Happy Father's Day
I would like to share with you a story, before father’s day. It is based on a true story…hehehe….it’s more of an incident that I had with my father.
Recently I just got my pay, and for the first time (in a long, long while) I saw money in my pathetic bank account. And it was quite a large amount – for me. However happy I was, I had to withdraw half to settle my backdated bills. Although half was gone, I was finally happy I had my own money to settle my debts.
On that very evening, my dad approached me and we had the ugliest conversation I’ve ever had with him….well, there were a few in the past, but that’s another story.
He, literally, demanded RM500 from me that very instant!
I’m only left with half the amount and I need the money to survive until the next month (mind u toll and petrol a day to Cyber don’t come cheap).
I told him I don’t have the money because I just paid my car and bills, and he said raising his voice, “I don’t care! That’s your problem! I am also one of your backdated debts!”
I keep telling him I don’t have money but he refuse to accept it.
Last week I had to go to Langkawi for 2 days for assignment. I borrowed from him RM300, which I only used RM150. I returned the RM150, paid the remaining RM150 and he demanded another RM150. I told him that I can’t give him money yet as this is only the first month I’ve started working. I said I’ll give him RM500 after 3 months of working, but he strongly disagreed. I negotiated,I’ll give him money after June, but he strongly refused and insisted I pay him now (my father sounds like a debt collector. Well I’m not surprise since he works as a credit control executive).
His next words were, “Fine, u return the RM300 u owe me and next month u give me RM500 plus the RM150!” (At this point he wasn’t only raising his voice, he was losing his temper, threatening me in a demanding voice).
I stood my ground and said calmly, “I’m sorry I don’t have the money. I can only give u RM300 from next month onwards.” I really didn’t have any money left if I gave in to him cause I had to think of my rent and saving money in case of emergencies while staying outside.
He was hysterical by that time, yelling now, “Fine, if u don’t give me the money, I have a form here, u sign your car over to me now!”
I said, “That is ridiculous! How am I going to work then?” And u know what he replied?
His exact words were, “I don’t care! That’s your problem!”
That time I was beginning to breakdown, trying very hard not to cry I said calmly, but with my shaking voice, “U are being very unreasonable. Because of money u treat me this way.”
His final words were, “Yes, I am being unreasonable because in the past u made one mistake and it cost me RM3, 000. So now I have the right to ask u for money!” (the RM3,000 he paid was actually my college tuition fees. I extended one more semester, whereas I took a loan to settle the rest of the course). Isn’t it ironic when here I am paying back the loan which cost RM18, 000 and he treats me this way for RM3, 000?
After his final words, I couldn’t stand around anymore to take this ill treatment. I slammed my room door on him and cried the whole evening.
I moved out the next day and now I’m trying to forget that incident and move on with my life. But it’s difficult when it involves your father of all people.
So the moral of the story is, if your father is compassionate, understanding, generous, gentle, don’t take advantage of him. Treasure him for there are many people out there who do not have that privilege as u.
Happy Father’s Day.
(p.s: Thanks to Ezee for always being there for me. Thanks to Mikey and Sparty for taking me in. Thanks Botak for being ever-ready to help a friend in times of need. Thanks Doyle for the free dances....... or for giving me a sneak preview of Brokeback Mountain with Matthew. And thank u all for taking the time to read my blog)
