School holiday

 Today is the start of the school holidays between Term 3 and Term 4. Children may have longed for this holiday for weeks, whereas for parents, it is always a time of great challenges.

When I was a child, I did long for school holidays like others. But when they finally came, I often felt bored and longed for school. My parents operated a convenience store in our residential neighborhood. When school holidays came, especially the summer holidays, I would usually help my parents look after the store. Noon was usually a time with little business, so that was the time I would sit in the store so that Mum could have a rest at home.

One sunny day, when I was reading a storybook in the store, a man came in to ask for soy sauce. I got one for him, and then he asked for a few more items. It seemed that he was looking at the shelves and repeatedly asked for items located in corners that were hard to reach. He asked for more and more things, and then suddenly said, "Oh! I am busy and have to go now." I then had to put all the items back on the shelves. Suddenly, I realised our container for exchange money was gone. "That man was not a customer, but a thief!"

Many years later, when I was living with Grandma in Australia, I told her the story.

"Had you been able to get back the money box?" she asked.

"No," I said. "But mommy didn't blame me. Instead, she cuddled me and told me not to be afraid of it."

"Of course she wouldn't blame you!" Grandma said, and then she fell into contemplation.