Trail of Corpses: Epilogue II
Wow. That would mark the first time I’ve ever heard my father seriously talk about his past. Back at McDonalds, Long-ge, Mei and I remain silent after listening to his past. Baba grabs onto his chest as if he was having a heart attack. Long-ge reaches over to him and asks if Ba is alright. Baba waves his hand in response. Raising his head and looking at me dead in the eye he says, “I want you to remember this. I want you to pass on this story to your children. I want you to teach them what I have taught you.” Not sure if I can. “We will,” my siblings and I reply. Baba nods in satisfaction. He relaxes and closes his eyes to rest. Sitting across from him, I silently observe my old man. The cracks and shadows across his face reflect an appearance beyond his age. He seems almost relieved of a burden he had been carrying forever.
After Baba had rested enough, he tells us to get ready to leave. He takes off ahead to the car with Mei leaving me and Long-ge to clean up the mess. We pick up the sandwich wrappings and place them onto a tray to dump. As we finish and exit the building, I hold the door ajar for Long-ge and ask, “Hey, do you think there will be a day where we will go through the same thing as Baba?” He pauses a moment to think, looking towards the car where Ba and Mei are. He sighs. Raising his hand, Long-ge pats me on the head and says, “Don’t worry too much about it.” Ah.
