| Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
The two boys and their father moved to this new place a few years ago. When the two kids turned 6 and were about to move to primary school, their father wanted to pick the best school for both of them. He found this school – St. Peter’s School - good reputation for its content school spirit, mannered students, and caring teachers. Also importantly was this school had program for the special needs. It had primary school division, and continuation to secondary school division. It was an ideal choice for the boys, so their father decided to send them here to study. To accommodate that, their family moved to this area so they could live closer to the school, which Matt and Danny could walk just a block from home to school everyday. Rent was a little more expensive than before, but it did not matter to their father. He could spend less on himself, but will do everything for his beloved kids. Their mother ran away, and as a single-parent, he tried to make it up and gave his best to bring them up to be good kids.
He is a good father.
And Matt never disappointed dad. He worked very hard in school and got excellent grades every year. And he took good care of his younger twin brother on his homework and daily routines. Aside from that, Matt could still spend time to help dad out with housework and stuffs. Dad used to ask an old couple neighbour to take care of the two kids after school etc. But in the recent year or so, Matt was turning into a big boy and could handle most of the stuffs at home. He could even help dad to prepare a bit for dinner, so when dad came home from work at the evening he could start cooking right the way. So most of the times, the two boys just stayed home by themselves, and the kind old couple would go check up on them from time to time.
As for Danny, he was still a timid boy, but was not so quiet as before. Under the love and caring of his dad and brother, he did improved a lot. And he loved school and studying and playing with the other kids in class. They had a great teacher too. Danny enjoyed his time in school every day.
The family of three lived happily together.
“Ok. Looks good now.” Matt finished checking Danny’s homework.
“Matty’s done homework too?” Danny asked.
“Yup!” Matt flashed his own exercise book on the table, “Now let’s pack up our schoolbags for tomorrow!” He began to organize his stationery and books into his bag.
Danny imitated his brother, as usual, and packed his own schoolbag too.
Afterwards, Matt grabbed two dress-shirts from the closet, “Danny, pick one. Yellow or blue shirt? Which one do you like?”
Danny thought and pointed at the yellow one.
So Matt took the other one. The twins shared all their clothes; they were same size anyway.
Matt began to get Danny changed.
“Hm…” Danny scrunched his face and dragged the collar of the dress-shirt that Matt was wearing on him, “…don’t like this…” He preferred the comfortable cartoon t-shirts that he normally wore all the times outside of school.
“Danny, dad called and said he just got a pay raise today! So we’re going out for dinner to celebrate! Dad says he will bring us to this buffet place, we have to dress up ‘cause other people going to that restaurant dress up too!” Matt said.
“…buffet place?” Danny wondered.
“Remember that buffet place we went for Christmas? Lots and lots of cakes on the table, remember?” Matt was excited.
“…lots n lots cakes!” Danny recalled and got excited too. He jumped.
Matt giggled and dragged him down, “Danny, why don’t you try to button up this shirt yourself? It’s just like our school uniforms. Remember how Matty shows you all the times huh? Matty buttons up for you everyday. Let’s see if you can learn it.”
Danny nodded.
Matt patiently demonstrated, “Look…you line up both sides of the shirt first, then put this first button into this hole…”
Danny tried to button up the shirt himself. The first button was ok, then he messed up starting the second one.
Matt caringly fixed it for him.
“…one button…two button…” Danny pointed and whispered the counting.
“Nice try, Danny. Let’s do it again tomorrow on your school uniform.” Matt encouraged.
Danny was happy; he loved to be praised.
Then Matt quickly got changed himself.
Danny rolled on the sofa and fiddled with some toys.
“…get up Danny. You’ll get the shirt really messy.” Matt hugged him up and moved his attention, “…why don’t we…check out if dad’s on his way back?” Matt picked up Danny’s hand.
The two alike heads leaned over the glass windows, watching out to wait for their father.
They saw a crowd down on the street, surrounding over something. An ambulance with flashing light was beside them.
Why dad is not home yet, they wondered.
Suddenly the door bell rang and rang. Together with it were rapid knocks on the door.
“…it’s dad!” Matt and Danny happily ran to open the door.
But the face that appeared was their neighbour. She saw the two boys and instantly showed a hesitated look.
Matt knew the old lady got confused to distinguish them again, “I am Matt!”
Obviously she wanted to talk to the eldest of the two. Her face was pale and voice trembling, “…your dad got hit by a car!!!”
============================
Matt and Danny were brought by the police to the hospital to see their father.
All the way, Matt did not say a word and held tightly onto Danny’s hand.
The nurse pulled the curtain and let the two boys walked in.
“…dad?” Matt trembled. He softly called their father, who was lying quietly on the bed.
Their father’s eyes were softly closed. He did not answer.
“…dad.” Matt stroked his face and unbelievably felt the coldness passing to his fingertips.
“…dad.” Danny pulled his arm, “…dad no sleeping…buffet…let’s go buffet…”
Their father did not answer. He could not answer his boys ever again.
“No this is not true. No…” Matt’s tears flooded out. He wailed and hurled over their father’s body, “Dad!!! Wake up dad!!! Danny and I are here! Can you hear us dad?!”
Danny did not know what happened. He saw Matt’s act and freaked out, “…Matty…dad…Matty…”
“Danny ask dad to wake up!!!” Matt grabbed Danny to their father’s lifeless face, “…don’t die dad!!! Danny tell dad to wake up!!!”
Danny helplessly looked at Matt and then their father on the bed. He was horrified on what was going on here. It must something really bad. He felt uncomfortable and scared, “…woo…woo…” He started crying.
