the 3 dedications

“亲爱的小叔：

这是你的旅程的第七天。路途还好吧？

不知你是否回了家一趟了没；大家还挺为老大担心，你有空就照着他喔，免得他被人欺负。

还有点不相信你已启程了。还以为当初只是一场小病，没想到来来去去不到三个月。前几天听到Ken叔在爸面前提起了你在这几个星期面对病魔的那种坚强个性，一般人应该早就屈服了，但你咬紧了牙根，撑到了最后一刻还是在撑。在医院的那最后一个礼拜，大家都目睹了这场战多么的难打，多么的辛苦。虽然结局并不是大家所期望的，但至少病痛已远离了你，我想这对你，对小婶，也是一种解脱。

我想，没有你，也没有今天那么喜欢听歌唱歌的我。虽然我们对歌的品味相差还蛮大的，但我还蛮怀念你当时常常播放的福建歌曲，听久了好上瘾，尤其是陈雷的旧歌。不知你为何后来就不再怎么听歌了，但你的嗜好给大家都留下了很深刻的印象。

或许，大家最想念的会是你的陪伴。对朋友，你即讲义气，又不挑剔；对长辈，你即恭敬，又体贴；对我们这些小辈，你对我们又疼又照顾。那些小鬼以后可就没伴在新年时开赌桌了；除了妈，也就只有你才能接受与忍受我们在赌桌上所耍的小脾气与任性。我自己也怀念着那些我们曾经一起去巴刹吃早餐的早上；你总是会从同一间摊位点叫同一样东西 - 香菇肉挫面。记得我有几次自己回去那摊位点一样的面，但就是没有那种当时我们吃时的味道。Ken叔也说到，你总是在外头都只吃某种熟食或是从某间熟食摊点同一样的菜来吃。我想，这对你是一种习惯，也是你对待他人忠实的一种表现之一吧。

虽然你不会再来看我们了，但我们还是会想着你。如果你见到了阿嫲，代我们跟她说，我们很想她。。。

你的侄儿上”



“I remember way back when I was a kid,
You treated me just like how my parents did.
The care and concern that you showered on me,
Even a blind man would be able to see.
I remember once when my leg felt pain,
And my slippers had gotten some stains.
Without saying a word you carried me on your back,
That feeling I can't describe and I can't forget.
It was just a few months ago that you felt ill,
The cancer that ate into your life against your own will.
It reminded me of grandma and how she lost the fight,
Everyday I wish you could get out of this plight.
But you didn't and now you are gone,
I guess it's because grandma didn't want to be alone.
I know she is waiting to take your hand,
And bring you to a more peaceful land.
小叔, please rest in peace.
And bless your wife and children with good health and luck.
Life will never be the same without you.
It never will be.”



“i missed those times when we visited your bookshop at Holiday Plaza in JB every school holiday. we ran around in your bookshop with the adults picking their favourite series of 小說 to bring back. you'll bring us to have a nice seafood before seeing us back to the custom.

i remembered you always like to tickle my thighs, knowing that i'm afraid of itchiness and that's my weakest point. i learnt it, and do it on my friends, even till now. it was fun.

when i was in primary school, you gave me the nick name '馬路良' coz you said that i am tall and can run fast like a horse and tanned like the tar on the road. i didn't let you know that i liked the nick name pretty much thou. i wished i did.

whenever you returned from malaysia, you'll 打包 hor fun, hokkien mee or bak chor mee from the market for us. i always looked forward to the night when you are back coz i know you'll bring us out for supper.

the first close relative's wedding that i'd attended was your wedding. thou i was still young, i could still remember how all your friends were cheering you on to kiss your bride on the stage. i can still remember the wide smile on your face and the blush on 小婶's face.

ah gong's house always turn into a gambling den during chinese new year. your 'chor dai di' skills are really superb. you'll always make me lose a lot of my ang pow money, which gradually makes me stop gambling realising that it's a risk. gambling had since been a leisure for me, with small bets. i love majhong. i remembered how you allowed me to sit beside you and teach me the tactics to win, or if lose, lose less despite me often accidentally dropped hints to other players bout your cards. you didn't mind, just jokingly niam me.

whenever i'm going to malaysia, you'll exchange my sing dollars with me, often giving me extra.

when we were moving house, you offered your help voluntarily. you are always that kind to everyone. never reject other people's request and volunteered yourself whenever you can.

heaven just isn't fair to you.

that day when i first visited you at the hospital, my heart wrenched. i couldn't believe what my eyes saw. tears just rolled down uncontrollably. i know you heard me everytime i greeted you when i visited you. everyday i saw how your face turned thinner. it reminded me of ah ma. we all saw your determination to hold on, fighting the tough war. we admired your strong will to live on. like what both brothers said, it might just be ah ma feeling lonely. do take care of each other in the other world, okay?

i'll take care of meimei and ah kai too, as much as i can. we will all do, i believe. like how you used to treat us well in the past.

we all love you.

rest in peace.

[容辰，承熏，純良 上]