24 Family as one

My father hugged us and it started my own tears to fall. I felt the strong arms embracing us making me feel weak and needing his protection. My mother loosen her embrace to me and faced my father. This time, she was no longer crying. I think my father's presence made her feel better.

"Our family was never involve in any negative issues here in our neighborhood or somewhere else. Even when you were young, I or your father was never called by your school for any misconduct or you being involve in trouble. I believe in all of you, your honesty and trustworthiness is never an issue to us your parents. But if something happens involving your safety, we will not sit and watch you humiliated by anybody. We will take this incident to authority."

My father looked at my mother then to me with a questioning eyes. With his gentle but domineering voice he asked "What exactly happened here?"

My mother narrated in details the encounter she had with the monster lady. I hugged myself as my anger increased. I felt no fear because I know from my heart, I am not guilty. I didn't do anything against her. If dining with her husband is wrong, she must not worry, because it was just a simple dinner and it will be the first and the last. I vow to my family that I will not allow her to humiliate me or my family ever again.

My father spoke, his voice was soft but firm. "We will face this problem as one family. I will report this incident to the police to make sure that it will not happen again... If we need to put a high fence to make sure nobody can enter our premises so that this will not happen again then we will do it as soon as possible."

"Mia, please call the police and report this incident." I went back to my bedroom to get my cellphone and overheard him asking mom, "do you think we need to put up a strong fence?" I turn around and saw my mother frantically nodding. She was really afraid of the monster.

Our house has no real fence. The plants that surrounded the house was carefully planted according to plans. That is, to have a natural fence. The community was known to be peaceful and the residents are peace-loving so my father thought that concrete fence is unnecessary. Besides, it blocks the community from direct communication. Though technology makes communication easier, he still believes that face to face talking with people beats all forms of high tech communication. In fact, most of the neighbors bought his belief and did not put up concrete fences themselves.

Until now..... my father would break his own belief by putting walls to block intruders including friends. ☹️