My family

Family life in Singapore is said to be in horrible shape due to stress and pressure of daily work and especially, for those with school going children, the added pressure of the kids’ academic achievements. I used to think that my family was like that, and that my parents only care about the test and exam marks of my sister and myself. But a recent incident caused me to think that they were not as bad as it initially appeared.

This week, my parents, sister and I went for a jog. My father and I normally ran ahead. My mom and my sister would trial behind, walking in a leisurely pace. Somewhere in the middle of my jog, my father and I heard a blood-curdling cry that obviously belonged to my sister. My father, who normally struggles to keep up with me, sped off so fast that he left a cloud of smoke in his trail quite like the latest sports car depict in my favorite cartoon. A while later, I caught up with my father, panting like a mad bull. My sister had stepped on the boundary between the pavement and grass. Her weight must have pushed her leg deep into the gap in between. Judging from her loud moaning and ear-piercing screams, she must be either very sacred or in a lot of pain. My father surprised me by picking her up in a fireman lift and dashing off to the nearest hospital. My mother continued to soothe her with comforting words. I followed, feeling extremely guilty at not being able to contribute.

A good 3 hours, my sister emerged from the hospital treatment room with a bandage and was discharged. Thank goodness, it was only a twist that would heal in a couple of weeks.
We were all extremely relieved. When I looked at my parents faces, filled with anguish and worry, I resolve to do my best not to cause them any agony, academically or otherwise.