This story begins when I was a child. I was born poor. Often we had not enough food to eat. Whenever we had some food, mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was transferring her rice into my bowl, she would say “eat this rice, son. I’m not hungry” This was mother’s first lie.
As I grew, mother gave up her spare time to fish in a river near our house. She hoped that from the fish she caught she would give me a little bit more nutritious food for my growth. Once she had caught just two fish, she would make fish soup. While I was eating the soup, mother would site beside me and eat what was still left on the bone of the fish I had eaten. My heart was touched when I saw it. Once I gave the other fish to her on my chopstick. But she immediately refused it and said, “Eat this fish, son. I don’t really like fish.” This was mother’s second lie.
Then, in order to fund my education, mother went to a match factory to bring home some used matchboxes which she filled with fresh matchsticks. This helped her get some money to cover our needs. One wintry night, I awoke to find mother filling with fresh matchboxes by candlelight. So I said, “mother, go to sleep. It’s late you can continue working tomorrow morning.” Mother smiled and said, “Go to sleep, son. I am not tired.” This was mother’s third lie.
When I had to sit my final examination, mother accompanied me. After dawn, mother waited for me for hours in heat of the sun. When the bell rang, I ran to meet her. Mother embraced me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared in a thermos. The tea was not as strong as my mother’s love. Seeing mother perspiring, I at once gave her my glass, and asked her to drink too. Mother said, ”Drink, Son. I’m not thirsty.” This was mother’s fourth lie.
After father’s death, mother had to play the role of a single parent. She held on to her former job. She had to fund our needs alone. Our family’s life was more complicated. We suffered from starvation. Seeing our family’s condition worsening, my kind uncle who lived near my house came to help us. Neighbors advised mother to marry again but mother refused. “I don’t need love”, she said. That was mother’s fifth lie.
After I had finished my studies and got a job, it was time for my old mother to retire but she kept on going. I kept sending her money but she was steadfast. She said, “I have enough money, Son. Keep those for yourself.” This was mother’s sixth lie.
I took up my Master’s Degree, funded by the American corporation for which I work. With a big increase in my salary, I decided to bring my mother to America. But mother refused. She said “I’m not used to high living.” This was mother’s seventh lie.
In her dotage, mother had cancer. I went home to visit mother who was bedridden after an operation. Mother tried to smile but I felt her pain. I was crying. But mother said, “Don’t cry son. I am not in pain. I am okay.” This was mother’s eighth lie.
After telling me this eighth lie, she died. She was indeed an angel. For those of you who are lucky to be still blessed with your mom’s presence, this story is beautiful.