SHORT TAKES: When My Father Really Made My Day

By M.Zulkifli Abd Jalil

I was probably 6 or 7 years old then and my favourite TV show was “The Six Million Dollar Man” starring Lee Majors. The main character, Steve Austin, was a NASA officer who was “rebuilt” with implants after an accident, and gained superhuman strength, speed and vision.  

I remember waiting excitedly for every episode, and was wowed by the special effects of him doing cool superhuman things. So, when I saw that they had made this Steve Austin figurine with bionic eyes and everything, it became my obsession. 

But unfortunately, it was only available at stores across the Causeway in Singapore. And it was more expensive than other normal figurines. 

One night, my (late) father came home unusually late from work. I rushed out to greet him as usual, but I also had hope in my heart that he had gone to buy the toy that I desperately wanted. 

But I quickly saw that he had nothing in his hand. I kissed him as usual and went inside and thought, maybe one day. 

Then, my mother made a gesture for me to go outside. I went out to the verandah… and I saw the thing I had wanted most on the table.  

I jumped for joy! 

We weren’t rich by any means, but my dad had saved enough money and went over to Singapore just to make his son happy. I might have gotten “The Six Million Dollar Man” toy, but I knew my father’s love was simply priceless…

It’s been almost two decades since he passed on. May he be placed among the righteous.