My Dad Set My Pet Bird Free and I Hated Him for That
I only have a few memories of my dad and me together when I was young, and they’re unpleasant.
Whenever I saw those colored birds in the market, I would always nudge Mom to get me one. Until one day Mom bought me the bird together with its cage, and food.
Mom told me to take care of it. The following day, it was gone.
It took many days before I found out that Dad set the bird free. I was six years old.
Being the only boy in the family, I thought I would be his favorite, cherished, and would have all the great father and son moments I saw on television and in the movies.
None of that happened.
I knew Mom cherished me. With Dad, it was different, and I craved his attention but never received it. None of us did.
None of my five siblings, all girls, became Dad’s favorite.
When my parents separated when I was twelve, I stopped craving his attention. The love I felt for him easily turned to hate.
It would take me many years before I understood my Dad. It wasn’t an easy journey. I don’t hate him anymore, especially after I accepted who he is. Like most of us, he had to sort himself out.
When my parents separated, it would take many months before I saw Dad. One day, he showed up and told me we were going to watch a billiards game. Later, I found out he was producing the billiard tournament with his friends.
The billiard player became a world champion, Efren Reyes. It was the last ace in my Dad’s sleeve — if that TV show did well, he could recoup his losses from his failed business. Instead, nothing came up from that show.
Dad hit rock bottom.
I was already working when I saw Dad again, and it was in a hospital. He got sick, and it was the first time I saw him weak.
I had mixed feelings when I saw him, how someone like him ended up with nothing, or that was how I thought of him.
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