War of the Words

Sometimes I think there’s so much drama on my father’s side of the family that it’s enough to be made into a long-running series like ‘A Kindred Spirit’.

Though we’re very seldom directly involved in any of the “conflicts”, the latest saga-in-the-making saw my dad crossing swords with his second brother whom we all commonly referred to as ‘Monster’ among ourselves. Obviously, we didn’t think much of him as an uncle and as a person. In short, he’s one of those ppl who has this warp mentality that when u hv money, u hv the authority to lord over others. Which was pretty much the reason why my dad was so mad.

The background to all this:

My ah-mah is planning to go to China.
Soon after word got around, my uncle opened his big mouth to declare that he will sponsor the trip (typical behavior I must add – likes to talk big).
He then promptly went abt calling his siblings up to collect money back from them.

So my dad told him off over the phone as he felt it wasn’t the right thing to do. And we very much agree, not because he’s our dad but because it’s true.

First of all, my uncle did say he’ll sponsor. HE, not the brothers and sisters collectively. Thus rightfully, he shd be the only one footing the whole bill.

Secondly, if by sponsor he really did mean for the rest to contribute a share as well, then he shd hv consulted them first before speaking on their behalf. What right has he got to commit the money of others not knowing their financial situation and without their prior consent, and still expect them to pay him back?!

My dad’s a retiree for goodness’ sake. And him being so darn rich – at least that’s what he wld have the whole world know – I dun see why he can’t just pick up the tab by himself. He claimed it’s a matter of fairness, but how fair is it when he’s collecting from his siblings yet taking all the credit for himself.

I wld be annoyed too if I were my dad.

And now he wldn’t stop harping on my dad’s choice of word to describe him. He’s very upset my dad called him a pariah but apparently, my dad only asked him not to behave LIKE a pariah, not that he actually is one. So therein lies the point of contention – the phrasing.

Well if u ask me, it’s becoming stupid and childish when ppl start banging the phone and making lame threats to indiscriminately attack whoever happens to pick up the next time he calls (bring it on man!).

The way I see it, this uncle of mine deserves to be called a big lousy phony pariah so he shd just as hell live with it. Considering his wife passed away quite suddenly only a couple of months back, u wld think it wld’ve made him realized that money isn’t everything. Yet today he remains the jerk that he has always been. *Sad*.