Yea. Its there for 5 days, and my parents and the uncles and aunts took turns to stay till dawn to look after ahma. I stayed once, and I did not feel tired, until 6 am. Its alright, as i have stayed throughout the night during my night shifts.
Every day, Every night, there would be visitors coming over to see ah ma. At one time, ah ma longtime friend of almost 60 years came. 60 years!! At first, she saw a funeral wake at blk 33, she thought it couldnt be my ah ma, since my ah ma lives at blk31. Due to lack of space , then we move to blk 33.
She walked into the wake, and looked around for any familiar faces. She saw my cousin, and my big bro, and this has somehow confirmed her worry that the person in the coffin is my ahma, her friend of 60 years. She walked closer and closer, to the altar, and when she saw my ah ma photo, she was dumbfounded and was rooted to the spot. She stood there, as she could not believe that the person lying in the coffin is my ah ma, and her best friend.
She walked into the wake, and looked around for any familiar faces. She saw my cousin, and my big bro, and this has somehow confirmed her worry that the person in the coffin is my ahma, her friend of 60 years. She walked closer and closer, to the altar, and when she saw my ah ma photo, she was dumbfounded and was rooted to the spot. She stood there, as she could not believe that the person lying in the coffin is my ah ma, and her best friend.
It was just too shocking and unbelievable for her. She sat down and had a chat with my big bro. My bro explained everything to her and she was sad when she heard what actually happened to my ahma. She broke down in tears. She came every night then, with teary eyes, every time she saw ahma's photo.
I can confidently say that almost 80% of the whole block of 31, Bedok South Ave 2 know my ahma, and almost 50% of the people in market and the stall owners in the bedok market know my ah ma too. Yes. My ah ma has alot of friends, and she has made alot of friends.
Everywhere in the market. I remembered in my primary school days, i used to stay on sat nights to accompany ah ma to the market on sun morning. Wherever she walked, she would stop and greet her friends. Along the way to the market, people would greet her and she would smile back to them.
When she reached the market, she would be greeted by her group of friends sitting down chatting. She would den introduce me to her friends, and her friends will flatter my ahma as her grandson is growing up. They would also joke with her, and say me, the grandson, so helpful, go to market to help ahma carry groceries.
My ah ma would chat with them for a while, den proceed to buy breakfast n groceries to cook for dinner that night. She would always worry abt my breakfast 1st. After buying breakfast, she would go inside the wet market to buy groceries. Every stall she patronise, the owner is my ahma friends. Yes. EVERY!. When she buy fishcake, as i like to eat, the fishcake uncle will treat me with 1 free fishcake, which i eat on the spot.
Everywhere in the market. I remembered in my primary school days, i used to stay on sat nights to accompany ah ma to the market on sun morning. Wherever she walked, she would stop and greet her friends. Along the way to the market, people would greet her and she would smile back to them.
When she reached the market, she would be greeted by her group of friends sitting down chatting. She would den introduce me to her friends, and her friends will flatter my ahma as her grandson is growing up. They would also joke with her, and say me, the grandson, so helpful, go to market to help ahma carry groceries.
My ah ma would chat with them for a while, den proceed to buy breakfast n groceries to cook for dinner that night. She would always worry abt my breakfast 1st. After buying breakfast, she would go inside the wet market to buy groceries. Every stall she patronise, the owner is my ahma friends. Yes. EVERY!. When she buy fishcake, as i like to eat, the fishcake uncle will treat me with 1 free fishcake, which i eat on the spot.
When she buy fishballs, the owner gave her extra. When she buy vege noodles, she does not have to queue, as the lady boss is her friend. and SEE!. my ah ma got such a great network of friends. And, i always feel flattered whenever i walked with ahma, as every of her friends will praise me.
One great moment that i enjoyed with ahma on our way to the market. When we walked to the market, we will walk past a fitness corner. The fitness corner will have the ' Stones' which are for u to step on. I brought ah ma there, as tat can help blood circulation to the body, but it will be a bit painful while stepping on the stones.
When ahma 1st tried, she walked with her slippers on, cos she say its painful. But i tell her '' Cannot!!, like tat not pain!.. must feel the pain den good!''
When ahma 1st tried, she walked with her slippers on, cos she say its painful. But i tell her '' Cannot!!, like tat not pain!.. must feel the pain den good!''
Then my ahma slowly took off her slippers, and i helped her carry tat. We then walked through the stones together, n i held my grandma to help her finish the stone trail. After completing the trail, my ah ma will show a face of pain, and she will ' wah!'. Then, i would ask her, '' ah ma SOng bo?.'' Then she will laugh and say '' SOnG song!'' She wore back the slippers and continue our way to the market.
During the funeral's days, I walked past this fitness corner, and it really bring back the great and loving memories i have with ah ma. The feeling was so strong, that i can remember the moments i played with ah ma, our funny expressions while walking on the stones. I'm feeling a sense of loss when i walked through the stone trail. I really want my ah ma to come back.
Whenever neighbours came to the wake, they will say the same great things about ahma, and with the same reaction when they heard abt what happend to ah ma. They would say:
'' your ah ma is a very friendly person''
''almost all the ppl in the block noe her''
''I saw her almost everymorning when i go to market''
'' She is a very hardworking person. I always saw her with 2 hands full of stuffs, and carrying them
all the way home''
'' She can run 2 markets every morning''
'' She is a very strong person''
'' Her cooking is very good''
'' She dotes on her grandsons very much''
''Your ah ma used to buy us food while we are gambling''
''your ah ma is a kind person''
'' your ah ma works alot. Back in the kampong days, she used to wake up early in the morning, to fetch 2 big pails of water''
.
...
there are just too many words to describe my ah ma alr. Too many.
Its late. I will follow up in the next post.
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