Sweet 16 Magazine Scholarship Contest

[angel_christ]

Just submitted this story for the Sweet 16 Magazine Scholarship Contest. But I would like to share this to you all. Please tell me what you think about it.

 

 

“Sweet 16 Magazine Scholarship”

 

“If I could get another chance

Another walk, another dance with him

I'd play a song that would never never end

How I'd love love love

To dance with my father again”

 

“When I and my mother would disagree

To get my way I would run from her to him

He'd make me laugh just to comfort me

Then finally make me do just what my mamma said

Later that night when I was asleep

He left a dollar under my sheet

Never dreamed that he, would be gone from me”

 

This is a part from the song “Dance with My Father”, written by Luther Vandross and performed by Celine Dion. When I first listened to this song, I cried. The lyrics are so touching and it is almost like my own life. It is a sad song, expressing miserable and longing feelings to have a father again.

I would like to dedicate this story to my Dad. As an apology to all those things I have done to him. And I would like this story to be a reminder for readers to love their Fathers as much as they can and pay them back before it is too late. Please, do not behave so badly like me.

My Dad and I were close. He took me out on Saturdays and bought me computer games and music sheets. He gave me a big applause every time I finished a song with the piano. He was always with me everywhere to cheer me up and helped me through difficult situations.

Like most teenagers, when I was about twelve, I became more independent and hardly obeyed my parents. But Dad still supported me all0 the same, he attended every parent conference at my school and even volunteered to be the vice committee president of my class. But I ungratefully paid him my complaint for wearing shorts to school which I thought “embarrassed” me. He willingly changed to wear trousers later on.

When I was very little, Dad has always given me a kiss on my cheeks or forehead. It is a very lovely way for a father to express a very warm love to his daughter. But when I grew older, I started to get shy and thought again that it was “embarrassing” I tried to avoid his kissing as much as I could. I begin to think of it now, when I have no chance of kissing him anymore. I feel so sad and ashamed of myself because I have apparently broken his heart. But I wasn’t aware that something very bad and miserable was about to happen, which was going to affect my whole life forever.

When I was thirteen, on July 14th, 2002. My Dad had to go to Malaysia and Singapore for eight days. I thought “Good, Dad - free for eight days. No complaining or shouting” And on the day he was going, I disobeyed him so we had a big row. I was crying and he told me; “Wish me dead, then. Wish for an accident to happen to me. So that I wouldn’t have to bother you again” I was so shocked. He had never said like this to me before and I obviously didn’t want him to die. This was very disturbing, causing me to have nightmares about his death, or maybe they were not nightmares; but warnings. When he came back, time had swept our anger away somehow that we got together again and he was very exhausted. But there was something wrong, he told mum and me he had a bad pain in his chest and noticed that he always sweated more than he used to. We assumed this might be the symptoms of the heart disease. So he went to see the doctor.

On July 23rd, we were going on a vacation. I had a strange feeling about Dad. Perhaps all those nightmares were troubling me. I have some knowledge about palmistry so I had a look at his palms, his life line was broken. It might sounded superstitious, but I was really worried, I told him; “Dad. Couldn’t we skip this vacation? Our place was far from the hospital. I had a feeling that something’s going to happen” He smiled and told me; “Don’t worry. I’ll be alright” So we decided to go.

When we arrived at our place, there was another regretful moment of mine again. We had to clean the house first and Dad told me to clean the table. I grudgingly and reluctantly cleaned it because it was so dirty. He went mad at me and I shouted at him with a bad reaction.

July 24th, 2002. The very morning I always remembered that it appears clearly in my mind. Mum woke me up and told me, sarcastically. “Go to see your Dad. He’s dying” I was shocked. I hurried downstairs and saw him sitting, still alive, at the same table I cleaned. Apparently, Mum thought that he had been overacting and they also had a row the previous day. He looked as though he had been meditating. His eyes were closed and he did not utter any words. I sat next to him and asked “Dad, are you sure you’re alright? Shouldn’t you go to the hospital?” He shook his head. Then Mum asked him whether he wanted a cup of coffee, he just calmly waved his hand, which made Mum furious. She said “That’s enough! We’re going home” With anxiety, I hurried upstairs to get my things. When I get them into the back of our car with Mum, we heard a loud thud. She asked me what was wrong. I told her I don’t know maybe Dad had collapsed. We rushed back to the house and he had really collapsed! His forehead had hit the table’s leg so hard that it had a deep purple mark on it. We hurriedly sent him to the hospital. But it was too late. Far from the hospital, his brain didn’t get oxygen for almost twenty minutes and Mum didn’t want him to be alive with his brain dead and lie unconscious forever. He passed away calmly.

At the funeral, I thought over and over again; “Dad, you’re just joking us as usual, right? You will punch the tomb open and tell me you’re kidding, right?” It was an impossible and stupid thought, I know. But I really wanted him back. He hasn’t seen my success. He hasn’t seen me as a programmer which he always hoped. I want him to kiss me as much as he wants to. I will let him complain or shout at me. I earnestly want to say how terrible I was and how much I love him. I want to spend more time with him. Not only thirteen years, no.

Though this incident is very depressing, it gave me strength to carry on with life, urged me to fight through obstacles on my way to success and to make my Dad proud. I swear to myself that I will never, ever let him down. I will never give up hope.

So you see. Life is so short. Time and fate cannot be manipulated. The best thing to do is just to spend your time with worth living. Please be aware that any love in this whole wide world is not as great and powerful as the love from your parents. Do not hesitate until it is too late.

I love you, Dad. I am so sorry.

[Krys]

very nice it made me realize something i hadn't before. is it a true story Angie?

[angel_christ]

Yes, it is. It is my own life. Anymore comments?

 

 

[Krys]

sorry to hear that

[nico robin]

God Angie!!you really made me cry i'm really sorry about that, i didn't know....

but i admire you...i know that you will make your father to feel proud of you.

you ca really do it