LindaChen_Family by Ling-Yu Huang

Family

Linda Chen

Words Checked: 2928 Words in Oxford 3000: 94%

CONTENTS About the Author p.4 Synopsis p.5 ONE A New Member p.6~11 TWO The Big Boy p.12~19 THREE Way of Life p.20~22 FOU R A Predicament p.23~25 FIVE Family p.26~31 3

ABOUT THE AUTHOR I am the author of this book, Linda Chen. I am a fourth-year student majoring in Enalish at Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages. Problems of relationship between people are always interesting topics for me to talk orwrite about. Nowadays people are more removed from others than in the past, even among people that they love. It is because they do not try to understand each other and express themselves. I wrote this story wanting to say that even people with no kindred, they love each other.

After Mama Mary had opposed his ambition of being a singer, John became cold and reserved. He left the foster family with his guitar when he became an adult and seldom came back. He soon quit the job that his mother found for him and began busking. He lived with his girlfriend who supported him. He went to record companies for admission tests but was not hiredâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;Ś

CHAPTER ONE A NEW MEMBER Ms Mai took a little boy walking on a street. “We are now going to your new home, Bill,” said Ms Mai, looking at the boy’s small tearfully face. “You are not going to have to worry about anything anymore soon,” Ms Mai said again, but the fears on Bill’s little face didn’t moderate at all,and his small hands held Ms Mai’s more tightly. They turned a street corner and walked into a shopping alley. A big brilliant sweet store was set on the right hand side of the alley. There was a market with a variety of vendors peddling. They walked through the 6

prosperous alley and stopped in front of a restaurant. A middle-aged woman with an amiable round face came out to welcome them. “It’s time to say good bye, Bill.” Ms Mai squatted down and then stroked Bill’s small face. Behave well, and Mrs. Ou Yang will take good care of you.” Ms Mai gave Bill a cheerful smile and left. ＊ Mary sat on the bench looking at the oak tree in the center of the backyard. She was thinking of the new little boy, Bill, who had come here from another violent family a few days ago. Since Bill arrived, he have not speak a word. He had already broken three 7

bowls, two plates and even refused to eat anything except for sweets. “Just like John,” Mary murmured to herself “little Bill is testing me.” Mrs. Mary Ou Yang was a foster mother who had raised lots of adopted children herself. She was also a single mother who had a son and owned a restaurant. “Mama Mary, they have arrived. We can start the party now,” said Julie. Julie and John were the same age as Mary’s own son, Cavan. Julie was a docile girl who always cared about what other pople need. Everybody in this family liked her, especially the little kids. On the other hand, John was more reserved, and he was not good at expressing himself. This day, they had a family reunion. All of 8

the adoptede children that left after becomiong adults came back to this house. John sat on his bed looking at the oak tree in the center of the backyard through the windows. Julie came into the room with two bottles of lemon soda. “Why not go out and spend time with everybody? Jenny and Tom are also back. Don’t you want to chat with them? ” She gave one of the lemon sodas to John and said, “Why do you always pretend to be a good girl? ” John said coldly. “I’m just trying to do something for Mama Marym” said Julie. John picked up his guitar, started to play it and did not speak again. “No one should behave like that, John, even if Mama 9

opposed your aspiration to become a singer……” Julie said leaving the room.

John still remembered the first few days when he was sent here. He often ran away from this house, hid himself and waited for someone to find him. After the fourth time, Mama Mary found him at the park the same place he went as the last three times. Mary gave John an acorn as a promise—she will always support him, and never abandon him. They planted acorn the in the center of the backyard. With his mind full of warmnesses, John decided to trust Mary. At that time, he made a vow to build a family himself, his own 10

family. ＊ That was the first time he played guitar and sang his own song in front of everybody. All the members applauded except for Mary. “People like you are everywhere. They sing as well as you but they still can’t realize their dream. It would be an unrealistic goal for you, and I’m not going to support you.” Mary’s words upset him. After that, John became cold and reserved. “Why can’t you keep your promise?” he thought sadly.

