Counting Steamed Buns

Since the day James left for his one-year compulsory military service, there have been love missiles launched every day from the Liens' apartment, well, from Ruby's room, to be exact. It has been more than three weeks and my sister Ruby is still sending a letter to her boyfriend by post every day. And the missiles always hit the target precisely according to James's telephone report every evening.

I seldom hear any of my male friends being looking forward to the military service. Most of them either worry about the strict discipline in the army or consider the service wasting their valuable time, especially my law school classmates. Because it means an extra year wasted to pass the bar exam. Yet, James was one in the minority who felt very positive before leaving for his service and was even hoping that he can serve in the toughest unit on one of those tiny islands around Taiwan. But after three weeks in the military, his determination starts to waver. Now plus Ruby's help from God, I guess we will never be able to see James in the uniform of marine corps.

Shortly before the first month's basic training is completed, James and other rookies will need to draw lots to determine where they are going to be and what they are going to do for the next 11 months. When things depend on pure luck, unsurprisingly some of us start to do what we Chinese are really good at - being superstitious.

A square and thin slice of rice cake, a half of rice ball with a 'dragon eye' fruit (longan) on top and several packets of biscuits on the kitchen counter were the clues that someone went the temple and prayed for something in our house. It was Ruby. She said she went to pray that God will send James to a relative easy unit and make him stay in Taiwan, even in Taipei. Meanwhile, James also received some tips from his fellows about how to have a lucky draw. For example, he was suggested to draw an eye on his palm when it is his turn to draw lots. Also, don't use the hand which you use to wipe your butt after you poo. Cos everything related with poo is also related with bad luck.

I shared Ruby with my friends' experience about serving on those small islands, 'It will not be that bad. Actually they said comparing to serving at Ministry of National Defense in Taipei, the task is much simpler and easier. And the meals are even better there. James will not only still get the same amount of holidays but also obtain an extra allowance. Besides, that's the only opportunity that you can visit those islands. I think that's pretty exciting.' Ruby looked at me the same way as some of my male friends. They think I have no idea how gloomy they sometimes felt.

In the old days when steamed buns and soy milk were still the food for breakfast in the military, consuming one more steamed bun means the soldier is one more day closer to going back home. Now the phrase is used to express and imply a soldier's feeling of wishing time can fly much more faster.

Think they are right that I may never be able to understand how it feels to serve in the military or how it feels to launch a love missile every day. But my empathy for James is absolutely undoubted. I really wish time can fly much much faster too.

Butt with No Thorns

Mum used to say that there are thorns on my dad's butt that he couldn't sit on the sofa for more than 30 minutes. I think she was just trying to describe how energetic my dad is.

Dad has no problem finding something to entertain himself. I remember when I started to play rollerblades at about 14, he not only got himself a new pair of rollerblades too but also a skateboard. Today, besides swinging his golf clubs in our lounge, he has found another thing to keep him busy.

A few weeks ago mum and dad invited Ruby's boyfriend James to the restaurant inside a nice hotel for a farewell dinner before he left for his military service. Even though dad is usually immune to fancy technology products, after letting him know how the female Taiwanese golf player Yani Tzeng was doing in the Honda LPGA Thailand this year during the dinner through my iPod touch, he was totally charmed by smart phone.

He has been sitting on his chair playing his smart phone for more than two hours after dinner now, sipping his tea and sometimes making strange noises when he couldn't figure it out how to let his smart phone work in the way he wanted. Mum said she hopes dad's new toy can make him learn how to check and reply emails himself, instead of asking us to do it every time. Well, if it doesn't turn out to be that way, think I can at least comfort mum that there are no thorns on dad's butt.