Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 07:56:25 +0800 From: pedoman@myself.com Subject: Angel In The Human World 3 Foreword: This story is a pure fiction story. I wrote it first in my own language, and then tried to translate to English. There might be many grammar/syntax errors, many inappropriate use of phrases or words. I'd like to receive your feedback, including your thoughts of this story, and your correction of my English writings. Thanks and hope you enjoy it. --pedoman@myself.com Angel In The Human World Chapter 3 I sat on a chair beside the bar, drinking a cup of juice. No other customers in the bar, because the "closed" sign was hanging on the door. Yong, sitting beside me, did not say anything. I knew that he was quite nervous, so I just patted his back. He raised his head and gave me a feeble smile. Suddenly, the door opened. Yong and I turned our heads around, and saw a woman coming in. I glanced at her. Although I had imagined how Yong's mother looked like, this woman looked much older than I expected. These years must have been quite difficult for her. She wore a plain all-in-one dress. Her face looked much like Yong. What surprised me, was not only one person coming in. In back of Yong's mother followed a little boy, about only 8 or 9. He was not very tall, but his body shape looked good. He had a round face, wore a sleeveless shirt, with two white arms revealed. The boy made me thought of Yong in his elementary school life. I looked at Yong, and he looked surprised too. Yong's grandpa appeared in back of the bar. He said: "Here you come." The woman nodded her head, and looked at me with suspect eyes. "Um... This one is... " "This is Mr. Don. He is Yong's teacher in the elementary school. He helped Yong a lot during these days." Yong's grandpa said. I nodded to Yong's mother, and she nodded back to me. Then she turned to Yong. "Are you OK?" Yong was still idling there, watching the little boy. The boy felt a bit frightened, and he hid behind Yong's mother. "Who is this boy?" asked Yong's grandpa. "He is... Yong's brother." said Yong's mother. "My brother?" Yong exclaimed in surprise. "Yeah, his name is Jay." "Jay... " Yong looked at Jay intently. Yong's grandpa said coldly: "So, what do you wanna tell us?" Yong's mother sat down on a chair, and looked at Yong. "Yong, could you please take Jay out for a walk, showing him around nearby? I'll talk to you alone later." Yong looked at his mother, then Jay, then me, and finally his grandpa. His grandpa nodded to him, and he pouted. Then he walked to Jay. "Come on, I'll show you around." Jay hesitated for a minute, and his mother gave him an sign to encourage him. He went out with Yong. Yong's mother looked at the back of the two kids. After a while, she said: "I'm here to leave Jay to you." "Leave Jay to me?" asked Yong's grandpa, still coldly. "Yeah. Breast cancer. Now I have only one or two months to live." A terrible silence. I looked at Yong's grandpa, and his face was as white as gypsum. Yong's mother said peacefully. "Actually I have arranged most of the things. The beneficiaries of my life insurances were you three. Now I only worry about Jay... I'm afraid that nobody will take care of him after I pass away." "You always get me into a lot of troubles!" Yong's grandpa rushed out from the back of the bar, and snarled to Yong's mother. "I have brought Yong up for ten years, and now you tell me it's not enough, there is one more to go. Have you ever thought that I'm also old enough to be a candle in the wind?" Yong's mother seemed to be ready for this, so she just listened to her father yelling. "What did you give us in this ten years? When Yong needed a mother, where were you? You just eloped with your fucking man, and left us depending on each other for survive. And now you come back to tell me that it's not enough? I still have another one to feed?" I hastened to pull Yong's grandpa back, and had him sit down on another chair. "Hey, Don't be angry... Be easy..." "I know that I owe you very much." said Yong's mother quietly. "The fucking man left me when he knew I was pregnant with Jay. I also brought Jay up alone these years. I have no ability to give Yong anything, and I don't expect him to forgive me. Therefore a long time ago I bought life insurance, and also wrote my will, in case that one day I pass away, I can leave something for them." Yong's grandpa did not say anything, just put on a livid face. But I knew that he started to calm down. So I stood up and said: "Be easy. I'll go out to look after the kids." I went out of the door, and looked around. I found them standing in a corner, not very far away. Yong was hugging and patting Jay, and Jay's face was buried in Yong's chest, crying. Yong saw me, and tears was falling down his face too. I knelt down and patted Jay's head. "You heard that, right?" Yong nodded with tears. I hugged them both into my arms. I knew that this was a very big hit to Yong. He had waited for nearly ten years, missing his mother every day, but when seeing his mother she got only one or two months to live. Yong and Jay were weeping in my arms, and I just caressed them gently. After weeping a while, I released them. I said softly: "Think in a better way. You still have one or two months to accompany your mother. At least God gives you this chance, right?" Yong still sobbed, but he nodded his head. He looked at Jay, and hugged him. "From now on, I'm your elder brother. I'll take care of you." I smiled watching Yong. He had already been a brave kid, and now he looked even more mature. I took them back home. Yong's mother was sitting there alone, but Yong's grandpa was nowhere in sight. Yong looked at me. I nudged him, and nodded to him. He pulled Jay's hand, and walked to his mother, gave her a bear hug. His mother was surprised, but then hugged them tightly. "They heard everything." I said. Yong's mother nodded, and tears ran across her face. I walked out of the door, to let them reunite. After a while, Yong's grandpa walked out too. "Thank you, Mr. Don." said him. "You are welcome. It's nothing." "If it weren't for you, Yong might not forgive his mother so easily." I shook my head. "Actually he misses his mother very much. He just didn't know how to handle the condition yesterday." Yong's grandpa sighed deeply. I patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. Yong is a brave boy. He'll be OK."