True chivalry (Singapore)

RI (Raffles Institution) classmates Heng Soon was alphabetically in front of me, Tian Poh [deceased] after.  

During school vaccinations, Heng Soon would stay back in the tiny room after he’d had his jab.  The nurse would say, “You’re done, you can go,” and Heng Soon would say, “I’m staying for her.”  The nurse would raise her eyebrows, uncomprehending.

I’d then go in.  Tian Poh would come in with me.  The nurse would say to him, “No, not your turn yet.”  Tian Poh would say, “I’m here for her.”

Then, they’d stand both sides of me and extend one arm each.  I’d grab each one so tight during the injection that I’d leave red marks.  

So chivalrous.  They did it both years.  So sweet.

(Singapore, 1971–72)

Cockeyed (Singapore)

I was sitting with some people at one of the tables in the old RI main tuck shop (not the small one in the annexe next to Science E) when this chap came up and spoke to us.  

I looked up, and he seemed to be talking to me as one of his eyes was looking at me, but I didn’t know him. I looked at the other eye and it was looking at the other people at the table.  Yes, he was cockeyed!  

I ended up listening and nodding to the end out of politeness, even though I couldn’t understand anything of what he was saying, because I never found out who he was addressing.

*old RI = the old Raffles Institution site at Bras Basah Road before its move to Grange Road in 1972

(Singapore, 1971)