Last Sunday, someone and her cousin had a loud and prolonged verbal fight, which started as an argument and had a bad ending on both sides.  That someone got really upset when her cousin said bad words about my son, her dearest brother. She has zero tolerance if someone says unkind words about her brother. I was hugely touched by this. Her brother has been her role model since he left for college. She seems more heavily hit by his absence than I had expected.

       During their fight, the cousin said my daughter was not as good as his old classmate S in China who not only studied well but also was a good pianist. This is true, yet the accomplishment did not come without sacrifice.  The mother of this friend S used to spank her for each point missed in the exam, e.g. if she got 94 points, she would received 6 whipping for the 6 points to make up for the missed.  The 10-year-old girl was so frightened of her mother that she ran around the house frantically with her mother close behind, in hot chase, whip in hand.

       This reminds me of Esmie Tseng’s mother. I am happy with that not-so-perfect someone.  I do not think it wise to create a demon in the child’s soul by such a treatment. That demon will surely haunt its creator, like Frankenstein’s monster in M. Shelley’s novel or in Esmie Tseng’s case. The thought gives me more than goosebumps than my body surface area can hold. 

       For now, I must think of a way to stop any weekend fights like the last two weekends.