ice ball and bicycle

"ma..can i have 10 cent?" ah ming asked his mother who is busy putting on ah mei's fisherman hat. It was a sunday afternoon and as usual ah ming is back at his grandmother's house in a little kampung. It is only on sunday that ah ming and ah mei get the chance to go to ah ma's house. Ah ming was seven and ah mei was just five. Both of them still have a baby brother , ang kuchai (little baby in cantonese) at the age of one.

Ah ma's (grandma) house is like any regular terace house, with a small sandy car pouch in front. A few old black colour bicycles that ah gong (grandpa) used to travel in the village and also ah ye's (aunty ) only proton saga parked beside the road and just next to the drain. Mum never let ah ming and ah mei played in the drain though tadpoles and fishes called longkang fish seems inviting.

The house was full of noises. Cousins sisters and brothers running around, laughing and playing marble balls on the sand, baby crying for milk and adults chatting among themselves. A weekend where all aunties gather at ah ma's house to share their stories of their in-laws and also their problems and happiness with their sisters. Though ah ma's house was simple and ah ma was a lady with not much words but it was at ah ma's house that everyone found a shelter. Ah ma was very special. She's never lost temper nor did she ever raised her voice. Despite the noises, it was the most peaceful place ever to be.

"Kor, wait for me!!! wait!!" yelled ah mei while trying to get away from mum who is still messing with her fisherman hat towards her brother who is already had his feet on the bicycle pedal.

"KOR!!" " Come quickly!! aiyo! every where also you want to follow" grumbled ah ming.

"hehehe " grin little ah mei and hopped, she landed at the back of the bicycle.

with a swing, ah ming got on the bicycle seat and pedal quickly while ah mei's looked back, hand's putting on her head to keep the hat from flying away and saw the others cousins following up. Smiling and waving to each other, cycling skills is practically born in every kampung child. Over taking one and another, pointing and laughing at cousins who are far behind. All the children are heading over to "ah keat's stall" at the corner lot to get some ice ball. It was certainly a heavenly treat take under the hot glaring sun.

"kor, i didn't bring any money...can i share your ice ball?" ah mei asked while looking at ah ming with the most innocent eyes of a child.

"aiyer, u a!!" ah ming handed over the whole ice ball for his little sister to take a bite. Despite the one second unwillingness, ah ming was a loving brother.

"hehehe, thanks kor!" and ah mei took a first bite "wah!! u a!! such a big bite!!" shouted ah ming while glaring at ah mei. But ah ming did not try to take back the ice ball, instead he watched his sisters enjoying her second bite, her third, her fourth and her every other bite of the ice ball and he smiled to himself.

"come ah mei, let's go home" said ah ming after ah mei has finished eating. Obediently, ah mei climbed to the back seat of the bicycle while ah ming pushed the bicycle home slowly.

"kor, do you want to have ice ball again? when i have money i will treat you in return k!" ah mei said.

"yala!yala! i want a bigger one k" said ah ming.

"sure!!" exclaimed ah mei.

yet, ah mei's promises did not bring smiles to her brother, instead only at the age of seven, ah ming learned to fought his tears back and not allowing a tear drop in front of his little sister. His sister was his companion, his friend and his sister most importantly. They woke up together, had breakfast together, he walked his sister to nursery school, have fun together and they take turns to accompany each other when either one is being punished to stand by the house pillar for being naughty.

At the pillar they shared stories and chatted to make sure time flies before they knew it. Ah mei always cry whenever mum punishes ah ming. To her, her brother never did wrong, her brother never should be punished so. There was once, mum had misplaced her money and she had thought ah ming took it. Ah ming was canned while ah mei cried and yelled continuously towards her mum saying "ah kor didn't take it! he didn't!!" but do ah mei know if ah ming ever took it? she did not.

Ah ming is a working adult now. Standing by is a lovely lady, tall, slim and graceful. She's his lovely wife. Looking down is the altar of Ah mei.

20 years ago, ah mei was dignosed with brain cancer and by the time the family realised, ah mei's cancer had reached stage three. At that time, mum kept crying at the kitchen especially when ah mei is sleeping.

Ah ming knew that his sister is suffering and he knew too that ice ball would make his sister smile as how she always had. That day, ah ming gave his little is her favourite ice ball in return to have her smile forever planted in his mind.

That day too is the last time he had ever push a bicycle with ah mei, talking and laughing with him while sitting at the back.