It was a sure serendipity as I sauntered into a restaurant(taking my mom out for dinner last night),someone calling me out gently from the back just with one "Eugene",I turned around and looked over my shoulder, it was my brother calling me.
When I looked at him,I was happy and I was almost elated when I heard him calling me "Eugene",never did I expect that,(yes prior to this,he never called me at all) I quickly and excitedly responded by calling him,"Teik Fu" I prefer calling him "Teik Fu " rather than "Keith" cos it feels warm that way.
I walked over to his table,(he was with his wife and a friend),got myself seated down, as respect I smiled at his wife,telling her that I was "Teik Fu's" brother,(I also have never never met his wife before) somehow or rather,she did not look too perplexed, I guess she alreday knew who I was already,then calling her,"Ah So",a title used to address my brother's wife.
There we were,a "Teik Fu" seating down with another "Teik Leong"(that's my Chinese name),two brothers who had never sat down together before,two brother who one could call out the other one's name with zest and with another one reciprocated with much enthusiasm.
At this juncture,"Teik Fu's " friend was looking kind of funny,"probably he never knew that "Teik Fu" had got a younger brother" Quickly and smilingly I said to his friend that," We are brothers but of different mothers" I like his friend's reply when he said," Ya but then again, we both share the same blood too,even if both go to DNA test,you're still brothers" So happy to hear that.
You see, I remember when I was small, my father(passed away about 27 years ago) used to tell me this, if you did see those brothers and sisters from "Tua Ma side"( my Papa's first wife ),you must call them,Tua Ko and Tua Chi, I knew it was my father's dream to see his children from the two sides.........coming together for he thought it was so "Difficult" back then
And I was happy that I managed to in one way anoter fulfilling my father's dream,albeit a short conversation with "Teik Fu".......and I was happy,now I guess it would be my dream to sit down with the rest of the brothers and sisters from Tua Ma side's to bring my father's dream to fruition but I guess it would be very very hard,,,,,,,,,,,sorrry father.
P/S : Thanks Teik Fu (Ah Ko) for the time,it might not come again but it was a dream come through for Papa and me,,,,,,,thank you..suddenly tears just trickered down my cheeks
Mine is "Yuk"...but my brother's "Yiik" ! It is actually neither but instead something with a "u" and two dots on top - the character is like two "i" joined together...with a very peculiar/distinct sound. Now, who says English is complicated? LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteIt feels nice ya...
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day Eugene!
So .. it is like that.. I was surprised when u said that you never sat together with your brother before.. your half-brother..also brother la.. same father's blood..
ReplyDeleteDuring those days it is very common for the men to have two wives esp those who came from China...
my grandpa had 3 wives.. but my father.. one only.. :)
well, my grandpa had 2 wives too..
ReplyDeleteThat's great!! Maybe you can invite them for dinner someday!
ReplyDeleteEugene,
ReplyDeletethat is a good start. Blood is thicker than water.
do keep in touch to built up the bond. you guys have a lot to catch up.
nice post bro, even though i call you bro here, but we all know blood brothers like the ones you've met up with are th best! :)
ReplyDeleteEugene, I can relate how you feel about your elder brother from your Dad's first wife finally acknowledge that you are his brother. My Dad got 3 wives. The first wife did not have any kids with him but the 2nd wife have 2 sons and a daughter. Me, the only child to my mum. My mum is the 3rd wife. Me and my step siblings had not much of a relationship during the time when my Dad and his 2nd wife were alive. My step sister passed away when she was 18, we were good friends secretly in school because her mother disapprove her to befriend me. I can still remember when she passed away, I went to her funeral and my Dad told me to go home and refuse me from paying my step sister my last respect. He was too afraid to upset my step mother. I was extremel hurt. It was only after my Dad and my eldest step brother's demise that me and my 2nd step brother became close. That is all because he got a good wife. She convinced him that we have the same blood and I am the only sister he has left and he should have a a bond with me. Now, me and my step brother are VERY CLOSE and this is something I VALUE very much and I will not exchange our bond for all the wealth in the world. I hope someday, you and all your step siblings will have a close relationship too. It will then be a dream come true not only for your Dad but for you too.
ReplyDeletetouching. :) I feel happy for you! Hope there'll be more meetings.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great news. Maybe you can invite him for a meal one day to keep this relationship going.
ReplyDeleteNow I know more about you. My hb do have 2 elder bros (same dad diff mom). They surely meet each other during cheng beng festival for their late father and grand parent.
ReplyDeleteMy FIL has 4 children from his 1st marriage (the wife had passed away) and 2 children with my MIL. Sadly we are not close with with my hubb's "Tua Ma" side.
ReplyDeleteI do wish they get closer, as saying they are related by blood. I don't think I can recognize any of my hubb's step siblings :(
What a happy episode, Eugene. Touching too as tears welled up my eyes. Happy for you that your family bond is getting closer. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete