It was just two days after she arrived, but she was already
growing more and more impatient.
Our guest was a middle-aged lady in her fifties. She was a distant
relative of our family, but she had important connections to the
corporation. Thus, by company orders we were instructed to treat
her well during her stay here, which was for an indefinite length
of time.
We were uncomfortable but tried our best to accommodate her needs,
which were difficult to fulfill indeed. She is a matriarch of her
own family - too accustomed to a privileged life back home.
Despite our efforts her patience was running out and she was making
more and more snide comments in our presence.
"Your house is so small! Back home my house is much larger and
prettier and better. We have a amazing view with tall mountains and
beautiful lakes."
"Your family is so small! We have a big family full of happy
children who respect their elders."
"You have so little family history! We can trace our ancestry
hundreds of years back."
"You have such stupid hobbies like playing video games and
shopping. At home we write beautiful poems and compose elegant
music."
One day she returned from work especially riled at something, and
lashed out at us.
"Your family is an impure mixed breed. My family is a pure and
unpolluted pedigree!"
Elder brother immediately took offence and retaliated.
"If you are so great, how come you are a single mum? Where is your
wonderful husband?"
She argued back with rage in her eyes "that is my family business!
My husband will forever belong to my family - he is only
temporarily seduced by that treacherous lover. Everyone knows how
much I love him - when he returns to my warm embrace, he will
finally be able to serve me like he did before!"
She then glared at elder brother. "Your family once belonged to our
family. Why do you insist on speaking an impure language? Why do
you interact with inferior people? Why do you have such vulgar
hobbies?"
He took a deep breath and calmly rebuffed, "our family existed
shortly after your family existed, Madam. Though we are distant
relatives, we don't 'belong' to your family. Just because you can
trace your ancestry a few hundred years back doesn't mean that you
are a few hundred years old."
