As certain as home...companions and habitats of heart.

There is the imitable Rena, spunky Helena, voluptuously humble Viv roaring away at Crystal Jade as we tore well-cooked chunky trotters and prawn-paste chicken with our collective humour, (lack of) glamour and many honest tears. They are a bold imprint in my life. I am blessed to be surrounded by strong and self-determined women, who have never failed to help me integrate myself as a person. They were there since i was 17 and we have journeyed many miles and distances, together. The deaths, closures, reunions and struggling hours of waiting and prayer which marked our lives are bound for heaven when all that is seen, questioned and held will be felt in clarity.

Sister Chris listened and understood that rainy morning when i met her. Like Father Casey, she said i have a gift for relating and relationship. Important and powerful gifts i need to claim as my own.

Assumption English was next. The stalwarts to old times were held firmly by Anna and Lichun. Anna weclomed me into her family and taught me to pre-fry crab and tanghoon as a prelude to claypot even as i was learning to toss freshly-fried shallots on boiled vegetables on oyster sauce. Baby David and Faith were lookalikes of their parents and Lichun came tumbling with old warmth and affection as we ate, smiled, laughed and shared till the wee hours of the morning. i cooked our breakfast of pancakes and honey-drizzled strawberries to start a new day to kick-start once more the age-old ties we have.

we took to the edge of light
will stay till the words let go
of the tree of waiting till body
remembers the winter route

it travelled one with soul
the arrival like gradual spring
uttering...

For Helena by Boey Kim Cheng