Manner-isms
My nose is clearing up and so is my head. Now I remember something that happened over the weekend that I should have told you about.
We visit my grandparents just about every weekend. Often I will meet two of my cousins staying over at Ah Gong and Ah Ma’s place. I haven’t stayed over with them because they do not have good health. I doubt that they would be able to keep up with me even if they were!
Anyway, each time I visit, I see my cousins staring at the TV as they play on Ah Gong’s Sony PS2. Mama will remind me to greet them, but they don’t bother to look at me or return the greeting. Even if Ah gong reminds them to greet my folks or to say hello to me, they might grunt at best. I can fart louder than that!
I don’t see why I have to be polite if they aren’t polite back. Maybe I should insist on playing video games and eating dinner at the same time. And I should insist on meals that don’t include veggies just like they do!
Oh, and I should learn what “ungh” and “ungh-ungh” mean. I think one ungh can mean yes or no, while two unghs means feed me. I also know that waving a finger at an empty cup means fill up my empty cup… without the please. Ungh-ing and gesticulating will send Ah Ma or Ah Gong scurrying for food and drink. What a life!
My folks don’t have such intitiative! I am expected to ask for things nicely and to say please and thank you. I have to help put out and put away things like cutlery, dishes, and cups. I am even supposed to greet people and look at them in the eye (which one?) when I talk to them. Horrors!
I learn quickly by watching and listening. I observe that most of the world around me misbehaves. What’s a little guy supposed to do?
Little Confused IsaacÂ
