October 30, 1970

Dear Mr Keon

I was so surprised and happy I did not know what to say so I screamed out woohoo. I wanted to hug him but I stopped because he and mother looked like they were ready to fight or already did. Then mother told me to say hello to your father and your sister. But the way she said it it was like father and that girl were thiefs. I recognized my father but I also did not. He had more wrinkles and was shorter than before. But now I see why mother says I look like him.

I was going to show him all my hockey cards but that girl made them go out of order and she folded my Ron Ellis rookie card and she emptied my Batman utility belt all over the floor. I wanted to drop kick hit her in the gut then I remembered promising you to be good and not fight.

Then he took out a present for me. You will not believe what I got. I got double sticks. I heard other people call them num chucks. Then I forgot I had a sister from no where. She was all over my toys and smiled but I did not think it was funny.

I looked at mother because I asked her many times before for the num chuks. But she always said no. She drinked from her tea cup which means she was drinking Johnny.

She slammed it down and said no. She took them away and said to father that I get into enough trouble and that was the kind of toy that would get me into more trouble.

Sometimes mother is so mean. Why can she not be like Shirley Jones. She is beautiful and drives a bus and sings and is very kind. I bet your mother was like that too.

Mother and father made me and the girl wait in the hall while they talked. I could not understand why mother never said any thing about her plus I could not remember her neither. She asked me if I liked Josie and the pussycats. I do but I did not want to talk to her and said no. Then she started to tell me everything about the show any way like I was stupid. Then she asked me if I liked Barbies and that she hoped to get a Barbie camper van for christmas and that her favourite colours were purple and pink and that her favourite food was shake and bake.

I never even had shake and bake. I looked at her because I could not believe I had a sister and that she could talk so much. Finally I told her to shut up because I wanted to ease drop on mother and father.

I heard everything mother said because she is louder than everybody when she gets mad. She almost screamed when father said he and the girl took Rollie’s old room beside ours and that she would go to Orde St School too. Father calls her Jane. I hate that name and I hate her so I came up with a rime. It goes like this Jane is a pain with stains from mane with no brain who plays with planes and trains in the rain by the lane so she must be insane. I will teach Patty Beeso and Barry to say that.

Before dinner father said the men should go out for a walk. That was the first time I was not called a boy by mother or father and it felt good to be a man with my father. We walked down to Baldwin street past Barry’s house and around the block. He asked me about school and my teacher and my friends. I said Mrs Clover was a Trudeau lover and hates me.

Doesn’t matter Johnny he said. You must always listen to the teachers and respect them.

Mother said this many times but hearing father say this made it sound more important.

I wanted to know why he was away for so long and why he never told us about Jane but I could not. Instead I asked him to take me to see you versus the Boston Bruins.

Sure Johnny. But maybe not against Boston. When I have time. First I need to find work.

I wanted to tell him about Rollie because maybe father would know what to do. But just as I was going to say something father said he knew about him. I almost stopped walking.

He is a bad man Johnny. I am so glad you are safe. I hope the police catch him and his gang fast.

Gang. Was mother in his gang I asked myself? Am I in his gang now?

Are you listening Johnny father said. Until then I am worried for your safety and Jane’s safety. So I need you to look after your sister while I am out looking for work. Never should you or her be alone.

I wanted to ask why I have to because it is mother’s job and also I never asked for a sister and besides how did I get a sister if father was away. Then it was like he read part of my mind because he said she is your sister and that is what brothers have to do. Even if they don’t want to. She will start school tomorrow on Monday. And that is what happened.

Your friend,

Johnny Wong