A bunny bond
THE 14th day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar is rather special to me as it is the same date as my birthday, following the Gregorian calendar. “Seven-one-four”, which falls on Aug 13 this year, is also the actual date of the Hungry Ghost Festival, observed by some Chinese throughout the lunar month.
This year, 7/14 is extra special as I come of age at 24, as a mature Rabbit. My kong kong (paternal grandpa), who was born in 1932, was also a Rabbit, but he was one grand cycle (60 years) older than me.
In some Chinese families, having members from two or more generations sharing the same Chinese zodiac (animal) sign is considered special. In my family, it is exceptionally precious as, somehow, kong kong started family planning early and stopped at two children – my dad and ku cheh (aunt).
So, when I was born on July 14, 1987, in the Year of the Rabbit when kong kong was celebrating his 60th “big” birthday, I was welcomed with such extreme love by him that even my parents were outraged.
As the first male born to dad, who happens to be kong kong’s first-born and only son, I was a rare commodity in our clannish family. I was treated like a king, and my every wail or gurgle was a royal proclamation that had to be attended to instantly. Otherwise, whoever (and this includes my grandma, parents and ku cheh) in attendance would get an earful from kong kong if she/he so much as allowed a second wail.
This I heard from my (unmarried) ku cheh who would tell me, in animated detail, how I was doted upon by kong kong. I reigned for a little over three years before my baby sister came along and encroached upon my territory and royal servants.
Kong kong, who was usually very stern with the adults, was unusually tender and funny with the kids. He had a strange sense of humour whereby he would not laugh at the jokes of the older folks but only at our antics.
He would fuss and fawn over me like a wombat parent over its baby. He would go on all fours to give me piggyback rides, roll over, and carry me wombat-style on his stomach. And if any adult was watching, he’d glare at him if he dared so much as snigger or laugh at us.
However, there was one “ugly” incident when I was a year old and had just started to toddle.
The whole family (we were a three-generations-on-one-outing type) was on a weekend getaway in Genting Highlands with other relatives when I wandered out of my minder’s sight for just a moment and fell into a deep ravine.
Kong kong was so furious with everybody (no less himself, and he would not forgive my minder for letting me “run free”) that he called off the holiday and made everyone go home.
According to ku cheh, while everyone was ashen-faced, kong kong wore a black look akin to Justice Bao’s, and was ready to mete out “justice” to all the guilty parties. I survived the fall with 10 stitches to my forehead, but cried for many nights after the incident, and it was kong kong who attended to me as he would not trust anyone else.
I still have that scar on my forehead – somewhat like the mark on Justice Bao’s forehead! That little accident did not stop our family outings and we had several more. But the one I remember most was another “plunge” of sorts.
I was just a little over three years old when Dad took us to a beach resort in Langkawi. Again, kong kong was my superhero playmate – we even had matching swimwear. There he was, one hand holding a ball and the other propping up my back, both of us ankle-deep in water and squinting at the camera. We, two wet bunnies against the backdrop of a clear, blue sea showed what a very special bond he and I had.
Kong kong suffered a stroke not long after this memorable holiday.
He took a while to recover movement of his limbs, and when my sister was born, he could not – or rather, dared not – carry her for fear that he might drop her.
Just as I was about to enter Primary One, kong kong was diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer. I remember everyone feeling very miserable.
Kong kong passed away on May 28, 1994, a few days after Wesak Day. Hence, every 7/14, grandma would make special offerings for him. This year, ku cheh is doing the necessary.
Me? I’ve got this bunny-good story to offer.
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