by G. Lee

Created on: January 31, 2010

Everybody says that I am the exact replica of my father. Maybe that is why I feel this special bond between my father and me. Indeed, my father is my favorite member of my little family.

My father is 45 years of age. He is a dentist by profession. He stands a mere 5 feet 4 inches and is considered the midget in the family. But his crowning glory is beginning to grey and he is starting to stoop due to the long hours in the dental chair, so he claims. I have inherited his tiny myopic eyes and large nose, much to my dismay. He also gave me his heart-shaped face, a massive forehead and a protruding jaw. To his chagrin, mother always moans about not marrying a tall, dark and handsome man. But he cleverly retorts by saying that he is short, fair but handsome amidst our fits of laughter.

I can safely say that Daddy is an enigma. He is terribly sullen and withdrawn on working days. He hates dentistry, you see. At breakfast, his face is obscured by the daily newspaper and not a sound can be heard from him. We can ask him a question for about five times and still be kept waiting. After ten agonizing minutes, the newspaper rustles and he looks at us dazedly and asks, "Hmmmmm...?"

But on weekends, he undergoes a complete transformation. Behold the world's looniest clown! He rises early, bounces into our bedroom, yells "Wake up, man!" and does a little jig or two while smacking the newspaper on our heads. Throughout the day, our conversation will be punctuated by his corny jokes and silly puns. It is my father's strong belief that family ties should be strengthened, especially on weekends. Thus he places strong importance on the family trips to town, to the shopping malls and my grandmother's residence. But sometimes, these family ties do gag and bond for he is extremely protective of my sibling and I. Getting permission from him to go for trips and excursions away from home is like pulling teeth. I still remember the time when I badly wanted to attend a society function held interstate. He kept me waiting for an answer for an entire week. Needless to say, I did not go.

One thing I love about my father is that he treats me more like a mature adult and not like a confused sixteen-year-old in the topsy-turvy world of adolescence. When a problem arises, he acts level-headedly and rarely flies off the handle unlike my fiery-tempered mother. We both share an ardent passion for books and our tastes seldom differ. Thus, I can safely say that we get along extremely well. I am always amused by his wits and funny wisecracks. I am also touched by the fact that he has given me a free rein in the choice of my future career and he will be behind me all the way as he has always been.

I love my father for being the simple man that he is. I am proud of the fact that I am Daddy's boy. And when I fly in the skies of success, I will never forget that he is the wind beneath my wings.....

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