I think Du is the coolest character in this story. So, I chose to rewrite segment of his story. One thing before you read this blog, Don't laugh...


“Hi, Mom,” For whatever reason, I just can’t look straight to her eyes today. I tried, but I feel sorry whenever I look at her eyes. I hate that feeling. In a second, I noticed that Mom is looking John suspiciously. I then immediately introduce John to Mom. Afterwards, I turned back and continue talking to John because I want to escape from the guilt feeling. “Come sit with me, Du” Mom asked. “Okay” I replied. I stop halfway down the hall. For some reason, I started to recall my first day in this family. It was long time ago. I was only wearing a shirt and I was worrying what my life is going to be. Anyway, it is not important right now. “You owe me an explanation,” Mom broke the silence. “Do you mean John? No worry mama, I met John even before I met you and dad. I knew him in the camps. He is good. Anyways, can I have five hundred bucks?” “Very funny,” Mom replied. “How about three hundred bucks?” I asked again. “I am leaving today. John just found my sister. She is now residing in Los Angeles. I need to find her. I have been looking for her for years. Do not worry about me, she will look after me” I continued before mom answered me. “Sister?” Mom was confused. “Yes, the sister that saved my life years ago by feeding me worms.” I can still clearly remember that moment. I was starved to dead and she saved my life when I went completely hopeless. I promised myself that I will do whatever I can to pay her back. “I am pretty sure that you and dad will still be fine without me. Besides, your own baby is coming. It is still going to be a complete family without me.” I continued. “But we love you, and you are part of this family. You are our son, and we love you…, Du.” Mom says. “Stop, no matter what, we are not blood related. There is no way that I will be closer to you compare to your real son. On top of it, he never wanted me” I replied without looking at her. I don’t know why I said that, but I know it hurts. And probably, that is what I want. Deep in my heart, I love you too mama. However, this is the path I choose. I have to find her at any cost. Few fluids dropped from my eyes, and I just can’t control it. “Stop, damn it. Stop!” I told myself. I am so hopeless to try to control my tears. Next thing came up to my mind is “leave”. I don’t want her to see me crying. It is just not the right time. I run down the hall, slam my door and keep myself in the room. I sat on the floor in my room; feeling really sorry to mama. “Thank you for taking care of me, mama.” I whispered to myself. Someday, someday I will be back for you, but right now, I have to leave.




Work Cited:

Mukherjee, Bharati. "26." Jasmine. New York: Grove, 1989. 219-22. Print.

I want to blog Beccah from Comfort Woman by Nora Okja Keller this week. This story is very Asian. There are a lot of people in Asia that believe some people can deliver messages back and forth from our world to the other world (hell or heaven). I have not personally met one yet, but my aunt did. She told me that it was unbelievable because the medium or psychic was able to tell something that only she and her mother know. My aunt was first led to a dark room where a lot of candles were lighted up. Like Auntie Reno said in the story that atmosphere was just as important as ability. (Keller 199) After asking some question to my aunt, the psychic then started to prepare the summon ceremony. The psychic casted some spells and burned some yellow papers. Next thing my aunt heard was the conversation of the psychic to the guards from the other world. The psychic politely requested the guard to bring my aunt’s mom to her body so that my aunt can talk to her. Sometimes the guard will refuse the request, but my aunt was lucky. My aunt said, few minutes later, the psychic’s body started to shake and it lasted for a minute or two. Next thing was the when my aunt got shocked. The psychic was changed to a low voice and called my aunt by her nickname. The nickname that was given to her by her mom when she was young, no one knows that but she and her mom. That was their secret.

I was confused how the Daughter treated her mother. “I loved my mother during the normal time. She laughed and sang songs she made up. Instead of telling me to clear my papers and books off the table for dinner, she’d sing it to me.” (Keller 194) It looks like a happy family scene to me. The Daughter was enjoying the time with her mother. However, she mentioned that this was when her mother is normal. Unfortunately, her mother was abnormal for most of the time. It was claiming by Aunt Reno that the spirit of the Mother had left the body and filled up with other people’s spirit. (Keller 194) When these moments came, the Daughter seemed like not liking her mother anymore. The Daughter locked the mother in the room; sometimes even yelled at her mother. (Keller 194)

“I killed your father.” (Kelly 192) I was shocked when I read this in the first paragraph of the story. The Mother was confessing to her daughter that she killed her husband. “Shh, Mommy,” the Daughter said. “Don’t start.” (Kelly 192) Why did the Daughter stop her mother? Was that because the Daughter knows that her mother was talking nonsense? Or it is just that the Daughter can’t stand her mother’s craziness anymore. I think it is the latter one because she mentioned in the story that she was angry at her mother not because of her mother’s confess, but because she was slipping into one of her trances. I think she was lonely and she was trapped in the dilemma of losing her father at young age. She was mad. Because she has to take care of her mother and she doesn’t have someone to take care of her and give her love. Time after time, she started to ignore and avoid her mother. In the extreme extend, she even wished that her mother can pass away so that she will be free from taking care of her crazy mother. “She leaned toward me, and she bent forward to kiss or hug me, I could see vein of white hair running through her black braid.” “Before she could touch me, I pushed away from the table, turning toward the sink to prepare the shrimp for the annual mean that made my mother’s hands crack open and bleed.” (Kelly 202)


PSYCHIC MINISTER