I would like to dedicate this post to a friend, Uncle Eng Soon, an ex-colleague at MacD, who had just passed away on Monday, 9th of July. He died of colon cancer.


An ever smiling man, though he was just a little taller than the counter top. Born a midget, but that didn't stop him from supporting himself. He was the maintainance guy at the restaurant, always there to repair or service. After work, he would be seen around the neighbourhood collecting cardboard boxes. He always wears his black cap everywhere he goes. His voice is coarse but high pitch and makes it comical to talk to him at times. Never fails to bring a smile to anyone.

During my MacD days, I remember, whenever I work with him, I'll definitely disturb him or just irritate him for fun. He'll retaliate by making a lot of noise. There was once, he "chased" me around the restaurant after I ate his sundae, making a hell lot of noise in the restaurant. It will all end with me carrying him with one hand while he "struggle" to beat me. Lol. 2 years I was working there and for 2 years I've known him, I've never seen him loose his cheerfulness. The last I spoke to him was when I returned back to the MacD about 1 year before he passed away. Still remember what we talk about;

"Eng soon! Buy me sundae lah, long time no see what!"
"You want me to smack you is it?"

We laughed and he went on with his business. Never see him again after that. Last I heard about him was that he was hospitalized for 3 months. Never get the ward. And on Wednesday, 11th July, Irawati called me to tell me about his wake. Went down straight after work. Almost everyone who work with him at MacD came over to pay respect. I always wanted to have a gathering but not in this way. When we're at his wake, we looked at each other. Can't actually believe that 5 years has passed since we last work with each other. Everyone's doing their own things, let it be studying, working or NS, but there's just this familiar feeling when we're all there together. The same feeling we had when we're 15-17 years old. I bet all of them had the same feeling.

Though its been awhile since I've talked to him, I can't deny that I mourned quietly. I missed him and now I couldn't get the chance to meet him again. He was a good friend. Today while working, I thought of the times we shared while working or just after school. It seemed so recent, like a year back. I'm sure the rest of us had that thought too.

Still have a picture of us together on one of the guy's birthday. Dug up my personal cupboard and found it; the only picture we had. Used to be 1 big happy family in a restaurant. Now 1 less.


  ¶ 11:38 PM