He Lied

That day, the phone shook me from a deep sleep. I got up and picked
up the receiver, still feeling blur.

"Hi, Jo. It's me. How're you doing?"

I heard my younger brother's low voice float out of the receiver.

"What's up?" Feeling irritated, it was early - six-thirty in the
morning.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine. How's mom?" I asked suspiciously. Mom has always has a
health problem.

"Oh, she's fine. She misses you a lot." He said hurriedly.

"What about dad?" I asked again.

"That's what I call you for, Dad is not well. He has been admitted into
the hospital a few hours ago."

"Oh, no&;#8230;" feeling alarmed, I asked anxiously, "What
happened?"

Jacky slowly explained that dad met a car accident and the doctor said
that he was in a critical condition. The doctor said dad was badly
injured and hoped that the family would prepare for the worst.

After hearing all this, I bought the bus ticket and went home to Kuala
Lumpur right away. I boarded the bus at 8:30 a.m. The journey from
Penang Island to Kuala Lumpur took four hours, but it seemed like four
long days.

I have not called home for a month since the new semester started,
guilt filled my heart. I did not know what was happening at home. What
kind of a daughter was I? I blamed myself. Tears rolled down my cheeks
as I thought of all this.

I prayed earnestly that God would preserve dad's life. "Oh Lord, I will
be a good daughter to dad &;#8230; please give me and dad
time."

Finally I reached the bus terminal in Puduraya, Kuala Lumpur. I took a
cab and rushed home. The minute I unlocked and opened the house door, I
saw Jacky and I yelled, "Where's dad? Bring me to the hospital
quick!"

Jacky was grinning mischievously and I was puzzled. What was happening?
Has Jacky got too hurt and gone nuts? Still smiling, Jacky brought me
to the study room I saw dad sitting at his usual seat, peacefully
reading his piece of daily newspaper and enjoying his afternoon
tea.

A light flashed through my head and I suddenly realized that Jacky was
lying and playing a prank on me. I wanted to hit his head but he
stopped me and quickly explained that it was Dad's 60th birthday that
day. He wanted to give both dad and I a surprise.

I think I really was a bad daughter because I forgot all about dad's
birthday. I was a little annoyed at Jacky's prank but I was really
relieved that dad was well. I was glad that he lied.