Her Story-Chapter 4
Our dear Kyra is now a sweet young lady at the age of 18. She had studied very hard and scored herself a few scholarship offers from different universities and organizations. She’s had scholarships to study locally, in Australia, UK and USA. It was a tough choice for her, because she knew how much she had hoped for an opportunity outside Singapore. It was her dream to be able to study abroad, but her Ah-Mah was her greatest concern.
Who is going to takecare of her while I’m gone?
Who will massage her legs when she gets her rheumatism attacks?
And who will accompany her and talk to her when she gets lonely?
Finding no answers to her own questions, she decided that being here in Singapore with Ah-Mah was the best choice. Although a tough decision to make, Kyra was happy with the decision she made, she didn’t once think of Ah-Mah as a burden. Ah-Mah was all that she have right now….and so is Kyra to Ah-Mah. They can’t live without each other I suppose….
“Ah-Mah, I’m taking the scholarship from NUS. It’s nearer and it seems like more fun!”
Knowing Kyra’s filial piety towards her, Ah-Mah responded.
“Are u sure this is what u want? Studying overseas is a much much better choice isn’t it? I mean..you’ve spent 18 years in Singapore, now that u have a choice, don’t u want to experience something more? If you’re worried abt me..u dun have to…I have friends I can hang arnd with….”
“No Ah-Mah, I’ve made up my decision. I think I would like to stay here. There Lynette-her best friend since secondary school, you and all my other friends here. Will be sad to leave everyone here. Besides, I might not like the food, weather and people there. Food especially, I’ll miss your cooking for sure. Hmm…those chicken wings, chicken rice and….”
Slap! Came a little chiding hand on Kyra's ass....
“You and your nonsense ah…are u really that greedy? You can cook as good as me now. I’m sure u can feed yourself fine there. Hit you on your head to make u wake up your idea ok. Food is not an excuse…”
“Ouch…you’ll make me stupid ok…by then NUS will be the only choice! It’s still going to be my choice Ah-Mah. NUS it shall be!”
Thou thinking about the opportunities that Kyra may have missed, Ah-Mah could not hide her secret joy of knowing that Kyra will still be by her side. Kyra has made Ah-Mah proud all these years and have not once disappointed her, well, only once that time in Primary school. But with Kyra’s new scholarship, things are much easier on Ah-Mah now. Now, she can allow themselves for more luxury food and items. She can at the same time, save aside some money for Kyra’s dowry. Too early as it may seem, Ah-Mah hopes that she can live till the day Kyra is dressed in a white wedding gown and marries the man whom Ah-Mah can safely pass the baton of taking good care of her beloved grand daughter. And if she’s lucky enough, maybe even a great grandchild?
But right now, Ah Mah can only dream of the day…it’s probably still a long way…
Kyra has never any experience in the dating scene. She’s had puppy love crushes and she’s had suitors. But they were only part and parcel of growing up. She’s never paid much attention to all the BGR stuffs in school because she knew she had more important roles to fulfill.
So being so ignorant in the “dating” field, will Kyra find her one true love in NUS?
Labels: Her Story
Her Story-Chapter 3
Once back in primary school, Kyra fancied a typical coloring and sticker book from the school bookshop. But having only enough money for her breaks and lunch, she attempted to steal the book without much thinking. When she was caught and her grandma found out, the old woman took it upon herself to put the tracks straight for this girl.
With every ounce of energy left that she had, she whipped Kyra until she wasn’t able to sit without pain for the next few days….
“Why did u have to steal?”
“You could have gotten money from me if u wanted the book? There’s no reason why u have to steal. Your parents would be so disappointed to hear u tried to steal!” shouted Ah-Mah in between sobs while hitting her dear Kyra with her bare hands.
“I’m sorry Ah-Mah, I didn’t mean it! I won’t do it again. Pls…pls…I’m sorry!” wailed poor Kyra.
Kyra’s heart ache when she saw how mad Ah-Mah was. She wasn’t mad that Ah-Mah had tried to hit her, she knew she deserved it. But her heart ached because she knew how hard it was for Ah-Mah to hit her the way she did. Ah-Mah was already close to her 70s and it was hard even for her to stand for 15 mins without sitting down. She knew her grandma was getting old….and it ached to see her hitting Kyra for a full 20 mins standing up.
Kyra sobbed herself to sleep. But Ah-Mah was not feeling anywhere near happy. She wept alone in the night when Kyra was asleep. She looked at Kyra’s red and swollen buttocks and wept even harder, but quietly.
Ah-Mah knew Kyra didn’t ask for a life without parents. She didn’t ask to grow up without her parent’s love, and she definitely didn’t ask to grow up with an old woman who had to be dependent on her instead of the other way around.
Everyone she loved had left, even her husband of 50 years left when he had lung cancer and passed away just before Ken got married. Ah-mah missed her only son very much and Kyra was the only memory left of her son. Hitting Kyra tonight was a huge thing for her, but she couldn’t bear to see Kyra take the wrong route into life. She had to do what she had to do.
Giving a good night peck on her head, Ah-Mah dried her tears and left the room mumbling “I’m sorry my dear” under her breathe. Hoping deep inside that this experience will bring back her dearest little precious girl back to the right path.
