Each one of us used to have or still have its own story teller especially during bed time or at our leisure. While most of the children had their parents to tell them fancy stories, I had a stranger to do it since my parents worked around the clock everyday. When I was four, I just hear the stranger's voice from the windows of our neighbors' house. I wondered why she would not come to our house to share her stories and adventures.
One day when I was five, my father finally introduced her to us. She was a total stranger at sight. She didn't looked like I had expected. She wore a name just below her wide face. I can not read it that time. She seemed so delicate yet I know that she has aloud voice. My mother was quite resentful of the idea of bringing her home because according to her, the she would just disturb my sister's studies. But when she started to unfold her stories, the whole family, including my mother, was not able to hide their excitement. eventually, she became my story teller.
She almost lit up the whole house as she spoke and everyone, listened to her stories with deep interest. She was given a space in the corner of the living room where she could sit comfortably as she tells story. The story teller talks tirelessly. Sometimes she speaks softly but most of the times, she speaks in loud booming voice. She talks about anything under sun including other people's lives. She was the one who introduced me to some influential persons since she know them very well.
My mind twirled as she took me to different places and events in just an hour. the story teller also taught me of various cultures of different countries plus, she also kept me abreast of the current events of the world. She also constantly give my mother some recipes and other housekeeping tips which my mother loves her so much about.
In spite of all the entertainment she gave me, I hated her. She was a blabbermouth. I then knew that 40% of what she say is a trash. She spread gossip and some false information that alarm the people or ignite chaos. She showed me violent or pornographic scenes. The stranger openly talks about it as if I were not a kid that time. there were many things she unveiled in front of my innocent eyes that caused so much changes in my way of thinking and acting to some negative ways. In fact, I still remember some to date. She may have taught me of many things but then I realized that some of these things should not be very known to young minds like mine.
The family's bonding moment was changed to some petty quarrels as to what the story teller should tell. I wondered why my mother would would not detach her from the family. She was no longer that well-liked and sometimes she caused troubles. This did not bother the story teller. She kept talking even if nobody pays her any attention. How I wished that our story teller would soon retire, but until now, for fourteen years, the story teller is still with us. She would occasionally get sick and mess up. I remember my brother slapping her a little to get her actions together and in no time, my mother would bring her to the doctor for her kind. Somehow, she had endured longer years than her colleagues.
Now, the story teller owns a more convenient place in the living room which she deserves after more than a decade of loyal service. I fear the day when she would end like anybody in this world. I know that I'll really miss her if she leaves me because I would long for those moments when she would entertain me in a very familiar way especially when there is nobody left at home but her and myself.
I can tell that she is now very old and would soon face her end. She is now quite senile. If I wish for her retirement before, now I really wish she would stay longer. Next to my family, she is the one who had seen my childhood, my teenage years, how my mother scold me, how my siblings and I fought and made up and the way my father shows his compassion to us.
Every now and then, I would wipe her seemingly misty face while my other fingers feel the embossed name under her wide face, which, now that I know how to read, is Panasonic T.V.
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