Arthur Yap

ah beng is so smart,
already he can watch tv & know the whole story.
your kim cheong is also quite smart,
what boy is he in the exam?
this playground is not too bad, but i’m always
so worried, car here, car there.

            at exam time, it’s worse.

because you know why?

            kim cheong eats so little.

give him some complain. my ah beng was like that,
now he’d different. if you give him anything
he’s sure to finish it all up.

            sure, sure. cheong’s father buys him
            vitamins but he keeps it inside his mouth
            & later gives it to the cat.
            i cold like mad but what for?
            if i don’t see it, how can i scold?

on saturday, tv showed a new type,
special for children. why don’t you call
his father buy some? maybe they are better.

            money’s no problem. it’s not that
            we want to save. if we buy it
            & he doesn’t eat it, throwing money
            into the jamban is the same.
            ah beng’s father spends so much,
            rakes out the mosaic floor & wants
            to make terrazzo or what.

we also got new furniture, bought from diethelm.
the sofa is so soft. i dare not sit. they all
sit like don’t want to get up. so expensive.
nearly two thousand dollars, sure must be good.

            that you can’t say. my toa-soh
            bought an expensive sewing machine,
            after 6 months, it is already spoilt.
            she took it back but… beng,
            come here, come, don’t play the fool.
            your tuition teacher is coming.
            wah! kim cheong, now you’re quite big.

come cheong, quick go home & bathe.
ah part wants to take you chia-hong in new motor-car.