My Dad Cooked My Pet

Location : Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines

Flashback
I am writing about this episode in Aug 2022...49 years later. I don't know if the year was actually 1973 - I would be about 13 years old, but that's my best guess. Why am I writing this? Because it's classic! It's unforgettable. And to most people, it's unbelievable. What father would cook his son's pet?

Pet Ducks
I was still in early high school when Dad brought home 2 male-female white Muscovy ducks as my pet. I named them Rosie and Scuttlebuck. I'm not sure if I asked him for duck pets but I guess I did. Otherwise, why would he give me ducks for a pet? He would have given me a dog instead, if I didn't request a duck. And why would I ask for a duck pet? I don't know! Maybe I saw a duck movie.

Extra Members of the Family
I cared for these 2 ducks, fed them, had a little concrete pond for their splash pool, watched Rosie lay her first egg (she laid one egg every day), etc. Years later, when these 2 ducks were already extra members of my family, my father, from out of the blue, just told me he'll cook them - and he did.

...my poor (and tasty) Scuttlebuck

Ending Thoughts
Was my father a mean Dad? No, not at all. He was certainly not sensitive, but he wasn't mean. He just wanted a duck meal. He did ask my permission, but back in the day, given the life and times of the era, kids in the Philippines had no voice in the family. The option to say No did not exist. Things are very different now when a 10-year-old can demand a sex change from his parents. Should he have known better? Again, to judge his action 49 years later may not be fair. More crimes were committed then that are horrible now, but seemed every day life back in the day. So, no, I'm not judging him. I'm pretty sure he won't do that now.

How did I feel? I don't remember, but I guess it wasn't that traumatic then. For me, it was just life. At that age, whatever the parents say is taken as normal and 'standard'. There was not a hint of rebellion on my part. Perhaps I felt sad, but more of resignation - my best guess again.

Oh, before I forget, when Scuttlebuck was served on the dinner platter, I ate him too. He wasn't bad. Am I as fucked-up as my Dad? No, it's just life.

Would I do this to my kids? Hell, NO!

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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