the things i will miss

she sneaked me one of her cheeky little smiles as she passed me along the steps . time seemed to perpetuate in slow motion as she kept her eyes on me until i returned the joy .

slowly but surely , having secured her new prize , she set it upon the parquet – proper on all four wheels . after an instantaneous ‘consideration’ , she then sat herself on the loading container of her colorful truck , positioning her legs on both sides of the vehicle – no doubt for mobility .

and off she went on her little test run .

realizing the lack of speed , she retrieved a little toy fan she had earlier shoved into the driver’s compartment for safekeeping and positioned it behind her – no doubt hoping to be propelled into thrilling momentum .

it didn’t even matter that her little innovation proved unproductive – she still had the ride of her life .

anyone could tell from that everlasting smile and her trail of gleeful chuckles .

 

obviously , my little niece isabella proved oblivious to my observation of the whole event .

i spent yesterday evening at an annual house-blessing / semi-reunion party at my first aunty’s (eldest of all eleven from the maternal chapter of my family) . she was the one who knighted me “小辣椒” (cili padi or bird’s eye chilli) and still calls me that now and then – to both my annoyance and pride (i earned that title after maintaining a rather solid reputation of mischief – but that’s a story for another day) .

regretfully , the only camera i brought were my eyes and my brain .

 

these are the people and the moments i will miss when i leave .

~ by hobart kho on February 13, 2008.