LamBerry

18th of December 2007, morning as usual i sent Carmen to nanny house then go to work. Father was sitting in the dinning table and said Bye Bye to Carmen, that time Carmen start learning talking. I asked her to speak ‘Gong Gong’  means grandfather in Chinese. But she refused to call.

10:30am, i received an sms from my 2nd brother, he wrote, Father passed away at 10am, a very short message that keep me stun. I really can’t believe what I am reading just now. I called my brother to verify. Yes, father just passed away. I received another 2 calls, one from my mum and the other one from my 4th sister. My mum told me what happen and my sister called to verify as well. I straight went home, I saw father body was inside my mother bedroom. My mother told me what happen just now, everything happen suddenly, she asked my dad whether want to drink Milo or not? Because he got no appetite to eat breakfast. Then suddenly he feel uncomfortable, cannot breath. And he passed away peacefully.

My father has 2 wives and I have 4 elder sisters and 2 elder brothers. We all live together from young. Now only few of us staying in this house, 2 of my sisters married and move out, 2nd brother married and move out and 2nd sister working in Singapore, and the house left 2 mothers, eldest bro and 3rd sister stay here. My brothers went to buy coffin, I’m staying with my mum, and she feel sad. And we are waiting all of my sisters to come back to the house to organize the ceremony.
Everyone hard feeling, me too. I believe the most will be my 2 mothers, they with him for so many years, suddenly have to live alone.

We have 2 nights funeral ceremony. On that day we going to grave yard, we have to follow some funeral ‘rules’, we have the last round to look at father face before they seal the coffin. Each of us takes turn to look at father face. Father face very peaceful. On the closing ceremony, we can only wear socks holding the coffin car start walking from the house to the bus station, is a farewell to my dad. That moment, I looked at everyone face, tears dropping non-stop, I also cannot control myself. Dad, I am sorry if I didn’t do well during your time, but I will promise to take care of my mum, I told myself in my heart.

It took 45-60 minutes car journey to reach the grave yard, this is our last round seeing the coffin. Father, I know we seldom talk to each other, but I can feel that you are caring of everyone of us. I can understand that why last time you seldom talk to us, is because you work hard to make our life better, thank you father, you are always in my mind. Bye dad.