Probably when I was 2-6 years old we were staying in Sabak Bernam when our father was posted there as a Court Interpreter for the magistrate's Court. Although I had little memory of my life in Sabak Bernam as I was too young, I do have some some vague memories.
At that time, more than 5 decades ago, Sabak Bernam had no cars. The Government clinic only had a Hospital Assistant to attend to patients and there was no clinic. I started school there and completed Standard 1 in the Chinese school before we shifted to Parit Buntar.
Our Mother would have been only in her early-mid 30s. I remember the government quarters where we stayed. The house was on stilts. The kitchen was at the back of the house downstairs. That was where Mother did the cooking, using firewood and washing. She used to hang a cloth hammock outside the kitchen where my younger brother Tai Kam and later Tai Keat used to rest. Tai Hou and me would be playing nearby. Mother used to ask me to rock the hammock for my younger siblings, while she cooked and washed. It seems she found me such a good help that she delayed sending me to school for 1 year.
I also remember following Mother in the evenings to the house of her friend, Mrs Tan whose husband used to work as a Clerk in the land office. Mrs Tan had many children maybe about 10 and 2 of the girls were my age group. While Mother chatted with Mrs Tan, I would play with the 2 girls. I had also followed Mother to the house of her friend who worked as a cook for a White man. That was where I had my first taste of nescafe and yummy imported biscuits.
When Mother has passed
The pain is so unkind
Just look deep inside you
And you'll find her
Right there in your heart and mind.
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