1200 HRS 2nd October 2009

I remember the stupid fights

we used to have.

I was a rebellious teenager

and hated talking to you.

I don't know why

it was so hard

to talk to you.

You used to say,

wait till the army gets you.

They will teach you

you will know

how to suffer.

They will teach you

and you will

finally be

a man.

I went to army

and got posted

to demolition.

I saw your face

turn pale

with worry.

As you thought

of me dying

in an accidental

bomb blast.

You spent the next

one year,

talking to friends,

army officers,

even the MP of Siglap

Encik Rahim Ishak,

trying to get me out

of demolition.

I've only got one son

you would tell them,

please take him out

of demolition.

One day I came home

and told you

they posted me out

of demolition

into admin.

You asked,

what happened?

I said

I got downgraded,

I failed the medical.

You grinned,

and said

GOOD