Lee Hsiu 李秀 / Father’s Hands

http://taiwanliterature.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fathers-hands-words-865

Everything was tangible and secure when father appeared. I recall this day was a disaster in my life. That day I played by myself in the backyard. I climbed up to the top of a table with difficulty. While I was cheering on my success, a tall goose stretched his neck and opened his mouth to move in on me like a snake. Even though I was crying and screaming, he still stretched around the table threatening me. We looked like we were playing hide-and-seek. The sky was overcast with clouds and the rain was ceaseless. At the very time I was trying to escape from the evil goose, a pair of strong hands suddenly held me. I was fiercely gripped in his arms but I felt like I was embraced by a safelight.
“Don’t cry! My sweet heart! Dad has already thrown that awful animal out. I will kill him as soon as possible.” That evening I got a severe fever. In my memory, a pair of sturdy hands held me tightly and we went to see the doctor…then and there. I think that, without the powerful grip of my father’s hands, I couldn’t have had a sweet dream. Just by clinging instinctively to his arms I began to feel better then. That year, I was only five.
All at home relied on father’s hands to grow and to flourish naturally; otherwise, if we lost those hands, we would be helpless and frail.
When I was 7 years young, we had a miserable day in my home.--------

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http://taiwanliterature.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fathers-hands-words-865