SHOWING LOVE THE WRONG WAY

SHOWING LOVE THE WRONG WAY


Hours before, we were watching CJ7 on AXN channel in the living room. Halfway through, the sound of Grace whimpering could be heard. There's this thing about babies. Many scientists have researched that parents are able to detect and pick up the tones of their baby's cries. Just by the sound of the crying, the parents are able to differentiate whether their baby is hungry, seeking for attention, or experiencing pain or discomfort.

Similarly, after having been handling Grace for quite a while, I recognize that particular whimpering. It was a cry of struggle; a call for help. She was whimpering helplessly and frustratedly. Something was causing her distress. Turning my head around, it was easy to pinpoint the culprit. Serene was trying to stuff the pacifier of a milk bottle into Grace's mouth.

Of course, Serene's intention was kind. There's this ambiguous thing about Serene. Sometimes, she bullies her younger sister (read: kick, push, shove) and simply refuses to share anything with her. Occassionally though, she'll personally feed Grace mouthfuls of food off her own plate, or help her younger sister with her shoes.

Now, Serene was shoving the milk bottle into Grace's mouth. Nothing bad, honestly. She was trying to get her younger sister to finish her milk. But then, even I myself would resist violently if someone were to forcefully stuff a spoon into my mouth. And I've always known my Grace to be a rather independent girl; she likes to do things herself (though she always make a royal mess out of it).

"Serene, no, don't do that. Stop. Stop it. You'll hurt your sister." I ordered in Chinese. Most kids know not to be gentle. They just play rough. In addition, Serene is already 4, while Grace is currently only 18-months-old. All it takes is just a reckless shove or a careless push, and things could potentially turn disastrous.

At that moment, Grace somehow managed to break free and ran past her sister. She dashed towards me, and buried her face in the curve of my right neck. She pressed her face against my collarbone in a desperate bid to hide from the source of provocation. Serene dashed forward as well, blindly determined in her love pursuit to get her sister to finish her milk. This is a rare moment of sisterly love. But shown in the wrong way.

I lifted Grace up and seated her comfortably on the groove of my laps (I was sitting cross-legged on the floor). She was still helplessly burying her face in my bosom. Instinctively, I raised my right arm and lifted up my right shoulder blade, creating a solid "boundary" between the 2 sisters.

"Serene. No. Don't. Wait, wait. Stop." She stopped in her track. Well, how could she not? If she had continued running forward, she would run into my back.

"The milk bottle." I continued in Chinese, "Give it to me."

She obediently did as instructed.

"Xie xie. Good girl. Guai."

I looked down at Grace. She was no longer burying her face, but she was still obviously shakened. Resting her head sideways on my chest, she was peeking cautiously and timidly like a threatened mice.

"Grace. Milk, milk. You want? Milk?" I waved the bottle in front of her face.

She took it. And lifted it to her mouth and continued drinking.


The silly girls.