Shengliver’s Note: The teen writer touches on a hot issue in China. Is it felt globally?

There are an elderly couple in my community. They are kind and gentle. Because their dog and ours share the same name, I have been on good terms with them. We socialise a lot when walking the pets.

One day last year the couple disappeared, together with their dog. My mother said that they had gone to Shanghai on a visit to their son, who works and lives in the metropolis. “That’s great!” I thought. “Life will be more fun for them.” A few weeks later, however, the couple came back, haggard and tired. They had changed beyond recognition. “Gosh, what has happened?” I kept wondering.

A few days after they came back, my puzzle was solved by Mother. According to her, the couple’s son is an important employee of a large corporation in Shanghai. He is the family pride. The couple missed the son so much that they decided to go and stay with him for some time. When they were there with the son, he did not like the parents. The son thought his parents out of date and ignorant, so he ignored them. Feeling left out, the elderly couple were hurt deep down. Therefore, they came back to Shiyan. They no longer talk about the family pride with neighbours and friends as much as they used to.

I feel sympathy for the elderly couple. In my opinion, we should treat our parents well, no matter what they are like. I hope that everyone keeps in mind that parents are parents. We should give them due respect and care, no strings attached. They have been loving us unconditionally. They deserve it.