not to take me there, but, my efforts were futile. Until today, I have learned to be punctual in school or any other functions because of what my grandfather instilled in me. His principle will always be etched in my head.
During meal times, I had to be at my best behaviour. I was to sit beside my grandfather who sat at the end of the long table. My aunts and uncles sat around the table. This was where table manners came in. Grandfather did have his peculiar way of eating. I never copied his habits. Whenever I forgot to support the bottom piece of chopsticks on my hand. I always wondered if my aunts and uncles would have received similar treatment if they were to sit where I was sitting. Even today, I still feel honoured to be able to sit where I sat ten years ago. It was something honourable for my ego then.
Evertime I got into hot soup, grandmother would be my defender. Anyway, I still would not be able to escape from grandfather’s hand like it or not.
Although I was very much a disciplined girl those days, I did have lots of fun. We watched television at night together. Grandfather would enjoy his guiness stout while grandmother would prepare for me my usual warm drink. Time and again, I was tempted to try his black stout. The style he drank it made me very curious. As the saying goes, "curiosity kills the cat." I took a big mouth full and that was it! I gagged and reeled from the bitterness of the gulp. He laughed aloud, revealing the few "white assets" in his mouth.
These early recollections for my grandparents are unforgettable. They form a big part of my childhood memories. Today, they are still alive and healthy. As I spend my time with them today, it seems almost like my childhood days once again…… warm and secure. How blessed I am to have such grandparents and such memories.
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