(PART 1)
I’ve always loved the scent of lit matches; the ones with the ‘superman’ as trademark. They remind me of nenek. Matches were something you’d find in abundance around nenek’s house. She’d lit one when cooking, and lit candles with them when we wanted to play firecrackers, also when burning dried leaves (yes, open burning were “legal” back then), or for those mosquito coils at night. It was indeed, a smell I was accustomed to.
Atuk has a big house; or land rather. It was a plain one storey house-a semi permanent one of partial brick and partial wood. I remember his big cage of pigeons at the rear end of the house; whites, blacks, greys, any shade you could ever think of. He had so many that I thought atuk was using them to send letters! (what the…) of course there were also other types of birds, chickens and ducks as well. Oh yes, and who could ever forget atuk’s neighbour’s pair of geese that happened to be as tall as I (at 4 years old). They were indeed a cruel pair like Bonnie & Clyde, always lingering around near atuk’s bird cage and chasing you for no apparent reasons! Oh, and their squeaks were tormenting! To me the biggest threat there were those pair.
Atuk’s bird cage was attached to a wooden tool shed, which I used to refer as atuk’s museum. It’s where atuk keeps apart from his tools, his collections of antiques: his old bicycle (with the really thin tyres!), old television, radio etc. Over the years, as atuk’s grandchildren number grew (with 10 kids try & guess how many cousins I had), he made improvisions and soon, there were no longer the mini zoo and museum. Pretty soon, there wasn’t much to explore anymore.
As I’ve said, atuk has a big piece of land. There was a sort of ‘fire break’ beside atuk’s house. Big enough to set up a tent when my uncles got married, and to fit 2 cars a row and about 4 to 6 cars a column. I’d say that was big enough for kids to run around till they barfed and play their mischevious tricks.
Nenek meanwhile has cordoned the house area with flowers. Nenek planted ‘malay’ roses and a huge bunga kenanga tree in front of the house. So everyone who comes for a visit will be greeted with a plesant scent.Since I often sleep through the trips to atuk’s house, dad would carry me into the house and I’d always knew that we had arrived judging by that scent.
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I’m sad with happiness,
I’m affable thru bitterness,
I’m conceited in modesty,
I’m deceived with honesty.
(ex)
