Childhood time is an unforgettable period, full of fun-filled activities, touching memories, and life teaching lessons. Children are subjected to life situations that create potential platforms for generating stories that some are unforgettable throughout their lifetime. The scenarios capable of evolving such stories include food memories, ceremonies, unworkable situations, interactions with strangers, and moments of happiness, sadness, and confusion. The stories are of value to the victims as they provide a learning experience and acquisition of skills for real-life situations. Also, the stories help the current younger generations since they help them to learn languages, value books when published, develop communication skills, and spark their imagination to stimulate curiosity. This paper contextualizes a memorable experience from childhood with my uncle.
There were several dozens of people within the house and the homestead. The sun had just risen; everyone was busy executing the duties of cooking, cleaning, and organizing as assigned. I perceived too that in the kitchen, activities like chopping of onions, tomatoes, and passing of plates had filled the atmosphere. Being the youngest in the group, I had no much to do. I maneuvered around with the pace and poise, as though I was their leader. The environment made me like the camaraderie established out of a hard deadline.
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Suddenly, amid the normal activities, a phone rang and was answered by my sister, who quickly handed it over to me. My mother was not around by then. I had no idea who had called from the other end but guessed it to be one of my friends. “Hello?” I asked. A raspy voice answered, "Hey, Don, how are you?" From then on, I was sure who it was based on the hoarseness of his voice. No, any other person possessed such a raspy voice. "Where is your dad?" he asked. I courageously replied that my father had passed on three days ago. Silence filled the air for some time, followed by a bunch of jumbled questions and thoughts. “Are you serious? What happened? Ooh my God. I did not have such information. I was in town currently and wanted if he had time we have lunch.” "I know," I sarcastically answered and paused. "I thought you were aware and that it was the reason behind your calling." He screamed and uttered words that I could not comprehend.
It was several years since I had heard from Uncle Tom. Neither had my parents mentioned him. He moved back to Australia, where he used to stay when I was five years. Before that, I recall how he used to be my father’s greatest friend. The last time to hear of him, he was addicted to alcohol and other hard drugs. On the contrary, my parents were teetotalers, and despite them befriending several alcoholics, they rarely associated with people who dwelled in the pre-admittance phase. They were not preaching about the sobriety but just their way of life, which resulted in many heavy drinkers uncomfortable having them around. Therefore, as an alcoholic in denial, being with them was like a high school dropout hanging around a bunch of Ivy League graduates.
I continued informing him about my father’s diagnosis with cancer that had happened almost three years before his demise, and the few months of hospice care. Meanwhile, a lot of questions were crossing my mind. I could not comprehend how my uncle could have failed to have information about my father's three-year ailing. I wondered how I could tell such a story to my uncle, considering the magnitude of the topic and my age. I wanted to remind him how important he was to my father, as perceived by their previous interactions.
Subsequently, still recalling that he informed me he was in town, I decided to tell him of the burial day and invited him to attend. After a few more minutes on the line, we concluded our conversation, and he hanged up. After the call, I looked forward to seeing Uncle Tom. Despite the somber mood for my father's death, I was eager to meet my uncle and listen to him one more time.
During the funeral service and the day that proceeded, I unsuccessfully looked for him everywhere. None of my siblings, relatives, and friends had spotted Uncle Tom throughout the event. The truth is that he never showed up. As I grew up, I always wondered why this happened, but now I think I understand his absence.
To sum up, childhood experiences are inevitable in everyone’s life. As highlighted earlier, some experiences are useful to one’s life. They either make us recall important moments in our lives or present us with memories that offer us life lessons. The phone call's experience and my uncle's absence in my father's burial have always elicited mixed feelings and teachings. First, it's a lesson to me that friendship should always be valued. Failure to show up when your friend needs or expect you may generate a feeling of betrayal. However, the unfolding of that event equipped me with a life lesson that people have reasons for every mistake or failure they make in life. Being quick to judge or condemn may only worsen what others are going through. This lesson always reminds me to act with empathy.
