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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 

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