- White Sandy Plain Village (Pak Sa Kong)
no longer plain to see:
- Watching black and white Birdman and
Giant Robot in a neighbour’s flat,
- Meandering through Big Central Market
guided on the shoulder by Dad’s hand,
- Walking the distance home one day to
Mum’s reprimand; ‘twas to her a dangerous act,
- Drenching off lather with mountain water
fed by half-split Chinese bamboos,
- Languishing the wind in the backseat of
Dad’s first car – a Ford Escort with front-side
- windows and jutting steel bumpers,
- Popping inverted metal bowls with fire
crackers, greetings of “Kong Hee Fatt Choy!” and stuffing
pockets full with New Year goodies and ang pows,
- Dropping by a neighbour’s house once
with housewives indulging in mahjong; Mum was there for the social
interaction,
- Parading awkwardly in the fore along the
narrow paths of our village on young aunty’s big day.
-
- With industry and foresight, they
arranged my exodus:
- To Lion City came I, touching down at
Paya Lebar,
- The shambling shophouses along Jalan
Besar did not speak well to me,
- Tis’ was a better place I was told ---
of advancement and progress,
- Traffic lights were a new thing as with
crossing at a chalant pace,
- Etched in my mind are the two rows with
Dad over directions –along Clifford Pier and Penang Road; Dad was
right on both counts.
- Initiation into rugby begun with name of
arch-rival: “Arai”
- A long pass off the Institution
that is Raffles’
- ‘O’ Level came and went
- Life and time will not delay
- Time is running fast away
- Life is now Today!, Today!
-
- Junior college offered a truly rounded
education
- What with chapels, cultural
extravaganza, student councillorship and caring teachers.
- Varsity was plain sailing with neither
highs nor lows
- Time was never enough for the ideals of
learning though.
- Result was what matter, all that matter
for many
- Bestowing “Martians” on all others for
the trespass of study.
-
-
-
- Got started on work – for real
- Suddenly, one has on hand financial
wings
- With it came responsibility too
- Romance, courtship, marriage and
parenthood ensued
- All in good time.
-
-
-
- The self is ever observing, learning,
adapting and remembering.
- Life moves on…
-
-
*** THE END***
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