27

“Mmm, the soup’s yummy, Ma” Shi Hui commented happily as she savored the soup.

“I got something to tell you, Ah Girl.” Mum said as she brought out more dishes.

Maybe she had a change of heart, maybe she wants to believe, Shi Hui thought.

“What is it Ma?”

“The divorce’s official, I got the papers already.”

“You’ve spoken to Pa?” She asked.

Her mum shook her head, “Don’t know where he is. I think he dropped his mobile into the toilet. Ha! Now he cannot remember everybody’s number, ha!”

Somehow, deep in Shi Hui’s heart, there was an ache that cannot be described when her Mum used that tone of hers. Was it out of love or pity for him?

“Finally,” Her mum continued. “Finally out of his clutches…”

“Please don’t say that Ma…”

Her Mum stopped in her tracks.

Coolly, she turned and faced Shi Hui,

“Have you forgotten all that he did to the family?”

“No, but…”

“Then how can you say something like that?”

“I learnt to forgive. God has…”

“God again! Always, God God God…”

Shi Hui’s heart felt another stab as her mum goes on grumbling about her faith.

Like clips on a DVD, pieces of her past flashed before her eyes.

Had she forgiven him? Truly forgiven?

“Yes…” She mumbled softly.

Her mum came back with the plates of rice.

“I am warning you, when I am dead, don’t you dare invite him back to stay with you. He is nothing but trouble!”

At times like these, Shi Hui would really love to comment if her mum’s religion had taught her about forgiveness, but knowing how dramatic the night would turn out to be, she held her peace.

“He is a leech! A good for nothing! From young already like that! Your grandma spoilt him! Now when he’s outside, his own family doesn’t even want him in their house!”

As her mum continued lecturing her, Shi Hui slowly turned a deaf ear. It was pretty amazing how she had learnt to do that. Hearing noise from someone’s mouth, but not listening to the words she was saying.

She looked at the delicious meal before her and thought,

“What is Pa having for dinner tonight?”