MING LAN

Chapter Fourteen: Our Vacation

Our days at home together are full of fun for us. Not like before. We sit talking to Appa, listening to his life history and planning our holidays with him, before his bedtime. He is a happier man, happy seeing us happy as a couple. There is always something to talk about with him, before our bedtime.

    I never leave my wife alone in bed, taking her in my arms, loving her every night. She always tells me what she likes me doing to her and praises me. I understand her by this time, pleasing her the way she likes enjoying myself at the same time.

     I kept my promise and did not want to delay Appa’s holidays. He is getting old, losing his strength. The three of us flew to Wellington a few months later during Ming Lan’s school holidays. Exploring the Maori land.

     We go slow, following Appa’s pace. He enjoys his ten days there, I watch his diet, avoiding high calorie food for him as much as possible. Not an easy choice for him, choosing the western food. Not much of a choice actually, for him. He does not seem to mind what we put in front of him. Enjoying himself with everything we serve him.

    He seems happy with his cheerful face, going around visiting places with us. It is early spring and not so cold for Appa, for me too. Our time in Auckland before was early winter. He seems to enjoy his holiday with us. Ming Lan keeps him amused with her funny comments over things we come across.

    It is my father’s first time abroad. Appa had spent his time doing business only, since I remember, until he let me take over. “I have retired. You take over Keong.” He said that to me and stayed at home since then. He was an unhappy man back then, staying low and quiet.

    His friends used to visit but later came less and less until he was with me only. They called him and dropped in at times for important issues, still keeping in touch. Everyone is growing old.

    My father suggested we go to China for our family’s next holiday. Ming Lan and I agreed. He wished to see his relatives.

    Ming Lan is happily married to Akeong. The only man she had come across and fell in love with. She loves her husband dearly, who seems to pamper her. Picking her up from school and taking her here and there before coming back home for dinner with their father. Making up for the lost time with her.

    They are so in love. Ming Lan never gets angry with her father anymore. Instead cares for him. She is pregnant after they come back from Wellington.

    I did not use any kind of protection and Ming Lan did not say anything about it either, we just let it happen, never mentioned nor planned. Maybe due to ignorance. So, we are going to have our first baby quite soon. I do not mind much, being a father at thirty is not young anyway. Ming Lan is twenty six.

    Appa is very happy to hear the news. We are not telling him whether it is a boy or a girl. We do not want to disappoint him in case it turns out the other way round, knowing his old mind set. The scan picture does not show clearly. We just wait for the due date patiently. Loving each other more every day.

    Our days together are happy days like young couples in love.

    Ming Lan keeps on patting me, reminding me not to touch her too much in front of Appa, out of respect for the old man’s feelings. Out of habit, my hand hugs her when sitting next to each other, watching television, subconsciously. Sometimes I kiss on the sofa. Appa seems not to mind seeing us like that.

    Soon it becomes a habit, kissing and cuddling on the sofa with him watching his favourite movie programme. We keep him company, cuddling there and expressing ourselves before going up to our rooms. Sometimes she sleeps on his legs and I have her legs on mine.

    Often Ming Lan goes up to our room early, knowing that I want her in bed. Never a day passed by without us having each other in bed. I cannot keep away from my wife after our honeymoon. She understands my feelings.

    “I wonder how you endured all these before.” She asked me one time.

    “I never knew how good it was until I had you. Now that I know, I can’t keep away any more.” I told her, kissing her neckline, caressing her arched body.

    “Me too.” She admits.

    That is how our life is. We satisfy ourselves whenever we feel the urge. We bonded well, talking about ourselves, plucking fruits together, swimming and kissing in the river, and strumming guitar together while singing our favourite songs. Just like before.

     We talk about anything that comes across our mind. With Ming Lan admiring my look, praising me openly, just like before. I feel funny about it, hearing her saying ‘My handsome husband. Handsome Keong’. It just goes on for us, loving each other.

    We never leave Appa alone at home anymore, even to shoppings. He is a happier man. Happy to go anywhere with us, especially with Ming Lan walking with him here and there holding his hand walking in the park. He is in the middle, walking and talking to us. Telling us what he knows, recalling his youth.

    His walking pace is steadier and full of confidence due to the evening walks and exercise on the treadmill.

    We come to know that he was quite active in games but never mastered it well. His father would not allow him to spend too much time on games. He was a school basketball player. He has to help with his father’s business and works at a young age especially after his grandparents passed away, followed by his wife.

    My Dad studied until high school although he did well. Being the only son and the only child in the family he had to obey his parents. Most of his friends had achieved well in the professional field. He became a successful businessman running his father’s finance company.

