Once in a while a special little jewel
found its way to my heart:
i remember Rujana Abdullah
(where, oh where are you now...?)
a quiet little imp with a shy smile
(who resembled our little fourth sister)
the keeper of all my books in their hostel library...
and i used to linger by her side on my nightly rounds,
to watch her as she slept on,
oblivious to the mosquitoes,
on the upper bunk, of her hostel room next door -
the semblence was so great
that i could almost see Shim again,
so close, sleeping so peacefully...
Then came this grinning 'tomboy' Thomas girl (and no wonder,too):
"Oh brothers i have aplenty - 10 altogether -
and we used to play football, with dad as the goalkeeper!" she chirped,
needless to say, she got herself another god mother
who grew up among six other female siblings
and many ducklings and chicklings and hatchlings -
on that little house on the padang ('prairie')
A Noraini at the Tun Aminah Hospital i'd once met
together we were warded for some op or other,
the nurses were exasperated the morning her mother left
coz she was crying and wouldn't eat
pining for her siblings back home in Kota Tinggi
and her pasar malam parents on their rounds ...
my lonely heart went out to her and we talked, and became friends
and one day they came by in their goods van, to visit me -
just to return my books, to say 'thank you'
for all the notes of encouragement, and
tell me personally she'd passed her PMR:
and there she sat, happily surrounded by
the siblings and parents she had missed;
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" sang Lim Jit Tong -
(whose father had just passed away today, i heard)
with an apple for his sick teacher in his hand:
but, lo and behold, the teacher said, tactlessly, though truthfully:
"I prefer oranges to apples ..."
and wiped off the eager smile from the poor boy's face!
but he is still full of determination and ideas:
held his Christian wedding on the beach -
with lots of grapes and fresh flowers, ribbons and bows
it drews lots of kampung folk toexpress their "wow!"s...
Then there's a Lim Teng Poh and another Lim Siew Ming:
Both had learnt the ropes at their tender age
and know the stark realities that life has to offer
reliable, dependable, resourceful and determined
they followed me on my escapades for adventure
and ventured 'where angels fear to tread'!
Later came another: two brothers, least alike,
both in size and shape and character:
one was too matured for his age;
the other was too young to know the meaning of hardship
both grew up as latch key kids
- but very independent and helpful smiling kids indeed -
when their dad passed away
and mum went over the straits in search of work
Another sweet girl i won't forget is Natasya
her friendly father and her sweet, capable mother
who brought up their brood of lovable children:
the pride and envy of most parents ...
she reminds me of another sweet young thing:
Wan Yu, who churns out journals, volume after volume
(always nodding encouragement to all that i say)
and of all her lovely wind chimes,
singing praises in the breeze,
i love "No Cats Inn" the most ...
and her pretty friend, Shih Min,so sweet and so fair
an angel by comparison, a balm for sore eyes
and one of a twin who loves to work with the camera:
Chin Kah Ang reminds me of my class monitor,so long ago
who swam up to me at the public pool and asked,
"Teacher, do you still remember me?"
of course i do, together with Normah and Khairuddin!
and William, our computer whiz, so chatty and so smart,
and Paulus and Vima, the brains in my class:
i could always look upon to confirm my doubts
to point out when i have erred, or misspelt,
to supply all the answers when the class blinked!
And to remind me to slow down and catch my breath
came the Firdauses and Jaabars and Shahrul Anuars
and silent ones like Xue Ni, Yi Ling, Shek Qin and Tham Ooi Kee,
and our brave Pravin and industrious Villasini,
who taught me to smile in the face of adversity,
and to laugh at my own foolishness (and theirs)
little gifts made their way to my heart:
a little folded paper star one day,
an orb or a globe or a note the next,
a secret told in confidence,
a hobby shared,or a joke enjoyed,
a hand scribbled and illustrated birthday doubled sheet
- to double the wishes and triple the joy, indeed -
These are all the little things in life that matter,
the rest are up to God, and us to ponder ...
