Chapter 3

“Happy Mother’s Day!” I shouted immediately when my mother stepped into the house.

It was the second Sunday of May and, according to my art teacher, it was Mother’s Day. My art teacher had instructed us to draw a Mother’s Day card and to give it to our mothers on Mother’s Day, as an assignment.

“Oh, ah girl!” my mother bended down to hug me and then kissed me on my cheek. I just laughed as I held the card in my hand tightly. “How did you know today is Mother’s Day?”

“Elle’s teacher told Elle.” I said, waved the card in front of her and then with two hands, I passed her the card. “Mama, Happy Mother’s Day!” I yelled aloud. In fact, I had yelled so loud that my throat hurt.

“Oh, that’s so sweet.” my mother took the card, read the words and laughed. Then, she opened the card and kept on looking at the pictures. “That’s very nice, ah girl. You draw very well!”

“Miss Yang also said that.”

After my mother had locked the main door and kept the card, she came back to the living room, looking refreshed. I started to look for the broom. “Mama, where’s the broom?”

“Why?”

“Elle wanna sweep the floor.”

My mother covered her mouth and laughed again. “Ah girl, why suddenly you wanna sweep the floor? You’ve never swept the floor before.”

“Elle’s duty every Wednesday morning during reading period is sweeping the floor with Shao Hua!” I retorted. “Where is the broom? Elle wanna sweep the floor!”

“Why the sudden urge?”

“Because today is Mother’s Day. Teacher said must do something for mothers! Let Elle sweep the floor!”
My mother laughed again, this time shaking her head. She stretched her arms, went into the kitchen and came out with a broom. I gasped when I saw it. The broom was taller than me.

“Mama, why your broom so big.”

My mother’s smile lingered on her face. “Ah girl, come.” she sat on the sofa, positioned the broom at the side and patted the empty space beside her. “Come, sit.”

I hesitated, thought of what Miss Yang had said a few days ago and walked towards the broom, instead. “Elle is sweeping the floor today, to celebrate Mother’s Day!”

“Ah girl, come.”

I halted, turned to face my mother, and then reached for the broom.

“Ah girl!”

I released the broom instantly and ran towards the sofa.

“Ah girl, today may be Mother’s Day.” my mother started. “But, today is not the only day you can repay me for raising you, okay? Everyday can be Mother’s Day. Sweeping the floor is my duty, not yours. You know what your duty is?”

I kept quiet and stole a quick glance at the broom. It was at least twice my height. How can a broom grow so big? I wondered.

“Your duty, ah girl, is to grow up and make a name for yourself. And, when you’ve done that, I’ll fade away slowly. There’s no need for repayment. Because I’m your mother and you’re my daughter. Understand?”

I nodded. “Okay, mama. Can Elle go sweep the floor now? Please?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Because she’s my mother and I’m her daughter.

I pinched the area above my nose and adjusted my seatbelt for the fifth time in two minutes. It just did not seem to fit, all of a sudden. “It’s going to be fine, okay, cutie? Gonna be alright.” Terry said.

“Can you drive faster?”

“Trying to.”

I closed my eyes and clasped my hands together. I started to pray. I prayed that everything will be fine. I prayed that my prayers will come true. I pray that God hears my prayers.

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