micro memoir

The Samsui Woman's Advice

When I was 16 and waiting for my O-Level results, I worked for a few months for my brother-in-law, who ran a small construction company.

I drilled concrete floors until my whole body shook from the vibration.

I used a grinder to smooth the edges of window grilles and stair railings at a wealthy man's house near Newton Circle.

During a break, a Samsui woman looked at me and said, "Young man, study hard so you can become the owner of the house instead of breaking your back as a laborer."

I earned $10 a day.

At the time, that felt like a fortune.

On payday, I would cycle to the shop to buy beer and roasted duck for a celebration dinner with the workers, sponsored by my brother-in-law.

Some lessons are learned in the classroom. Others are learned from people who have already paid the price.

One Step from Disaster

When I was studying at Playfair Primary School, I had to cross the road near the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Airport Road. One day, I stepped off the central divider without paying attention. A lorry whizzed past my face, inches from my nose. Had I taken one more

The Empty Gate

Every afternoon after school, our mongrel would wait behind the metal gate. The moment he heard my bicycle bell, he would jump up and wag his tail so hard his whole body seemed to bend with it. One rainy week, I came home and the gate was empty. I parked

Be Someone

The elders always said, "Strive to become someone." Otherwise, you will be a nobody. After sixty years of trying to become someone, I finally became myself.

Lost and Found

My cat loved to meow and rub her head against my leg. She was my constant companion. One day, my mother relocated her to a wet market three bus stops away. I thought I had lost her forever. Then one day, out of nowhere, I heard a familiar meow. It

Read more

One Step from Disaster

The Empty Gate

Be Someone

Lost and Found