陳白菊 《 Arrested 》 美國

        In 1977,  my  father  was unexpectedly arrested.  He  was taken away at  night.  We were told that the charge was because we had a relative in  United States,  our country’s enemy.  None  of us knew of any relatives  in  the  U.S.,  but no one would  question  the authorities. My dad was held at the local police station and sometimes I brought food for him with the help of a friend.  After a few months,  my father was miraculously released from jail.

        When  my  father was released from jail and reunited with  my family,  the  sight of him made me shocked and heart broken.  Dad  had a long beard.  His  hair  turned  white and he had aged so much. I was afraid to look at his eyes.  They were angry,  scared, and filled with bitterness.  My  dad  did not stay at home anymore.  He  lived  at our farm far away from home.  Sometimes he came back riding his bicycle,  bringing yams and corns for us, and left at nightfall. It was difficult to see him this way. My father used to be loud and outgoing. He loved to be around his friends and was an animated person. Instead, he transformed into  someone who  was  quiet,  sad,  alone,  and  tired.  It was like he was a completely different person. Whatever happened in that jail completely changed him.

陳白菊 (Laura Tran)