Childhood Memories, Francesca Tay -- 25

"Criak, criak, eeeeeee" the sound of my father unlocking the main door, every single morning of the weekend, the gurgling of the kettle as he placed it on the stove, the sweet tinkling of the wind chime hanging at the window, and the rustling of the papers as he ploughed through the news. Sounds that were so familiar, sounds of my home.

About an hour later, my brother and I would rise, unwillingly to the nagging of either one of my parents, arguing over whose turn was it to use the bathroom first. My mother would wake at about noon if she was still in her room, and the day would start.

This was the usual scene at Evergreen Park, the place where I called my home, promptly 4 years ago. Now, it was not the peace and serenity in the morning after shifting to Rio Vista. Instead, all you hear are the screams and laughter of children playing in the swimming pool, mothers nagging at their children next door, people shouting at their maids, and the smell of these housewives cooking, since the blocks are closer together here. In the 14 years of my life, I honestly preferred the times I spent when I was still living at the previous condominium. I shifted houses a couple of times, and this year, about September, I am yet again, shifting somewhere in this vicinity.

I am the youngest child of the family, and the only daughter. My mother used to tell me that I was ugly and wrinkly when I was born on the fifteenth of September, 1992, and her immediate reaction was to 'declare' to my relatives loudly, 'Oh gosh, she's so ugly', in fluent Cantonese. I feel so hurt! (Note the sarcasm) At least I got all better when I left Mount Elizabeth Hospital. My brother was also born in a private hospital, though I, to be honest, totally forgot where. One thing I have to say is that I have never had a good relationship with my brother. My parents told me that he loved me a lot and always treated me sweetly when I was young. I sure don't see that now!

Some people tell me I look like my mother, some, my father. I guess I did not really bear any resemblance to any of them. My parents told me I was pretty and cute (Typical of parents, you see!) and I took part in many competitions, winning a thousand bucks when I got chosen for some baby pageant. I guess that was one of my greatest achievements - LOL!

I recall the best memories of my childhood when I was in K2. My classmates were all hyper and fun! I still lived at Yishun then but I loved that place. We had this neighbour who had 3 kids, and one of them was still a baby. I miss life in Yishun, really.
(Yishun rocks better than Hougang, honest :X)

Now, childhood seems like ages ago, and I can hardly recall the moments where the naiveness and innocence of US shone through.



*I'll upload the pictures laterrrrr [:*