tampin tales

the early 60-s. she was with her mum and dad in tampin. dad was in the police force. they stayed at a rented room for a few months at the outskirts before moving into quarters right smack in the centre of the small town. sometimes mum cooked canned squids for dinner (she loves canned squids). 

there were big mimusops elengi (bunga tanjong) trees behind her house where she used to play with some friends. the tiny white fragrant flowers would be strewn upon the green grass every morning. she was only about 5 years of age then. but she was already collecting these scented flowers, loving how wonderfully they smell.

truckloads of british soldiers often passed by the road in front of her house in the evenings. she (in blue striped pyjamas sewn by her mum) and her friends would show their thumb up signs to the young boys who would then throw down bars of chocolates for the youngsters to catch. the chocs tasted good. once she saw the soldiers threw a whole box of goodies for some kids!

she used to frequent a friend's house situated behind her house. this friend, a non-muslim, had several big, fierce dogs which however remained docile and nonchalant whenever she was around. 

on friday nights her mum would take her to watch an open air movie across the road, on a gentle hill. their neighbours would go too, often bringing along snacks like fried peanuts.

when they moved into government quarters, she had more friends, playing various games in the courtyard of the single storey building. sometimes she would go to the canteen of the police station to buy cigarettes for her father. on the way she picked up small mango fruits which had fallen onto the footpath.

once, the fun fair came to town. dressed in a baby blue gown with full skirt, her parents took her to the amusement arcade. she had a ride in an airplane merry-go-round at the end of which she was dizzy but happy.

then her father transferred to ayer kuning. the police station was much smaller and so was the town which had only 1 road with a row of timber shophouses on both sides. a small railway station stood at one end as a railway track passed by the side of the rather remote town.

one morning she saw a tall man with a small suitcase walk into the compound of the police station which had barracks behind it.

she recognised the man with the songkok, linen shirt and pantaloons smiling fondly at her.

it was her maternal grandfather!

he came to take her back to their island home, where she would soon start her schooling.

she had always been the apple of his eyes.........