DON CHISAO'S STUDY (SUMMER 2000)
It's late in the evening; but as they would be at any time of day, the heavy drapes at the window that overlook the garden where the Don's daughter Connie was married are pulled tightly shut to block out the world. A single candle burns on his dresser, in front of the mirror. Meanwhile, Don Chisao is at the far end of the room. Fists tightly at his sides and knees bent, the old man pauses for what seems like an eternity.
Then, a swift turn and a kick! Pong sao, step! Pong sao, step! Don Chisao is invigorated by the return of his health and the opportunity to complete the chum kiu that was cut short by a hail of bullets. Who's the monkey now? laughs the Don. I am Don Chisao!
Coming to the end of his form, his toe points down and the Don effortlessly does kicks out, then to the side, then does the same on the other side, for a total of one kick.
The Don's feet draw together again and he straightens. His eyes fall to the photograph of Michael and Sunny on his dresser and suddenly the vigour is gone. Thoughts flood back to fill the void created by the trance-like state he always enters when doing his forms. The bullet wounds tingle as he slowly sits himself down into the chair.
"Geez I could lose a few pounds," he complains to himself. "Yip Man never was like this."
The Don's eyes settle on the candle's hypnotic flicker. He thinks of Michael and wonders where he is. He thinks of Connie, married to that punk, and of Sunny. In his mind, he envisions the turf war that tore his family apart as thought he were there himself, going over every bong lap da, every kick, every bui sao striking those who dared to take his family on. His mind wanders on, pausing at seemingly every event of the past year and beyond, the dreams, the reality. "Thought and thought and thought," mutters the Don as he stares deep into the flame, "doesn't it ever stop?"
"For all that I've blessed
And all that I've wronged
In dreams until my death
I will wonder on"
The Don crosses himself three times then slowly rises from his chair to check his appearance in the mirror. Blinded by the candle, he sees nothing. Don Chisao smiles.
Reply With Quote
