Whoever says he is not afraid to die is a liar
Original conversation in Hockkien
Pic from archives
Have you eaten? You have a good woman. She looks healthy and strong.
I was born in 1913. I came from China as a young girl. The Second World War was a difficult time, After the war, I worked as a house servant for a family. When the wife died I took her place. None of the children are mine. We had a dinner, took photographs and then we were husband and wife. Things were simple. The family wasn’t rich.
This area used to be a good area. Now with clogged drains and frequent flooding, it has become a slum. You can see many people of other races from the rural areas renting rooms here now. The original families have moved out..
I used to be mobile. After falling three times, I can no longer move around. I wait for my grandchildren to prop me up against the chair every morning. I look out the window and see my neighours. I have not been upstairs for almost ten years.
My grandson is a good man. I wait for him to marry and then I am ready to die. I tell you every body is afraid to die. Whoever tells you he is not afraid to die is a liar. But I am tired. Very tired. My mind is alert. I know everything that is happening around me. But I can’t make my hands and legs move as I want them to. Nowadays my hearing and eye-sight are no longer as good as it once was.
I sometimes fall asleep at my chair. My husband and some of my children are already gone. I will join them soon. I will be in My Father’s home soon. I am tired. I will be ready. Every body has to go some time. I don’t know how many more Chinese new year i can still celebrate with my family. Only God knows. I think all my friends are no more.
Be a good man. Do no bad things and always save money for your old age.







