The JB-based See cousins were closest to us growing up - we were of similar ages and enjoyed the same things: playing the piano, reading, singing. There were 3 of them and 2 of us, and whenever the families went out to dinner, we always asked to sit together (we were so small then) - if we were in their car, their mum would put on the Sunday School songs in the yellow cassette tape and we'd squeal in delight doing the actions!! We'd try out singing in harmony too - that's what probably got us the nickname the Von Trapp cousins...
At one time we all dragged our mattresses and slept in the hallway and we chatted till the early hours... I had no idea what we talked about, though - were there that many interesting topics in those days?
Anyway, we always had so much fun together, and the day that they were leaving for home always came too soon. They'd usually head home in the early evening, and we'll be playing till the very last minute. There was always a going-home ritual for them:
Our mothers would walk out the door after countless reminders not to leave anything, and when that was done, they'd launch into a rendition of, "Esso baik (6x), chia eng Esso piao! Bye-bye, mai kong liao!" This was the jingle for the Esso television commercial in THEIR childhood, which can be loosely translated into "Esso is good fuel, cars should use Esso brand". The "bye-bye" part was their own addition to rhyme and signal the end of the farewell. But inevitably they'd start again, "Esso baik, Esso baik..."
Then the 3 See children would heap into the car, and my sister and I would be waving and yelling at them to be in touch, write soon, study hard, and be good. And as their dad drove away (rather slowly, I suspect, for our benefit), the 3 kids would climb onto the back seat and wave frantically while we did the same, inching closer and closer to the middle of the road. You could see our mouths going "Bye-bye, bye bye!" Sometimes the older one would wind down the window and stick her hand out and wave manically, and we responded with even faster waves, jumping up and down on the road. That was always the last move - and as the car turned the corner, they were gone.
We heard the silence that followed very keenly; the silence that meant that they were on their way home and all was back to normal. It was hard not to be sad, especially when we had created memories that would be tucked into our hearts and minds in the years to come.
Every once in a while, they'd discover that they forgot something, and would turn back. Oh how our faces lit up at the quick reunion! Then the chant would start again... "Esso baik, Esso baik..."
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* Disclaimer: No, I wasn't paid to pull a free plug for Esso, but hey, that jingle forms a part of my childhood memories. No offense meant to Shell fans and employees!
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