The most memorable toy from my childhood days has to be my first PlayStation I. It is not only my first interaction with a gaming console, but it also has a unique, loving, and unforgettable story behind it. I remember a day when I was playing the original Mario Bros, and there was that one particular level that I can’t seem to pass regardless of how hard I tried. And so, after some tries, I just gave up on it, and part of me started to think that I might have no hope of ever passing that level. But then, later in the day, I overheard a phone call that my dad has received from a close relative inviting us to a regular family gathering at a local restaurant. I was elated, and it has instantly rejuvenated my hope because my dad’s older brother, my eldest uncle, an absolute expert with Mario Bros, will also be attending that family gathering. So I asked my dad about inviting my uncle to our house after the family dinner to help me out with that level, and he said okay.

Unfortunately, though, the family dinner lasted past midnight, and suddenly, heavy raindrops started to pour from the sky out of nowhere. And because of that, my dad told our relatives at the dinner table that we will be taking off soon because it’s raining and it’s so late. That’s when I approached my uncle and asked him to come to our house after this dinner. And to my surprise, my uncle agreed without any hesitation. Once we got home, I changed into my pajamas, sat near the television, and waited for my uncle to come. However, the waiting quickly went from minutes to hours. With no signs of my uncle coming, my dad finally asked me to go to bed because he said that my uncle would most likely not come tonight. That’s when, suddenly, someone knocked on our door; the time is about three to four A.M. My dad stood up and went out to answer the door, and sure enough, my uncle came. Out of pure shock, my dad asked my uncle, “Why don’t you go home and get some rest and come tomorrow? After all, Tomorrow is a Saturday.” My uncle replied to him and said, “Because I made a promise to come. A promise is a promise, and I have to fulfill it. I cannot let my little man down.”

To this day, I still remember so vividly and clearly what he said that night. My uncle’s “keep your promise” philosophy has resonated inside of me even today. It has taught me a great lesson of keeping a promise that you made regardless of the obstacles you will stumble across trying to fulfill that original promise. In the end, my expert uncle taught me all the strategies for passing that level, and we had an absolute blast that night. Except for maybe my dad, because our loud laughter seriously affected his quality of sleep.