    His first wife was of his parents choice but faced problems in the marriage. Ming Lan’s mother was his own choice, someone he really loved. He was not a happy man with his marriage later, when the first wife came back with a two years old boy, who is me, AKeong.

    I never knew that my father could swim until the day we went to the beach. Three of us dip ourselves in the sea water, wetting ourselves as we talk. My father lowered himself and swam to our surprise. Ming Lan and I stand watching him in surprise. We accompanied him swimming until he was tired.

    We took him out swimming whenever we had the time. Sometimes we swim in the public swimming club, registering ourselves as members. It is cooler there with a lifeguard around. He likes it better in the swimming pool too.

    Appa’s health improved a lot after walking on the treadmill in the morning and evening. Ming Lan bought it for him after our holiday in Wellington. Three of us are using it actively, after him. Sometimes we all go to the park for fresh air and a change of view. Then have breakfast before we come back.

    We took him to the village, staying at Amma’s house on weekends. I drove him to the river too in Ming Lan’s smaller car. We spent time fishing and swimming there. The tree I planted years ago is growing fine, giving us good shade from the direct sunlight.

    “There are many big fish here. We can fish here everytime we’re here, Keong. I like it here.” Appa said out loud, liking our fishing hours together. He caught a big fish and I caught a smaller one. Later we swam in the cool river with Ming Lan watching from the riverbank, smiling and waving. Her belly is obviously showing.

    Ming Lan grilled the fish coated with lots of pounded paste around it. It gave out such a pleasant and appetising grilled aroma. We had a good dinner with the two big freshwater fish caught.

    We practically do not leave Appa at home by himself anymore. Living an active life at fifty eight. He enjoys going out with us, not like before. Everyday confined to his seat with the newspaper reluctant to leave the house.

    I bought my Dad a bottle of red wine, making him very happy. Drinking it in a tiny glass regularly in the morning.

    I told Ming Lan it is expensive enough, triple the price of a regular one, not that I am stingy. “I don’t want him to get addicted to it. Only for his heart to beat well, every time he wakes up from his sleep feeling cold.”

    My father accepts the low calorie diet his daughter planned for him. Both of us too learn to eat his diet food. Not bad actually, non greasy, with very little salt, almost tasteless. After a week we are used to the taste. Easy work for the cook too, who understands her work. Cooking mostly steam dishes and more green vegetables for our diet.

    Practically, with Ming Lan in my life, our life changed. I keep us happy in bed. My father moves about more following us here and there.

    Nancy and the house cleaner who comes and goes, talk to us. Normally they just do their work without talking much. Ming Lan always talks to them and makes them join in whatever we do in the house. Calling them Auntie Nancy and Auntie Mai, uncle Seng to the driver and uncle Kok to the caretaker. We are like a big family since we are married.

    Ming Lan is a friendly woman, treating everyone as her friend. I am proud of having such a wife like her.

    Appa follows us to Amma’s house regularly, sleeping in my former room.

    The three tenants are still there. We invite them over to have barbeque every time we are there. Ming Lan’s favourite food, grilled chicken and big fish. She serenades us with her guitar strumming while waiting for the food. That police officer, Jack, is good at grilling without blacken our food. The nurse cooks a pot of vegetable soup with lots of vegetables in it, so nutritious.

     Appa enjoys sitting and eating with us, especially the sweet corn. “Much better than steam corn” he told the grilling guy. Praising his grilling skill too.

    Ming Lan does not climb trees anymore during her pregnancy. Living her life as any other pregnant woman. It makes me happy to see a lady-like wife at home, serving me. My heart glows, seeing her every morning with her big belly waking up beside me. I rub her belly every morning, talking to our baby.

    It is getting bigger and she only drives to school now. I did not let her ride her motorbike anymore, especially Appa. Asking me to keep the key away from Ming Lan, knowing his daughter.

    “Don’t worry, Appa, I’m obedient, a filial daughter. I’ll listen to you.” She hugs his arm leaning her face to his arm sitting on the sofa. I smile looking at them.

     “Like you did….filial...You … fight me…” he chuckles listening to her saying ‘filial daughter’. “Akeong listens better…. you….” he laughs aloud remembering how she left the house, stroking her head loving his daughter at the same time.

     “Keong listens to me too, Appa.” says my wife. Making Appa laugh louder. I could not help laughing too, hearing my wife. She turns to me with her tongue out and eyes closed. I chuckle looking at her. How I love your cute face Ming Lan.

    I am a good listener indeed. Obedient too. It is my nature anyway. That night I gave her my love, I really love my cute wife.