CHAPTER TWO THE BIG BOY

Time passed fast and soundlessly, and the oak tree in the backyard was tall and flourishing. John and Julie were now adults, and they were going to move out and start their new life. Foster families were supposed to take care of the adopted children until they were adults. Children that became adults will leave the foster family and begin their own lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to have a job or to go to university with on a scholarship. Julie found a job in a small company, but John did not. Mary let him work in her restaurant. Mary watched 12

them go and said “Take care of yourselves and come back to see us often.” John put on his headphones, picked up his suitcase and guitar, and then left without looking back. “If there is something that you can’t solve by yourselves, let me know about it,” Mary said again. “Don’t be so worried, Mama. We just live nearby,” Julie said, running to catch up with John. ＊＊ “Guys, here comes a new hand,” said the restaurant manager. “This is John. He’ll begin working with us from now on,” the manager continued. “Ben, help John if he has confusion with the job.” After the manager had left, everybody started working on his 13

own job. “You got this job because of Mrs. Ou Yang, didn’t you?” Ben asked John gruffly. “Don’t expect me to commiserate with you about your poor background, Johnny.” John kept silenced and started to wash the dishes, and soon finished them. When John held the dishes and walked toward the cupboard, Ben extended his leg out, purposing to trip him. The dishes dropped to the floor and broke in to pieces. “What’s up, Johnny? You can’t even walk without your dear mummy? ” Ben said. John bent down and began cleaning up the pieces. “Oh, she is not your real mother, is she?” he continued. “Poor Johnny doesn’t even know where his real mummy is.” Ben started 14

laughing. John stood with all his anger on his face. He grabbed Ben by the collar and gave him a punch. “Stop fighting, you two……” ＊＊ The departure of John and Julie did not make the house quieter than before. Amy, Edward and Bill were running up and down and playing with their noisy toys. “Stop it, you little monkeys!” “Is this a zoo?”said Cavan. Cavan became a university student. He studied hard to get a scholarship and helped to take care of the children on holidays. The telephone rang suddenly, “Hello…..Oh, Manager Chen.....but mom isn’t home right now. Would you like to leave a message?” 15

“….Ok, I’ll pass the message to her.” After he put down the telephone, Cavan picked up his cell phone and became serious. “Look, you three,” he said. “I have something important to say to Mama, so, be quiet.” ＊＊ “Mrs. Ou Yong, you just need to sign here,” a fashionable dressed middle-aged woman who with thick cosmetics applied on her face said in a slippery, sweet voice. This woman is Julie’s real mother. She came to see Julie a few days ago and is asking her for help. She told Julie that she has been working for an insurance company and needed a fifty-thousand 16

insurance. It’s the amount of money that she has to accomplish this month. She said that she really need that job. Then she promised to take Julie with her and start their new life together. Julie wanted to live with his real mother since she was sent to Mary’s house as orphanage, but she really did not have any money, so she went to Mary for help. Mary agreed to pay the money because she hoped that Julie could find happiness from life with her own mother. “Listen, Julie,” said Marry, “this isn’t a small amount of money for me, but all I expect is that you can live with your mother and have a happy life. So, please value this chance and take care.” “Everyone has the right to 17

live with people they love” Mary thought. “I’m very sorry about deciding to leave you, mama. I also appreciate your help you have given to me and my mother. It’s really kind for you .....” Mary’s cell phone suddenly rang and interrupted Julie. “What? John quit? Where is he now?” After Mary put down her cell phone, she and Julie immediately ran out to look for John. ＊＊ John was sitting on the street and playing his guitar with a small box in front of him. He was neither the baby who lived under the protection from his mother, nor the pathetic adopted child who asks for pity, he 18

thought. He could earn money by himself, without anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help. He sang the songs which he made, again and again. After he finished his singing, someone was clapping for him. Lifting up his head, John saw Julie, who was looking at him with a warm smile on her face.

CHAPTER THREE (picture) WAY OF LIFE

In the evening, the setting sun lit up the whole backyard. Mary again was sitting on the bench, looking at the oak tree. She visited John last night. It was the third time she went to see him after he quitted his job. She tried to persuade John to give up his unrealistic dream. But whatever she said, John did not want to listen. He just turned around and went away. 20

Cavan came out, and sat next to her. “Mom, I think, it’s time to stop adopting children now,” he said. Mary kept quite. “It’s time to lighten the burden. You should do something for yourself. We should have our own life from now on.” Cavan kept going on. “But…” Mary started to speak, finally. “But, to raise up children is the thing I wanted to do,abd so did your father.” “We always want to help these homeless kids to find their way of life because we were helped by someone before.” “I don’t want to give up,” Mary said. “Your idea is great but what can you get at last?” “Look at you now, you have nothing but a broken heart.” “But…” “Everyone forsaken you, mom, both 21

John and Julie. They take my mom away and hurt her heart.” ＊＊＊ John did not give up his dream. Julie was going to leave with her real mother. Mary and Cavan sent away the other orphans to other foster families, and started their own life. Everyone seemed to make the right choice, their best way to live.