So it did. Once Ah-Mah left the room, little Kyra opened watery her eyes and started sobbing quietly to herself. Since then, she vowed to herself that she will not upset her beloved grandma anymore. She’s going to do well in her studies and not disappoint her.
“I’m never gonna make u cry again Ah-Mah….” Little Kyra promised herself before falling back into her innocent slumber.
Labels: Her Story
Her Story- Chapter 2
With no siblings and no immediate relatives to take her in, Ah-Mah was the closest kin that Kyra could depend on. Already at her early 60s, it was impossible to find an employer who was willing to hire Ah-Mah, and even if there was, it would take a huge toll on her too.
Perhaps God had other plans for this little girl, for Ken and Jenny had gotten insurance policies prior to the accident. They were able to receive one thousand dollars each month from the insurance company until Kyra was 21 of age.
Although the amount was not in anyway luxurious, it made things a lot easier for Ah-Mah and Kyra. With limited amount each month, Ah-Mah did her best to skimp and scrap on things so that she could put aside some money for Kyra’s uni fees in the future. Kyra didn’t get to enjoy a lot of things when she grew up, but she was a sensible girl. She knew her parents wanted big things for her and so she never given up doing her best. She never let her Ah-Mah worry about her at all.
At the age of 15, Kyra was not like any ordinary teenager. She grew up to be a smart young lass and was really focused and knew exactly what she wanted for herself and her Ah-Mah. She wanted a good life for her Ah-Mah.
Secretly and never discussed with her Ah-Mah, Kyra wanted badly to study abroad, she wanted to see the world from a different perspective. She’s never gotten a chance to see anything outside Singapore, in fact, she’s never gotten too far from their 3 bedroom flat in Tampines.
Determined to work towards her goal, Kyra was very focused, always trying to get good grades in school. And during her school holidays, she took on various part time jobs to make up for her own pocket money.
Having grown up without parent’s love, Kyra had only her Ah-Mah to rely on and so she’s very attached to her Ah-Mah and very protective of the old woman. Although juggling with both school work and part time jobs, Kyra never used them as reasons not to help out with household chores because she knew her grandma was too old to be mopping the floor and cleaning toilet. She took it upon herself to have the place clean for her Ah-Mah and never left her alone for meals unless necessary.
With the kind of burden over this young lady’s shoulders, she didn’t have much time for friends. Although armed with the brightest smile anyone could have, this passive girl kept her circle of friends small and kept her life story to only a few.
She didn’t think people would understand and she didn’t want sympathy from anyone. Without any role models to grow up from, Kyra took TV serials seriously. She was a TV addict basically. To her, the TV was the key to learning how the outside world behaves. She seldom got herself into much trouble, that’s cos she knew it would upset her grandma badly.
Labels: Her Story
Her Story
Hmmm...as crazy as it sounds, I have been doing some random story writing lately.
This is my first attempt of a short story(not counting those compositions time in school) talking about a girl's life. Without allowing herself to be overwhelmed by her predicament in life, she struggled to do the right things in life while searching for her own life in within....
I don't know how many chapters I will ever get to pen before finishing(assuming I do). But I hope to complete a big part of her life...her love for a man she's not sure of a happy ending with...So I'm hoping one chapter a day whenever I have the time or inspirations!
Feel free to drop by comments or feedbacks...or even suggestions. But the author(me) decides the ultimate outlook of the story eh?LoL.
Enjoy...
I dedicate this as....
Her StoryEpilogue:
As she looked into the rearview mirror of her cab…..she knew this was it and tears started to flow as the three outline went out of sight…
They had wanted to send her to the airport, but she didn’t want them to see her cry….most importantly…she didn’t want
him to see her cry….Cos
he is the one she’s going to miss most.....
Chapter 1:Going back to 24 years ago……“ Wails……..” came a newborn's first cry.
“Mum, she’s born! She’s born!” cried the excited new dad, Ken.
Ken and Jenny have been married for 2 years before they decided it was time for a new addition in the family. Ken was 32, while Jenny was 30. A good time to welcome their first newborn.
Ken and Jenny were both excited parents. Their baby girl was simply gorgeous. Big eyes, thick black hair and a really really loud voice. They were to name her, Kyra, which means “beloved” in Russian and “lady” in Greek. She was to grow up a “beloved lady” to them.
But Ken and Jenny never got to see how Kyra grew to become a beautiful lady. At the age of 5, Ken and Jenny met a terrible car accident and passed away……
It was a day of sorrow and tears, but Kyra being only 5 years old, didn’t quite understand what had happened. It was however, a night she could not forget even in her dreams. The sight of 2 caskets and her parent’s picture on a table garnished with flowers and lights everywhere.
People came and went that night. Some were shedding silent tears while some wailed uncontrollably. Sitting quietly in one corner, almost every one who came by patted her on her head, as if they know the route this girl . Oblivious to what’s going on, she would present her brightest smile to them. While some forced a smile back at her, some wept even louder. But all she knew was….” Papa, Mama had gone to a far away place and they won’t be coming back…….
Labels: Her Story
