Friday, December 3, 2010

excerpt from an ordinary conversation with my parents

SCENE 1 - DINING ROOM

mama immediately throws me a question as i entered the house.*

*translated from a mixture of hokkien and taglish conversation

MAMA: do you have a bible?

ME: (gives a blank and far-off look)

PAPA: why are you silent? you don't read your bible anymore, do you?

ME: well...it has been a long time...i know have a bible in my room....i'm just trying to remember where i placed it.

MAMA: would you please go to our room when you have found it? i need to ask you something...


SCENE 2 - PARENTS' BEDROOM

ME: so what is this about?

MAMA: i just need you to look for a verse. can you check out deuter...deutore...deutoron...

ME: you mean deuteronomy?

MAMA: yes! that's it! chapter 47 please.

ME: (searches the new testament for deuteronomy, finds the chapter, then stops in thought for a minute) it's chapter 47, right?

MAMA: yes.

ME: and it's deuteronomy, right?

MAMA: yes.

ME: that's funny. there's only 34 chapters in deuteronomy.

MAMA: but that is what is written here! (looks at her cellphone and scrolls for the message) oh wait, the message is not here anymore. but that is exactly what i remembered.

ME: (can't keep laughing out loud) maybe they were using a different bible!

mama scowls.

PAPA: you know your mom. the last time she opened a bible was during senior year in high school. there's a possibility she might just burn if she opens a bible right now.




THE END

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