Favouritism

Ask your jie to go and wash the plates,” I replied curtly. Obediently, my son stacked up the plates and passed it to my daughter. “Why is it me again?” She shouted annoyingly. There were occasional grumbles made by her and the constant clanging of the plates. I knew that she was not happy with this arrangement, but I have no choice. While the rest of the family were in the living room resting and watching television, my daughter was busy washing and scrubbing the plates.

You heard the word favouritism going around. You may think that I am practising favouritism but I am not. Coming from an educated family, my mother had constantly reminded me that I must be dependent on myself. This was why I have always insisted that my children must acquire this value especially my daughter. As the saying goes “survival of the fittest”. It is extremely difficult to survive in today’s society without all these values. Hence, I want my daughter to learn how to grow up. Thus, I have always demanded more from her than my son. However, my intention was not well received by her.

After twenty minutes of washing up, she retreated back to her room. But for don’t know what reason, my son went into her room. It was at this moment that chaos broke out. There was sound of glass shattering onto the floor and then followed by a loud cry. “I told you not to touch my things!” The shouting was so loud that it could be heard from a few blocks away. Immediately, I barged into the room. What I saw next horrified me. Blood were oozing out from my son’s face and there were shattered pieces of glass lying on the floor.

“What did you do? Are you out of your mind?” I shouted at her as I tried to stop the blood from flowing.

“You are sad now aren’t you? I have injured your precious son and what are you going to do?” She challenged.

“You don’t speak to me in this manner young lady. I am your mother.” Arms akimbo, I looked at her.

“You made me do the dishes every day. You made me sweep the floor every week end. You made me stay at home even during the holidays. Now you are scolding me because I have injured your precious son. But in the first place he was the one who is in the wrong…” Before she even had to chance to finish her sentence, my hand has already sliced into the air and in a microsecond it landed on her face.


I felt a pang in my heart as I gave her that one tight slap. She was stunned and held her hand at the spot where I had just hit her. “I hate you mum! I hate you!” She yelled in a belligerent tone. It was so loud that it can burst her lungs at anytime point of time. A drop of tears trickled down from the contours of my face. I stared at her- mouth wide opened. Guilt immobilised me and I was at a loss of words. Her words pieced through my heart like a knife. It was bleeding profusely…

I found her in the garden throwing pebbles into the water- the usual place that she will go when she is unhappy. She had an upside down smile implanted onto her beautiful round face. My heart arched when I saw her in this state. I went up to her gingerly, fearing that she will run away when she saw me. “Hey girl “I whispered softly as I took a seat next to her. She looked up but avoided making eye contact with me.

“Do you know that I treasure you more than you brother? You might not know, but it took me a great pain to give birth to you. Your umbilical cord got entangled and there is no way to untangle it. I remembered at that time, I have made my stand very clear to the doctors that no matter what happens, I still have to give birth to you. And because of this, it made me realise that I will have to treasure and protect you more than the others.” I heaved out a sign of relief as I finally made a confession which was kept buried in me for the past fifteen years.

“But…But why? Why am I treated like this? I am also your child mum. Why am I always the one doing everything? Why can’t I be like brother and to do what I want? ” She said - choked with emotions.

“I want you to become independent. Never mind that you detest me to the core. Never mind that you talked back to me rudely. Never mind that you have shown me attitude. All I want from you is to learn. Learn to become independent through the hard way. You have always heard of the saying “survival of the fittest.” That is what I want you to be, my dear. It is never easy for a young lady to survive alone. Therefore, I need to train you since young so that you will not get bullied or hurt.”

It was this sentence that finally made her look straight into my eyes. Looking at her blue eyes, I knew that she was remorseful for what she did earlier on and I have already forgiven her even before going out to the garden to find her..

“Mum, are you still angry with me? I was too hot-headed at that time.” she whispered as she hugged me.

“No dear,” I replied as I touched her brown, silky hair. I guess what I said just now had touched her because she sobbing and mumbled, “I love you mum, and I will always do”.

Kai Zhen