CHAPTER FOUR A PREDICAMENT Mary’s restaurant closed suddenly. The reason was because one of the restaurant staff who managed all the income took all the money and ran away. “Fifty thousand is not a small amount of money. If Julie’s mother did not Ask for the money that she did, maybe we wouldn’t have to worry about money now,” said Cavan. In fact, Julie’s mother did not keep her promise. She did not take Julie with her and start their new life. She disappeared after having the money. Julie was really sad after she knew about that. She 23

went to see John almost everyday because John will always listene to her without saying a word. John then started dating her. Their relationship developed fast. John kept trying hard to realize his ambition. Julie indicated her support for his dream and encouraged him to join an admission test for record companies. They even moved in together last year. ＊＊＊＊ John came to Mary’s house but did not walk in. There still was not any answer from the record companies. It was difficult to accomplish his goal even though he tried so hard. He was also fretting about something 24

else. “I’m pregnant,” said Julie with little misgivings and also happiness. She leaned against the railings and looked out at the sea. As the expecting mother, she was more beautiful and tender than before, but……John frowned full of worry in his mind, kept silenced. He did not give Julie a promise because he was not yet prepared to have a new member among them. He strolled on the street aimlessly, and stopped in front of Mary’s house at last. Maybe he could understand about Mary’s feelings. He looked through the hedge of the backyard. The oak tree was still there, with thriving leaves and branches.

CHAPTER FIVE THE FAMILIY It has been several months since the last time John went back to Mary’s house. During these months, John kept on going to auditions but did not pass anyone of them. The birth of their baby was just around the corner. John became impatient and irritable these days. Another notice was sent from a record company today. John was lying on the sofa drinking beer. Julie was in the kitchen preparing the dinner. “Pass me a can of beer,” John said. “Another one? You have drunk two cans already,” “John, I know you’re 26

sad about the result of the interview, but we should rally ourselves. Our baby’s going to be born soon,” Julie said supporting John with her hands. “Stop it! I don’t want to listen!” he yelled, pushing Julie away. Falling down on the floor, Julie was frightened. She looked at John sadly. “I…” John could not say a word, and then ran out the door. In the park, John was sitting by the railings drinking beer. All he was thinking about were people he loved. He regretted pushing Julie down on the floor. He was afraid to be the same kind os person alike his father, the person who hurt his mother and him. “I’m sorry…. I didn’t mean it …” he murmured. He 27

thought of his baby. He wanted to protect it and let it grow up without fears. He also wanted to teach it not to be a bad person. He even wanted to tell it how difficult life is. He hoped it could find it right way of life in its future. He then thought of Mary. Did she also worry about him? If she opposed him because she wanted him to understand….The cell phone suddenly rang. It’s Cavan. “John, I’m now in the hospital with Julie is in labor room.” ＊＊＊＊＊ John rushed to the hospital. “The childbirth went smoothly. Julie is now in the recovery room,” said Cavan. He then led John to see his baby. Looking 28

through the glass window, John saw the little fellow was sleeping deeply in the baby room. Staring at the little guy that inherited his blood, John’s heart was touched. He said to Cavan slowly “I think I can understand how mama felt about me now.” “She wanted to protect her child,” he said seriously. She wanted to teach her child how cruel the world was, and how unrealistic his dream was,” John said turning his face to Cavan. “Not only you but all of the children she has raised,” said Cavan. “I come to visit you this evening because of this,” he said, passing John a photo album “I found it when I was arranging the room this morning.” John opened the photo album. 29

He saw his pictures and Mary’s words written on the bottom of each photo. Cavan then told John there were others about each of the child in this family and said that he realized how important these children were for Mary after he saw those photo albums. “She cares about everybody as if they were her own children, I think,” Cavan said finally. ＊＊＊ One beautiful morning, a little boy was helping his father to build a tree house in the oak tree in their backyard. Three elder children came out to the yard moving a big table. “John, mama said we’re going to have a barbecue for lunch,” said the elder boy. “Ok, 30

Bill. I’m almost finishing with it. I’ll help to prepare lunch later.” Two women and a man came out to the yard, holding food in their hands. The door bell rang suddenly. “Mom, I think they have arrived,” said the young women. “Let’s start the barbecue!” said the middle-aged woman happily. ＊＊＊＊＊ Whether we have kindred or not, we are family.

SOURCE OF THE PICTURES http://images.blogcn.com/2005/3/19/1/sun_baby,2005 031902221.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/197087933_5a6b920 d44.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/3130657809_68c8e 9553d.jpg http://oakcorp.net/xfrog/plantlibTitle.jpg http://www.k9books.com.tw/pimages/X793/26650006 68650_01.jpg