The Old Woman in Green : Part II

I had a bet with a friend

That the old woman worked

Not to fill her time

But to fill her pocket

So the next time she came in

wearing the same green uniform

and the same white tudung

and the same black gloves

and holding the same old forceps

I could not resist

but engage her in some chit-chatting

She was 77

A mother, grandmother

and very recently, a great grandmother

Her chattering belied her age

Half Malay, the rest Minglish

I could barely comprehend what she said

But I just nodded

And she did not stop

And in the middle I popped the question

“Aunty, why you still working”

“Aunty sit home,

Aunty read book

Aunty sleep”

She said faking a dozing off

Guess I lost my bet

And my friend won a drink

But the conversation

with the woman in green

was worth the morning

Though I have but one regret

I asked her almost everything

but alas I forgot to ask her

her name

Comments

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