A Dollar's Worth of Gratitude

When I was in pre-university, my morning classes ended at noon. I would take a bus to the Toa Payoh Library and spend the rest of the day studying.

When hunger came, I walked to the chicken rice stall. I watched others order chicken with extra meat while I counted the coins in my pocket.

I ordered a plate of chicken rice with one braised egg, but without the chicken. The cucumber was free. The chili, sweet black sauce, ginger, and soup were free. The stall auntie never asked why.

The whole meal cost less than a dollar.

Some days I wished I could afford the chicken too, but the egg was enough.

That simple plate filled my stomach. The library filled my mind. Gratitude filled my heart.

Today I can afford the chicken. I still remember the egg.