Disaster-in-making

Having my grandmother living with us is like having a time bomb planted next to the gas tank under the stove in our kitchen.

I am serious. This is of course my maternal grandmother I'm talking about (My paternal grandmother passed away few years back. Mama was the kindest old woman I've ever known). You won't know when, where, how, why and what you'll be scolded for. The last time I counted, I got lectured twice because I forgot to ask Jessica to give the K-drama VCDs back. I definitely saw that coming and tried to avoid it so badly, but...no such luck! She even told me that I shouldn't lend VCDs to people who wouldn't return them like in one week. Hello? I certainly told you that I borrowed the "Goong" VCDs from my friend (although the truth is I bought them), but YOU kept them for more than one month, watching them over and over. Whereas my grandfather got blasted for more than half a day merely because he said one sentence, "Why did you buy so many stuff?" when she came back from the wet market carrying bags of...well, stuff. I totally side Grandpa. She does not know how to save money, that's for sure. Then she went on yelling things like, "I never used a cent of your money! I've worked so hard until I nearly died to bring the children up and this is how you are treating me...I've NEVER done or said anything wrong in my whole life...Blah blah blah..."

She never used a single cent of my grandpa's money?! That's completely untrue. You've never worked a single job, where do you think your money came from? Oh please, don't pretend you didn't marry Grandpa for his money. And don't get me started on the way you supposingly brought up your children. You were never a good mother. According to my mom and my aunts and my uncle, all you did when they were little was playing mahjung with friends until midnight. Your children never saw you. They were brought up by your mother. Unless you're trying to say cooking one meal each day for your family was such a painstaking hard work, you've done nothing whatsoever to take care of your family. You've never done anything wrong in your life??? Just who do you think you are??? GOD???

My maternal grandparents have never gotten along as long as I can remember. Back when they were living under one roof, it was fighting and shouting 24/7. I can remember very clearly that when I was six, they were having such a huge fight that my grandma threw a slipper at my grandpa and he picked up a chair and threw it towards her. They were shouting so loud that I cried and my parents quickly brought me upstairs so that I won't see them fighting.

That could have permanantly damaged my mental health as a six-year-old kid. If I end up acting like my grandma when I'm her age, it's all down to their fault.

We've had a MUCH more peaceful life since Grandma moved to Kampar. But recently, her mood swings are as dramatic as ever. She's complaining that we don't give her all the money she wants. Gawd, we're just trying to help her. Knowing her, she won't be happy until she has spent every single cent that's in her pocket. If we were to give her all the money in one shot instead of monthly allowance, she'd be bankrupt by next year. So she's acting like we are mistreating her. But when we offer to give her more money, she accused us of treating her like a begger.

I can't believe this woman. My uncle finally couldn't take the shouting anymore that he told her to go home to Kampar so that everyone gets a nice peaceful Christmas. "Why is it always about money?", asked Joey. I can't give you an answer, Uncle. As you've said, I'm too young to understand.

I know for a fact that Grandpa said sometimes he hopes that she's dead. Serious. And I don't blame him a single bit. Coz who doesn't? Hope that she's in heaven, I mean.

Grandma is so lucky coz everyone in the family is Christian. Or else we'll be praying that she goes to you-know-where instead of hoping that she returns to God's kingdom.

Wait, did I say it's a disaster-in-making? My mistake. It is already a disaster.