Dad always place his comb on top of his wallet. When I was a kid, I used to be very excited whenever he asked me to wash his comb. I don't really know where the excitement came from that time. Is it because of I will be washing the comb with an old toothbrush which used to be so new to me, or is it because I finally got the chance to play with water?
Time flies. My dad resigned from his old job and started his own business and I started school. Well, there are ups and downs on everything. My dad's business wasn't working so well, and our life went from stable to shaky when I was in primary school. He doesn't come home as frequent as before. A couple times a week. Even though he came home, it was always late. I'd already be in bed whenever he came home. I started to get mad on him. Mad on why wouldn't he listened to my mom at the first place to stick on to his old job? Why take the risk and put the whole family into such trouble? I stopped. Stop waiting for him to come home, stop going downstairs to check on him, stop... washing his comb.
Today, I'm no longer a kid. I graduated from college, got myself a job and bought myself a car. I no longer need financial support from my family, instead I become part of the financial support for my family. Well, not much just tiny support. My dad's business started to go back on track. Everything's better now. Yet I still never wait for him to come home, never check on him when he comes home either.
Tonight, my dad came home quite early. I helped him to carry his bags into his study room. When I turned around, he said: " Hey, would you like to help me to wash my comb? It has been a while since the last time I washed it." I looked at him. Took the brownish comb from him and head to the bathroom.
New comb. I never noticed when he changed his comb. It used to be a green one. Then a pink one which was the one he gave to me as present and then he took it back because the green one broke. Then after that I never noticed what kind of comb or what color his comb was until now. I punch a few drops of body shampoo on an old toothbrush, then I started to brush the comb.
Now I know where does the excitement came from when I washed my dad's comb when I was a kid. It was the excitement of love. I was happy that my dad came home so early, spend the night with us watching tv or play a few video games with me. I was so happy to see my dad, that's why whatever he asked me to do I'll do it with all of my heart.
I passed the comb back to my dad, showing him what a good job I had done to his comb. It looks like a new one again. He gazed on the comb and smiled. That was the time I realized that my dad has aged. There are wrinkles beside his eyes when he smiled and yet the smile is still as heart warming as before. He slowly placed his comb on top of his wallet. After so many years, he still placed his staffs in the same organized way. Everything at the same spot, not an inch less nor an inch extra.
Dad, I'm sorry if I have said or did anything wrong to hurt you for the past few years. I never realized that whatever you did, whatever risk you took is for the sake of the family. You want a better life, for us.
Thank you, dad and I love you.
Comments
Post a Comment