a sister

I went to the outlet mall with C and my sister over the weekend. It was a bit chilly, but an overall great day. I realized how much I miss hanging out with her. We used to do everything together. Of course, growing up, it was a pain in the ass to have to take her with me everywhere I went.

My friends' birthday party in the second grade. She lived in the building behind my building. I remember telling my mother that I didn't want to have to take my sister. She yelled at me. Made me take her. I remember the birthday party, I had all my friends there. So needless to say, my sister was left all alone on the couch. She wasn't a very sociable person, and I, being mad for having to bring her, left her there. I remember her spilling her slice of birthday cake on her shirt, eyes getting puffy ready to shed some tears, but really really trying hard to keep them in. At the end of the party, we each got a traditional Chinese jewelry box, you know, the kind that when you open them, it smells like really bad gas? We each had our jewelry box, and headed home. I remember that cheered her up. To be at someone else's birthday party and getting to leave with gift in tow. When we came home, she proudly told my mother of how much fun she had. Thinking back, she couldn't be more miserable there.

There used to be a shoe store, Fayva I think. I remember I maybe in the second or third grade. My mother said she'll buy me new shoes. I was so excited. Having so many children in the house, new articles of clothing or shoes were hard to come by. So we went to the store. My little sister was with me. I remember picking out these shiny black shoes. They looked like tapdancing shoes. I wanted those. And those I got. And guess what the little sister picked out? We had the same shoes. It was devastating. But I couldn't stop her from getting them. My mother would yell at me. And I wasn't about to pick another pair of shoes, this was what I chose! Still, in a good mood with new shoes, we went home.

Back then, a cereal box had interesting things for kids on the back of the box. It just so happened that at that time, the back of the box had punchouts for your shoelaces. What do you know? I cut them out, put them on my new shiny black shoes. And again, who goes crying to mommy wanting them too? So a new cereal box was taken out to cut the exact punchout to put on the exact same shoe that didn't belong to me.

Thinking back on these memories, I wish I just had one more chance to relive that time. Finishing my Skittles extra fast so I could take some of hers. Eating chocolate in the middle of the night and expecting my mom to never find out... only to wake up and still have chunks of white chocolate pastilles stuck on our faces and hairs.
Those were the days.

Someday, I wish to have two daughters and watch them repeat things I've done with my sister. That would be a great day.

Love you little sis!