'Family'

It had been a while since I last spoke to my aunt, she's been watching over us for the past 25 years now (from my perspective, not mum's); our meek benefactor - she's the most generous person that I have the privilege to know (and love). We had dinner together last Saturday night. She had opted for the freshly baked foil-wrapped sweet potato that mum had just got out from the microwave and turned to me as she passed me her plate of rice: "Come. Sit and have dinner". It was a very, very small serving; pathetic and almost sorry-looking - "She has not been eating well...", my mum explained in whispers when she had left the kitchen.

Over a bowl of corn soup, I explained to my aunt that I wouldn't be back for Christmas this weekend (it was the least I could do; and only I could - with any semblance of respect) - which brought me to the thought of not really recalling the last time which I didn't celebrate Christmas back in Taiping; only one episode stayed in my mind - one where a car engine problem held us back in Selangor (it was during my varsity days, when me and my housemates decided to carpool back to Taiping) - and missed Christmas.

Sorry; the mind wanders...

I went on to elaborate that I was going to spend Christmas with my girlfriend, to which her response was "Ooooo..." (with O-curled lips for effect). Now, I'm not sure if I was blushing or not - but she was surprised all right - and pleasantly so (when I related this to mum, I found her to be amusingly dissatisfied; the usual orthodox-core: "Don't tell this to everyone!"). I just shrugged with a smile and did the dishes.

On Sunday afternoon, I said my goodbyes: I hugged mum and aunt, wishing them an early Christmas; apologizing that I would not be with them this time and still: they were smiling - the same smiles I never tire of seeing (and that I've grown, seeing), even if it was for the thousandth time - I count them their blessings to me: their kisses on my forehead; mine on their hands:

To meet you.

(" , )