Unable to secure a job prior to his discharge from the US
Navy, Stefano Ming-ya reluctantly returned to his hometown. As miserable as his
9yrs in the service had been at times, he always consoled himself with the fact
that he wasn't living THERE anymore. Though he had left home at 18yrs old, it
wasn't until he joined the Navy some three years later, that he finally felt
free of the oppression of Momma Ming-ya. Now he was going back.
Finding an apartment ASAP, to minimize his contact with Momma
Ming-ya, Stefano Ming-ya continued to look for work, hoping for the best
possible scenario of a job out west, 2000 miles away. His fate did not have a job for him out west,
though and he soon started with the local utility company. Working hard and
with many ex-navy veterans, Stefano did well and prospered. The only draw-back, if you will, being the
need to work rotating shift work. Being
much younger than he is now, it was much easier then, provided he got enough
sleep.
Of course despite prospering at his job, there was always the
distractions of family dysFUNction caused by Momma Ming-ya. Truth be told, she
resents the success of her children, it limited her control of them. Why should
anything be discussed at a family gathering, other than her latest illness or
what her hair brained astrologer told her was going to happen to her kids.
Needless to say nothing good was ever predicted, at least to hear her relate
the stories. She really believes no one can do anything without her help and
then they could do only as much as she decided they were capable of. Yes, she
is also a Democrat.
Always looking for a way to make everything and everyone
revolve around her (that must be why she's as big as the sun, so everyone can
orbit her), the phone became her favorite tool for dispensing dysFUNction.
Constantly unaware of Stefano Ming-ya's rotating work and sleep schedule and
ignoring his repeated requests NOT to call, she called. She wanted attention
and by god (her god is a little-g, since her god is herself) she was going to
get some and Stefano was going to give it to her!!! How dare he tell HER when she can call and
when she cannot!!!
Needless to say this day, Stefano Ming-ya was sleeping.
Sleeping during the day because he was WORKING, while the rest of the world was
tucked comfortably into their beds sound asleep. Groggily answering the phone,
he wasn't greeted with a polite hello. No, he was greeted with a tirade and
waterfall of words, complaints about her health, complaints about other family
members who wouldn't give Momma Ming-ya the attention she demanded and
complaints about him not calling often enough. As the trade continued unabated,
Stefano Ming-ya attempted to interject that he had been sleeping, since he was
on the Mid-night shift. Ignoring his interjections, Momma Ming-ya continued the
waterfall of words. Realizing she wasn't listening, only talking (as usual) and
that he would not be able to stop her, he hung up the phone then reached down
and unplugged it.
Returning to sleep, Stefano hatched a plan upon arising that
evening. Arriving at work approximately 1115pm, he attended shift turnover,
made his tours of the power plant and carried out his other duties required
that evening. Taking a break about 215am, he returned to the office. Walking
briskly past a co-worker to a phone on a desk. Tapping in the number, his
co-worker was intrigued, too many numbers not to be an outside call. Who
would he be calling at this hour?
Patiently, Stefano Ming-ya waited as the phone on the other
end began to ring and ring and ring and ring. Losing count somewhere around
twenty, Stefano continued to wait, until finally he heard the familiar and
despised voice of Momma Ming-ya at the other end. “Hello, hello!”
“MING-YA!!! Were you sleeping??? SO WAS I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Stefano screamed into the phone before
slamming back into its cradle. Calmly turning now to his other tasks, his
co-worker looked up and asked, “Who'd you call???”
“The woman formerly known as my mother.” Stefano
replied with a smile. “Maybe now she'll get the message!!!”
“Don't call me and I won't call you!!!”
