"Pieces of you Dad"

 It was a Saturday morning, and we were all on a mat under the mango tree with Mom catching up on topics that we might've missed during that week. It was a lazy morning actually, my step dad, whom I don't refer to as "Step Father", but "Dad" was washing the company vehicle. It was a busy week for us as my sister was diagnosed with appendicitis and was admitted in the hospital. She had been discharged two days prior and she was just getting stronger.  My phone was ringing in the room and the last of my siblings called me in to give me my phone, I had missed the call twice and I took the phone out of the house waiting for the caller to call back. As I was walking back to join my mum and the other siblings, dad got a phone call that somehow made him pale all over his face and after he engaged the call, he continued to wash the car. My phone rang again and I answered. It was my best friend from back in High School. When I said hello, she cried and she said, "Nella I'm sorry" confused I asked her why and she told me a shocking news that I hung up on her. She had heard it on the radio as a 'breaking news' With Tears in my eyes, I looked at mum and my brother and and when I looked at my step dad, he rushed over to me with tears in his eyes and I broke down, we all did. 2008 was a tough year to get through. 

My dad was gone. My dad practically spent his whole life in Port Moresby besides Rabaul, where he called home. He was a young "mangi NIPS", who left school and travelled around most places of Papua New Guinea for the love of Music. Most of all I remember dad for being the person he is. He is so caring, he knows what mood we'd be in, knew just the right therapy. He had a heart so big, that even on christmas, he'd buy turkey or a cake to give out to the homeless on the streets. He brought home homeless kids twice in his life and made sure they were educated and got a job, both are in heaven with him now. My dad when he was angry, he'd be sitting down and just stared at you and his eyes would do the talking, I practically end up crying after receiving a long hard stare from him. And I couldn't believe this was gone. 

I remember years ago when I was doing my year 12 here in Lae and he made a surprise visit to the school. My friends and I were heading to the market to buy lunch and somebody ran to me and told me that my father was at the carpark waiting for me. I had no connection of him nor my siblings at that time as I couldn't afford a Bmobile phone till after Digicel was introduced, so how could I have known. I ran to the carpark and looked around trying to recall what he would look like after I left him back in 2003. When I looked again, I saw him sitting there with a typical short trousers and a singlet, with a hat on and dark shades, I raced to him like never before, my father finally came to see me. And he laughed and got up, he picked me up and said to me "What has your mother been feeding you? You're so skinny." It was the happiest day of my life. It was the last time I saw him, because a year and a half later, He was really gone. 

He brought me up like a boy, this man. "You must never let a man lay a finger on you, anybody who want to mess with you, you fight him or her back, and when you cannot anymore, you let daddy know, daddy kam bai mi suim pinger lo ass blo em!" this has actually brought a smile to my face. I can actually hear his voice saying that. He was very strong willed that when he gave his word, he kept it. I'd beat up a guy or a girl and he'd attend the board meetings to listen and tell the school council, that he taught me never to back down ever and he will always have my back, this was back in primary school in Port Moresby. To this day I know I am stronger because of him. He was my rock. He was my strength.   

"Dad I love you always and I hope you have met your grand daughter in Heaven and are taking care of each other, she would be Ten years now, so she is capable of taking care of you on my behalf. I will see you again some day and we can make up for the loss time on earth." 

JoeyDaily