Firstly, I’ll have to say that I was pretty shocked upon hearing about this assignment that we must do. Well, pretty much because we don’t really get to know our classmates very well. And out of nowhere, we are expected to do this assignment that expects us to pour out something deep down in our hearts to our classmates. I don’t really like the idea of having to do this assignment. Because these related issues are really deep down inside me and I hate to share it with anyone else who is less familiar as compared to the really closed ones. But no choice, I have to do it!
Secondly, there is something struggling inside me. I’ve been thinking hard. Who should be the person that I want to really talk and share about? I’m not saying that I’ve made many enemies. In fact, I don’t believe in enemies. I’d rather bless them than to curse or talk behind their backs. I had this relationship that I was really involved in for 3 years way back in secondary school. However, he broke my heart pretty badly but I wouldn’t want to share or mention about it in any cases. Moreover, it was my first relationship and we tend to be a little more immature. It’s really funny whenever I think back about it. Thus, I wouldn’t want to shout out everything here because it’s definitely childish and stupid.
All right, so here goes.
Dearest Grandpa,
It has been years since we last saw each other. I don’t really remember when we exactly last saw each other. My memory of that is definitely very vague. But I do remember that I was still very young then. I don’t really remember how you look like. However, from what I remember, you are that kind-looking old man who is always so suspicious. We don’t communicate much, probably because of our generation gap or because we just don’t share the same language. To me, you are like a total stranger who is always speaking a foreign language, Teochew. I know my dialect is Teochew. But, sorry, this dialect just seems so foreign and difficult to me. You are always the first person to ask, “Have you eaten?” whenever my family visits you. My only answer is only “Yes” or “No”. Well, duh. Is that the only sentence that you can say to me?
Grandpa, oh, Grandpa. I must admit I don’t have a great impression of you. You have 2 wives and my father’s mother is the smaller wife of yours. Is that the reason why we don’t deserve the same treatment? My family did visit you for several years. However, you failed to acknowledge us after that. Thanks for abandoning your second wife and us. Do you know that Grandma misses you a lot? She mentioned you to me several times. She always asked, “Do you know who your Grandpa is? Do you love him?”. My answer will always be the same. “Yes, I know who Grandpa is but no, I don’t love him.” When I said that, Grandma got angry and argued back. “No! He’s your grandfather. There’s no reason why you should hate him. It’s that first wife of his that you should hate.” Well I think Grandma got it all wrong. I said, I don’t love you, but I didn’t mention that I HATE you. But, is what Grandma said true? I should hate your first wife? Well, I should admit that I don’t have a great impression of her either. Probably it’s a perception that is shaped by Grandma’s influence. However, that’s not necessarily true. Because I do remember that your first wife tried to feed my brother and me expired Vitagen. Thanks a lot. I must say that our intelligence is definitely better than your first wife’s because we didn’t drink it. Imagine what will happen if we both drank it. Do you know that she’s acting like a bitch? Or do you know that she’s a witch? Or have you been ignorant of all these stuff? I am not the first to have 3 grandmothers (including mother’s side) in total. I have friends who have 3 grandmothers but they seem to be able to live happily together without any conflicts or separation! Why is that all these appear to be not possible at all? Grandpa, you’re such a coward. I really want to bless you with courage. Like what Russell Peters said, “Be a man, do the right thing!”
It was years after I realised that both your wives are actually sisters. Oh my, you’re such a flirt. I know both of them look alike, but do you have to get both of them? I think that one is enough. Why? Because they are equally evil and I don’t think you deserve to let them suck your life away from you. You could have been happier without two wives. Like I said, one is enough.
I’ve also realised how your first wife neglect my dad. All the other ‘brothers and sisters’ of his seem to have perfect eyesight. And why is my dad’s eyesight that bad? Now I know, that your first wife switched off the lights whenever my dad wanted to study. Once again, do you know that or have you been ignorant? If you knew it all along, then why did you approve your first wife’s attitude? Are you biased? It’s not that you are forced to marry Grandma. My dad is also your son. Don’t all your children deserve the same treatment? Well, once again, thanks for neglecting my dad.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, Grandma is evil as well. She left my mum sitting alone at the staircase while my dad was working. She was pregnant and you gave her Coke to quench her thirst? Does Grandma hate us? She caused my asthma. You know pregnant ladies shouldn’t be harming their babies with Coke. My mum was ignorant then. Couldn’t Grandma give her some other drinks? She shouldn’t be throwing my mum out of the house at all. My mum is innocent. She didn’t do anything to Grandma. Do you know all these or have you been ignorant? Your ignorance has caused many innocent people to suffer as well.
If that’s the only thing that Grandma had done to my family, I wouldn’t define her as evil yet. What’s unbelievable is that she refuse to acknowledge us just like you did, ten years later. My mum couldn’t take her ill treatments anymore and mentioned it to Grandma. They argued and Grandma severed all ties with us since then. I didn’t speak or see her since then. I believe if you were courageous enough, all these wouldn’t have happened. You will be there to help us, to prevent these and to love us. I always believe that grandparents are the roots that will support the big tree grown over the years. However, for my case, it doesn’t seem to be that way. I want to experience all the love and care showered on grandchildren. However, you made my wish impossible to be granted. My mother’s father had been grieving over his wife’s death for years. He became senile after years. He couldn’t even recognise his own kids. Not to mention his own grandchildren. I understand and so I don’t expect much from him. At least, I know he loves and treasures his family. And he wouldn’t do anything to destroy a family. You seem to be the only desirable one who could fulfil my wish of being loved by a grandparent. Is that something too much to ask for?
That was this day that I saw you in the bus. You looked so familiar, so weak, and so unhappy. I was definitely sure that I didn’t recognise the wrong person even though my memory of you was very vague. Probably you’ve recognised that this isn’t the life that you wanted. I saw you looking at me in the bus that day. I know that you recognised me. But why is that you didn’t come forward to talk to me? I don’t think I should be the one approaching you after what you’ve done. Moreover, I felt really angry at that time. Right now, while I think back of that day, I really regretted not calling you. Probably, you could have been happier.
Oh, Grandpa. How I’d long to see you again. If I do see you again on the streets, I will definitely approach you. I’ve got so much to tell you. Probably my perception of you isn’t true at all? I really need to hear from you again.
Love,
Your grand-daughter
December 9, 2007 at 8:22 pm
For someone who didn’t want to write this assignment, you sure had something to say. This is very nicely done. The examples are specific. You keep yourself a part of the story while never forgetting the letter is about your grandfather. Honestly, I don’t have any suggestions for improvement.