Lunch time talk with grandpa and War time lesson
Today after lunch I asked Grandpa "
Why is Beach Road called 'Beach Road'?" The question was also posed to us at our kg glam trip on Wed. "Because its near the beach" says Grandpa. Of cos he knew as he had actually seen the place before it was reclaimed and it was truly a rocky beach.
Then he started sharing stories - some of which mummy also hasnt heard. Eg in
Marine Parade at where Parkway Parade was, it used to be the sea. That one I know. But was surprising was that there were many old bungalows living by the sea there which had beach houses on stilts at the sea. What
luxury! Imagine you can walk out from a huge garden and your own private beach and then to your own beach house where you can sit by the sea and dangle your legs out in the open !
But the beach houses were all bombed down during the
World War II. The British (who ruled over us then) were afraid the Japanese will come by the sea and then popped up underneath the beach houses and sneakily come ashore. Hence these lovely beach houses didnt survive - even Grandpa didnt get to see them as what he did see was the concrete remains - after they were destroyed.
But alas ! This bombing was in vain as the Japanese didnt invade by the sea from the south. In stead they invaded Spore from the North via the Causeway from Malaysia. So all the preparations that Spore did in the south - at Sentosa, at Labrador Park with their war shelters and cannons were not put in use.
So we lost. Japanese conquered us. For a few years we were under their rule. Cruel rule as
war turns everyone ugly.
Then the Americans bomb
Hiroshima with the deadly
atomic bomb. Some were hit directly. Those who did not but were in contact in the vicinity, suffered slowly as the flesh rots away a few days after. Ghastly too. And they had to purposely bomb the civilians too and not the soldiers. Its a deliberate act as if they bomb soldiers - there are so many of them spread all over and they are prepared to die. But if they bomb their family members and their loved ones, then they will feel the pain and
victory becomes surer.
Yes this all sounds cruel. But war is cruel. IF they dont do it, how can the war end ? where would we be ? A difficult question indeed.
Fiasco at the Canteen - a fifty cents lesson learnt
The day I had a run-in with a foodseller at the canteen. With one hand holding a dollar-coin, I cheerily queued at my favorite Chinese-western stall. On reaching my turn, I passed my coin to the vendor, but I changed my mind about making a purchase. The unfriendly vendor absent-mindedly returned back a 50ct coin. I tried to explain and get back my money but it fell on deaf ears. Perhaps she thinks I am an ignorant child. Or as usual, (some!) adults ignore kids assuming they are all little liars.
I turned to my sister for help, who happened to forget to bring her wallet. She had sheepishly called Mum, who managed to track down her wallet in her Scouts bag and not at the table as Sister initially thought. Met Mum at the backgate in the usual mode of operation for forgotten items (which thankfully hasnt happened for a long time or Mum will turn berserk). Between the two of us, we managed to relate the incident to Mum - amidst a fresh bout of tears that came on naturally - well I was very upset!
Mum couldnt come in. She asked if there was a teacher around. Sister said Mdm Melati was. So Mum suggested to Sis to approach her for help. Sis was reluctant but she did anyway.
Mdm Melati was kind and believed me. She tried to speak to the food operator. But alas to no avail. It's two people's words with the nasty vendor choosing to disbelieve me. After all, she stands to lose fifty cents ! It feels awful to be accused. As the bell rang, Mdm Melati told Sister to look for her at 5Kindness. It turned out that Mdm Melati gave Sister the missing fifty cents. That's really sweet of her, but mum later told Sister to return it.
The whole issue is not really about losing fifty cents. Take it as the price of a valuable lesson learnt. The real lesson is that we need to stand up for our rights. If we need help, go and find a solution (eg ask Teacher for help). If we dont succeed, at least we take pride that we have tried. And for Sis, that she has overcome her fear of speaking up to help her very own sister --- which included lending her shirt for some tear-soaking experience - made Mum beam with pride.
And for me, that I learnt that yes there are all sorts of people in this world - nasty and nice. That there is always someone there for me. That inspite of this incident I will not be affected negatively. I will still buy food from the Canteen - just dont give business to that nasty stall owner ! That is, if I dont want to - but if I do want to eat their food, I will not stupidly back up down just because of her either! I will keep my rights ... but I will certainly be more CAREFUL this time. That's my valuable lesson paid at the price of a fifty-cent lesson - a small price to pay - thankfully footed by mummy :)!
--- written in the eyes of YW, by mummy ----
