Being the man of the family.
The few rounds of tennis with Maurice last morning was draining. Those strokes used in tennis are just so different from badminton and I had much trouble adjusting my wrist, when (my wrist) should be kept straight. I'd rather be playing pool and applying those english on the cue ball. Maurice and I had planned to exercise every Saturday, and maybe try out different sports. We'd probably be going bowling next Saturday!
At present, with some relatives at my house, my grandparents had made preparations for Vesak Day. I recognized a missing presence as everyone got quiet. That presence was my father who's still at work in Malaysia. Every family gathering was always lively with my father around, no doubt. Albeit the most senior man of the household being my grandfather, mother told me that "(I) will be the man of the house when father's not around". With that being digested in my mind, my shoulders dropped slightly as if gravity did its trick. Or was it caused by the sudden incurrence of this responsibility that I felt weighing down on my shoulders.
Nevertheless, "(I) will always be a kid in my (parents') eyes". This was evident from the Mickey Mouse mp3 player which my mother gifted me. Don't get me wrong because I wasn't complaining. I was contemplating of the life-changing decisions I would face in the near future. I am going to be 19 very soon - too old for a kid, too young for an adult - definitely. And I've got a plan.