Chapter 3

Simon and she went to different schools mainly because in 1949 Macau, one just didn't find a true university that accept women. The scholarly arts were for men. The school Barbara attended, the one intended for her homebound sister was more like a secretarial finishing school.

The courses offered in the secretarial school were for subjects like typing, or stenography, or dictation. Of course Barbara excelled in them; she was a quick study no matter the subject. But challenging? No, she was sick with envy every time she'd look at her brother's diminishing form as he walked away to his school.

He got to study such exciting subjects as trigonometry, or calculus, or chemistry. At first, Barbara would get Simon to teach her the things he was learning, but she quickly figured out that either he was a lousy teacher (which was entirely possible) or he was deliberately leaving things out so she couldn't follow him (which again was posssible). No matter the reason, she wasn't understanding. So to stop the frustration with both the subject and with Simon, she just stopped asking.

She called it the "Ah Q" mentality. And she was proud of herself for being able to execute it. Her youngest daughter in the future would call it the Polly Gumping of life, in reference to two movies: Pollyanna and Forrest Gump. Basicaly, it was, if it's upsetting, look at something else that makes you happy. In this case, she didn't want to think that she was stupid, nor did she want to think her brother was malicious.

Simon's life for the next four years would be consumed with showing the professors at the university he was smarter and therefore had little time to go gallavanting with Barbara. Too much urging from her would start a lecture about how she wanted fun too much and how it will just harm her in the end. The retreat from his presence was immediate.

"Come on, come visit the market with me," and Carol would shake her head no, with a fearful glance out the window. Carol's life consisted of home and the church, with occasional forays out to eat. It seemed to Barbara that Carol was afraid the Communists would burst through the door any moment to snatch her and drag her back to the mainland. "Ve wei da leh guh, ah Chia" They won't come, Sis. But a grunt from Isaiah would confirm the necessity of Carol staying at home since Sarah was at work.

Within a month of them finding a church, Sarah had taken over as the church piano player. It was the perfect opportunity to be devout, show devotion as well as advertise one's skill and talents. And since everyone in the church knew of Isaiah's condition, Sarah was soon teaching all the children in the church piano, earning enough for the medical bills as well as food and rent for the entire family.

As more and more Shanghainese flooded into Macau, Sarah's students finally started extending past the parameters of the church. She became the piano teacher for the entire Shanghai community in Macau. Years later, Sarah's grandchildren would be astounded by the constant flow of former students that came by to pay their respect to her.

Before long, Carol took on students of her own since the demand outstripped the supply. Though Barbara's skill at the piano was nearly equal to Carol's she wasn't old enough to command respect and was spared having to work. Simon, of course, didn't have to work; all his energy had to be directed at studying.

Isaiah, at this point, could move around gingerly by using a cane and dragging his left foot around. He had gone from a handsome laughing man to an angry, grumpy man who often took his anger out on yelling at every little transgression. All of them dreaded staying at home because of Isaiah's temper but he still needed frequent attention. He was unable to bathe by himself and he fell often.

After one particular nasty exchange between Isaiah and Simon, Sarah told the three children not to come home until she had put a white handkerchief in the window. Carol, Simon and Barbara huddled beneath the window, speculating wildly in their thoughts, but none daring to vocalize them.

After what seemed like countless hours, the much anticipated handkerchief appeared. The three of them marched in with sideway glances at the parents. Isaiah was calm and sitting at the head of the table, with a full spread in front of him. He indicated to the three to sit down. Sarah then sat down and offered a prayer of thanks. Nothing else was ever said about that night and a peace descended upon the family that lasted close to 30 years.

One thing changed: Isaiah, though still bellicose at times, never seemed to deliberately pushing buttons again. Before, he attempt stunts like telling Carol she was stupid, which Carol was insecure about due to the obvious intelligence of her siblings; or telling Simon he was effeminate. The only person he indulged was Barbara who could always make him laugh for she was the only one who understood his dark humor, who laughed merrily at his twisted comments.

What had transpired between Isaiah and Sarah only the two of them knew. Barbara suspected that Sarah just made Isaiah understand he was totally and utterly dependant on the good graces of the rest of the family. That was how she could just relax in front of her father and enjoy herself, unlike her siblings. They cared too much about what Isaiah said.

Not Barbara. She had finally found the one movie house Macau had, at the time. And Halleluah, they were showing the latest Judy Garland musical.

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