My Grandfather Monologue

In my narrative, I dramatized my picture to show an powerful image of my grandparents. Throughout the story, I focused on my grandfather’s (Gonggong) character to show my vision of him as a grandfather. I also constantly uses the sensory details of the 2.5” x 3.5” picture to show the importance of it and the message behind it. I described each of the characters in the picture descriptively to give the audience an appearance of each of the characters, “I remembered feeling the wrinkles on the surface of [Gonggong’s] arm. [Gonggong’s] arms were huge and strong,” (Paragraph 1). I used metaphors like, “I remember holding Gonggong’s left hand, I tightened my grip as if it has been my favorite stuffed animal” (Paragraph 1) to show the audiences

how much I loved Gonggong and how strong he was as a person. I also used “Their eyes were full of tears, their eyes were swollen as if they didn’t sleep for days” (Paragraph 2) to show a closer look of my parents’ facial expression. I introduced the story with a sorrowful tone to demonstrate my feelings towards the picture and how the deaths of my grandparents affected me. However, I created a relief tone as the story evolved, where I show I have grown from their deaths. Although the picture provided a sense of sadness, it’s purpose behind it reminds me of the love of my grandparents, and how they had shaped me today. I want to use this picture as a chance to reveal my own personality and my past experiences.

The 2.5” x 3.5” Picture In My Wallet
The 2.5” x 3.5” picture was full of love, energy, and warmth.

Happiness; was all people can see in the smiles. Two elders were sitting in the middle, smiling as if they were the spotlights of their talent show, they looked proud. The three kids were sitting on their laps, giggling and goofing around. The 2.5” x 3.5” picture was a picture of my beloved grandparents, my little cousin, my older brother, and me. I was sitting on Gonggong’s left leg, I remembered holding Gonggong’s (my grandfather) left hand, I tightened my grip as if it has been my favorite stuffed animal. I remembered feeling his ring on his middle finger, I remembered feeling the wrinkles on the surface of his arm. His arms were huge and strong. On my Popo’s side (my grandmother) was Long-Long (my little cousin), who was only two years old, she tried to crawl out of Popo’s arms. Long-Long hated pictures, her facial expression showed impatience and anger. In the middle between the two of us was Hok Lun (my older brother), who was about seven years old, he sat still as if he was a soldier. His tummy was surrounded by Gonggong’s right arm. Snap, the 2.5” x 3.5” picture was taken. I have kept that picture in my wallet ever

since.

When I got home from the last day of school before Easter holiday, my parents were sitting seriously at the dining table.

It was such a surprise that they were home during mid afternoon, because they were working most of the time. They were not eating. Not smiling. Just pure serious… and sad. Their foreheads were covered with wrinkles, they looked deep and thoughtful. Their eyes were full of tears, their eyes were swollen as if they didn’t sleep for days. I sensed something bad happened, I then asked, “What happened Mama and Baba? What’s the matter?” Mama hugged me and sobbed, “Gonggong passed away this morning,” My heart dropped like a rock inside me, I felt real pain inside me. I bit my tongue with shock. Flashing back to last month, Popo died from diabetes and kidney tumor. And now, Gonggong is dead? “What is going on? What happened?” I asked with my voice cracked. “Heart attack, in an elevator,” Mama told me slightly. “Heart attack? Gonggong was an exercise geek, he would wake up at 6 in the morning and jogs for two hours everyday. He had healthy diets, he didn’t even drink or smoke. How can he JUST die from a sudden heart attack?” I asked impatiently. I struggled inside myself and cannot get over the fact; Gonggong is now dead. The mystery left question marks inside my head for

years.

“Be loyal. Be responsible. Be honest. Have dignity” - Gonggong
That’s the way Gonggong lived throughout his life. Although he didn’t have an education, his personality was known to be loyal, responsible, and honest. His personification was powerful, no one would ever disagree with him. He had a side of a strict father, he would lecture his kids by punishing them cruelty, even though it was just a minor mistake. Perfect, that was all it mattered. No, effort, that was what really mattered. Perfect effort, was actually what he was looking for. However, he also had a side of a goofy grandfather, he would play around with us during shower time. He would play with bubbles and make us look like Santa Clauses. He would make funny faces to make us laugh, he would play “hide and seek” with us as if he was a 3 year old. But then, there was also a side of just Gonggong, himself. A side of no one would know what he was thinking. He was alone. Although he loved to lecture his kids about humanity and play with his grandchildren indulgently. He was lonely, alone at home. He would sit on the couch, staring outside the window. His face looked deep, his eyes were thoughtful. What was he thinking? No one knows, it was a mystery.

I was only ten years old, the image that Baba and Mama cried was planted in my mind. Easter, the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but my closest Gonggong passed away in just seconds. How cruel was that? There’s no chance for me to say my “goodbye” or say “Gonggong, rest in peace, you will be remembered”. There was no chance for me to take care of him like he did when I was a baby. There was no chance for me to travel around the world with him as he wished. There was no chance for me to take a photograph with him when I get married in the future. And there it was, the 2.5” x 3.5” picture that was full of love, energy, and warmth revealed it’s purpose.

The picture was in my wallet since I was little, although I filtered my wallet many times, the picture will always be there. I did not pay much attention to it until Gonggong and Popo passed away. A few months after their deaths, I could not look at the picture because I would start tearing up. I kept it behind my wallet, trying to forget about it because I don’t want to remember their deaths. However, many years past, I would look at the picture in a different perspective. The picture reminds me of the setting, the mood, and the warmth while it was taken. I would still tear up, but it’s the tears of joy. I would smile and look into their faces as if they’re still here with me, every time, every day, and every moment of my life. The picture reminds me of their love, their life lessons, their laughters, and their image of grandparents. I would tell myself, “Carry on” and “Everything is gifted, treasure every moment in life,”. Now, as a 17 year old teenager who will soon reach into adulthood, I look at the picture as a memory, a wonderful memory. A memory that will stick in my head until I reach their age. The photograph is so strong that it gives me motivations and support. Gonggong and Popo shaped me who I am today. Some people might have a picture that they keep in their drawer or a deep inside their albums. Every picture has a different story behind it; where it was taken, when it was taken, and why the picture was taken. Every details behind it remind us the memories of it. Similarly to my picture that was kept in my wallet for almost a decade, I still remember the purpose of it.