“Dad! You can’t leave me and Danny behind!” Matt’s body chilled and trembled dreadfully. He screamed and cried and kept shaking their father, “What are we gonna do without you?! Come back to us…dad!!!”
“…why dad not moving? Why he not talk to us?” Danny blurrily realized what was happening and broke out a big cry, “…I want dad…I want dad…”
Their father peacefully lied there as if he was just sleeping. He was hit harshly by a car. But amazingly, he remained in such good shape and did not have any apparent terrible cuts and wounds.
He must know his kids will eventually come see him. He did not want to scare them.
He loves his kids, from beginning to the end.
If the good father could ever hear the crying from his beloved kids, he would definitely wrap them in his strong hug, to pat them, to comfort them.
But he could never wake up and hug them anymore.
The tragedy was so sudden and little Matt could not take the trauma. He spun around to the doctors and nurses and begged sadly, “Save dad please!!! He’s still alive! Save him…”
The dreadful mourning of the two boys shocked every single person at the emergency. The doctors and nurses, though experienced with these situations, still felt really bad for the two heartbreaking boys, “We feel so sorry. But unfortunately the accident caused severe head injury to your father. He already passed away on the spot before the ambulance got there.”
Right there…across the street…just one minute away from home. But he could never make it.
“No you’re a liar! Dad promised to bring us to buffet tonight! He promised! He never lies to us!!! He always keeps his promise!” Matt screamed and held tightly to his father’s body, “He loves us so much!”
“Dad never lies! Dad never lies! He loves us so much!” Danny howled and hugged his father as well.
Even the other patients at the emergency felt so pitiful on them. A few women shred tears, “Can’t believe this. That man left behind two little boys! They’re so young. Gosh…look such lovely and beautiful twins! How could this happen? How could they just lose their father like this?”
The cops sighed and shook their heads, “Devastating. So devastating! That stupid reckless driver ran the red light and destroyed a family! Even if he’s put to jail it won’t make it up. He took away the life of not just the victim but also his two young kids!”
The vulnerable Matt and Danny helplessly cried and cried over the body of their father.
Two staffs from the social affairs department arrived. They told the cops, “These two kids seem to have no other adult family members who are willing to take custody of them. We now put this as emergency case and have to send them to a sheltered home for now until further arrangements are made.”
Matt heard it and resisted, “We ain’t going to what sheltered home! We’re going back to our own home! Dad will come home with us too…he will…”
“We’re going home! We’re going home!” Danny yelled.
The social workers softly comforted the kids, “Don’t worry. We will help out with the funeral of your father. Now be good and come with us.”
“No…” Matt and Danny struggled and did not let go of their father.
The cops and social workers picked up their hands and brought them away.
“…no…dad…dad…”
Matt and Danny, all dressed up today, were here at the hospital to say goodbye to their father. They lost their father, the only person who loved them in this world. From this moment on, they were alone by themselves. They became orphans.
Thereafter, the future and destiny of the two boys were set up by the strangers.
**************************
At the orphanage, principal’s office
“Most of our kids attend schools that are funded under our charity group.” The principal of the orphanage, Sister Audrey, said, “We’re considering making transfer for you and Danny. Danny can go to special needs school. And for you, you are in Grade 5 so two more years to go in primary school. We found a spot at…”
“We ain’t transferring anywhere. Danny and I will stay at our own school, St. Peter’s School. Dad picked it for us. It’s a really good school and we love it. We will stay there to finish primary school, and continue with secondary school there.” Matt insisted. He was so mature and already talked like a young adult.
The solemn principal frowned and lifted her glasses.
The kind-hearted vice-principal, Sister Maria, suggested on the side, “St. Peter’s is indeed a good school that fit Matthew and Danny. Matthew’s been getting good grades. And the social worker talked to Danny’s teacher that he really enjoys the school. The kids already suffered a lot from the lost of their family. Sister Audrey, they shouldn’t have to go through more changes to adapt to a new school. It’ll be too much for them to take.”
The principal fell in deep thoughts and nodded, “Alright. We always try to make the best arrangements for our kids here. Ok I don’t object. I won’t make the transfer for you two then.”
Matt left the principal’s office and walked to the playground of the orphanage to look for Danny.
Danny was playing on the swing alone, softly swaying back and forth.
“…nah nah nah…” A few kids pushed Danny to the ground and teased him, “…retard nah nah…”
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Matt rushed over and roared angrily at the kids, “LEAVE DANNY ALONE OR I WILL BEAT YOU UP!”
The bad kids made a face and ran away.
“Danny, are you ok? Did you get hurt?” Matt carried Danny up and patted away the dirt on his pants.
“…hm…” Danny was scared and curled at Matt.
“It’s ok. It’s ok Danny. Matty’s here.” Matt hugged and softly stroked his brother’s head, “Matty will kick away all the bullies for you. It’s ok.”
Danny nodded and eased up.
Matt suggested, “Let’s get on the swing again….”
******************************
12 years old
“Grade 6 top student of the year…Matthew Tong.” The teacher announced at the primary school graduation ceremony.
Every one in the hall clapped as Matt walked up the stage. He received the certificate from the teacher. He turned to the audience and bowed.
“…Matty up there…” Danny happily told his teacher sitting by him.
“Yes Danny. Matt got the best grades! He is top student of the year!” His teacher smiled.
Matt tittered and waved at his brother.
Every one clapped.
In the middle of the cheering crowd, Matt saw his kind father, smiling proudly at him. His father moved his lips “Good job” and gave Matt a thumb-up.
“…thanks dad….” Matt whispered as tears rolled in his eyes.