At Chu Family's house
In the evening, the entire family sat together in the living room and talked.
Sitting next to her father, Violet held one of his arms. Jackson had his other arm around Cherry's shoulders. No matter where he was, he always wanted her by his side. Cherry held her son's hand tightly.
"Joe," Jackson addressed his son. "The formalities for your going abroad are underway. They might take another two weeks to finish. We've also chosen the school you'd be attending. My friend will come and pick you up once you get there."
"Okay, I see," Lawrence replied, nodding fiercely.
Violet, who was shocked at what she just heard, asked,"Daddy, is my brother really going abroad?"
Jackson nodded but didn't know how to explain this to his little daughter.
Cherry looked at her daughter dotingly. "Violet, your brother is going abroad to attend high school there," she told her kindly.
"But why so soon? Isn't he supposed to go to a foreign university too, after high school?" Violet asked, still in disbelief. 'I thought my brother was about to finish his high school here, not abroad, ' she realized. 'I thought he'd still be here with me for three more years!' But now she was being told that he would leave before long. Violet was not ready.
Lawrence kept silent and didn't comment on his sister's words.
"Violet, your father talked to his friend abroad and he suggested we should send your brother for high school there. It would increase Lawrence's chances of entering into a competitive college or university. That would be good for your brother's future, so we agreed to it," Cherry explained to her daughter patiently.
Jackson also tried to coax his daughter. "Well Violet, when you graduate from junior high, Daddy and Mommy will send you there too to attend high school and university."
"No! I don't want that!" Violet retorted abruptly and tightened her grip on his arm. "I'll not go abroad. I'll always stay here with Daddy and Mommy!" she exclaimed in a determined manner.
"Violet, you should also take your studies into consideration. It's important," Cherry suggested her. Now that her son's future had been decided, she was keen on her daughter's future plans. She wanted to know what her daughter wanted most. After all, children had the right to decide their future. No matter what their decisions were, their role as parents was to respect their wishes.
"Daddy, Mommy, I really don't want to go abroad. I want to go to a local college and find a job after graduation. I want to stay with you both. I don't want to go so far away," Violet said decisively. She knew herself well and had no interest in entering into some top university abroad. She only wanted to do what she liked and stand on her own feet.
Jackson saw the resolve in his daughter's eyes and didn't know what to say. He made eye contact with Cherry and urged her to speak instead.
"Well, that's fine with your Daddy and me, since you have already made up your mind. Anyhow, it will be nice for us to have you around us. Mommy will be sad if you leave," Cherry said tenderly. Seeing her daughter's resolve, Cherry didn't argue. Her daughter was still young. She might change her mind later on. Cherry decided not to worry about it and let nature take its course.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Ice and Fire