Though it's a bit too late to say this,
Happy Merdeka to all Malaysians. I had a wonderful weekend during the short break and I was at home hanging out with my family. On Saturday, I was out with Haha-ue and we were supposed to shop for Raya, but it seemed like I was more fond on buying books and non-raya related stuff. Anyhow, as we were talking in the car about Independence day and such, Haha-ue came across the story where Chichi-ue cheated death. I never thought about Chichi-ue being some sort of a hero to me. I honestly think that Chichi-ue was just someone who could sit at home and watch TV all day long and it kind of pissed me off all the time. I never want to think about him ever being one of the many soldiers that protected his nation. I never did. Even though he used to tell me stories about those times when he was in the army, I couldn't care less. Until I heard about this.
So it goes something like this,
It was years back, probably in 82 where I wasn't born yet. Chichi-ue was posted in Sibu and Haha-ue was in Kuching. Sibu, that time was the hotspot for comunists. Haha-ue said, everyday when the heli arrived, there would be dead bodies. Or at least one. And that time, she kept on asking where Chichi-ue was, but they keep on telling her that he was at base. It lasted for weeks, until Chichi-ue returned. Haha-ue still didn't know that Chichi-ue was actually in the battle until his batman (some sort of a butler, this person shines shoes, irons clothes, do all trivial things for Chichi-ue) told Haha-ue that one of Chichi-ue's comrade died in his arm. Chichi-ue was supposed to be leading the platoon and was supposed to be up front but one of his men told him to switch places with him and let him be in front. A few steps after, the man was shot and he died in Chichi-ue's arm. I only thought these kind of things only happen in movies, but when I asked Chichi-ue, he said that it is something that he could never forget. I asked him, what was the man's last word. Chichi-ue said, "Please take care of my family". I was totally stricken by this. I wanted to cry. Because this man had to die to protect his superior, his comrades, his country. And then it occured to me, Chichi-ue was there too. All the time before I was born in this world and after I was born. He was one of the many many soldiers who protected this country. He was there and was faced with death all the time. Nobody knows when the bullets will come at you. Nobody knows when the person you walk with will get shot. Nobody knows who will die next or when they will die. Nobody knows. Chichi-ue is a brave and strong man. Of course he is, if he's not around, who's gonna drive the baka
hebi and the boge
saru away from the house? Who's gonna carry the heavy groceries from the car? I realized now that I never have thought about it in this perspective and I've always seen Chichi-ue as someone who does nothing. I know.
Boku wa warui ko da ne. Chichi-ue wa tsuyoi hito, yasashii hito da. Boku no Chichi-ue wa kono kuni no eiyuu da. Boku no hon mono no eiyuu da. Kansha suru yo.
