Last week, after the teacher-parent conference, Mother took me out. We went to a restaurant across from our school. It being the peak time, the place was packed with customers. A lot of schoolmates go there for meals on Saturday evening because of its convenient location.

 

Mother and I shared a table with a girl dressed in the same school uniform. When we were eating, the girl was babbling in her dialect on the phone. I managed to figure out what she was saying. It seemed that she was trying to ask her mother for money. However, the mother seemed unwilling to meet her demand. In the end the girl started to quarrel with her mother. She even called her mother by her full name in our presence.

 

Mother and I stared at the girl for a few seconds. When she became aware of our attention, she lowered her voice and became a little quieter. Mother and I looked down and went on with our meals. After a few minutes it seemed that the girl had won the battle against her mother. She left the restaurant with a smug smile on her face.

 

I commented, “How rude the girl was!”

 

Mother said plainly, “Every time I call you, the way you talk on the phone is almost the same. The only difference is that you are a little bit politer.”

 

I was so embarrassed. Instantly my face turned red and hot.

 

Thinking back to the old days, I realise that what Mother said is true. Since I started high school, I have never had a heart-to-heart with her. The call I made to Mother every weekend never lasted longer than 5 minutes. Sometimes it was because I had a lot of work to do. Sometimes it was because I had performed badly in an exam and I did not want to hear Mother’s disappointment.

 

These days I always try to talk more with Mum every time she calls. If I find myself getting impatient or rude, the restaurant scene will come back to my mind. I do not want to be that ugly rude girl.