The Garden

I grew up in a corner house, where there was a lawn spacious enough for us to play badminton. My parents grew bougainvilleas and other flowers, flooding the lawn with vivid colorful blooms which the envy of the neighbours.

Then the three of us came to Singapore to study, and settled down with our careers. My elder sister married a Singaporean, and virtually gave up her Malaysian citizenship. I worked in a high-tech industry where there were limited openings in Malaysia.

It came sooner than expected.

My parents started to talk about living with us in Singapore. We were glad that they were willing to leave their home for so many years to join us, yet sad that our home would need to be sold.

There was no way my parents could have held onto the houses (the corner house, and another spacious, airy double-storey house in the same estate) when they were in Singapore. They decided to sell.

So two large properties were sold, and the amount of money could barely buy a 4-room flat in Singapore. And to purchase a landed property here, well, you'll need a gazillion dollars.

Sigh.

I miss walking out to the lawn to enjoy the flowers.