it almost slipped my mind that Oct 13th was my dad's 9th year death anniversary and it will be 10 years next year. so how did i pull through for the past 9 years. well, for a start, i wasn't close to my dad... his drinking habits and pride made me lost my respect for him.
it happened 21 years ago, when i was waiting to get enlisted into the army. we were all invited to a wedding @ selegie road, some relative that i do not know. as usual, my dad had drank more than he should and everyone else who was drinking with him didn't help. i remembered at the end of the dinner, my dad couldn't walk straight but he was still saying some things to the whole lot as we were leaving. my dad had though they were laughing with him but actually they were laughing at him. finally we got him out and was about to take the bus but my dad wanted to take a cab. since he had no cash with him, he yelled back to us to wait for him while he go and withdraw at the atm. he crossed the road when it was red man and was almost knocked down by car. the driver was quick to react and i thought that would have jolted my dad a bit but it didn't, he just went on walking. i remembered i was crying at the bus-stop urging my mom to leave the place and my dad behind, not wanting my mom or my younger sister to take anymore embarrassments, in front of a packed bus-stop. in the end, we took the bus back, while my elder bro and an uncle went after my dad. after which, i can't recall no more.
apart from everything that happened, my dad continued drinking and treated his 'friends' whenever he was paid. there was late nights arguments and fights in the family. there was once i had to stop my eldest bro and my drunken dad, didn't know how i had the strength to pull them apart and make it end there & then. the final straw came, when we had a call from a taxi driver, he had found my dad lying by the drain @ serangoon road, dead drunk. the taxi driver carried my dad into the cab and drove him back. my second elder bro had to help the taxi driver bring my dad up. my dad had passed out and slightly bleeding from the head. after everything the good Samaritan taxi driver had not charge anything for bringing my dad home.
later did we find out that my dad had gone to drinking with some 'buddies' at a coffee shop. as usual he would treat everyone and they drank till closing time. knowing my dad was not in a stable condition and when he passed out nearby, hitting his head on the kerb. they just left him there and went off, not giving a damn. all except the chinese taxi driver who witnessed everything n brought my dad safely back home.
so yea, my dad had too much pride and failed to see his own faults. he passed away finally in oct 13, 1998 due to some complications, he was a diabetic.
well, if u have to drink, do drink but make sure u have friends who would take the trouble to send u back home.
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