No water again today - that's twice in two weeks. Possibly even more, given that I've always showered at 7:00 am and on both occasions, I showered late - today, after I'd done my laundry (for which there was still water). That's twice I've had to bathe outside at the stone basin - I had some leftover water from the washing.
***
Before we had a maid, mother used to send me to a babysitter: Mrs. Lie (most likely Lai) I think her name was. I have only this one memory of it so it must've been some time way back. As far as I can remember, we've always had a maid; but this must've been whilst I was still in kindergarten.
I always had to bathe outside. When the heat of the day gave way to the cool of the evening, her son would lead me outside to a walled-in part of the frontyard. I would undress; he would hose me down and soap me up (in a non-homoerotic way).
And then we would play this game of his (I think he came up with it): he would turn me around to face the wall with my back to him. And as I stared at the punched-out floral motifs of the white wall, he would write alphabets on my soapy back. And under the gentle evening sun, I'd have to guess if it was a "big 'G'" or a "small 'a'".
That's where the memory ends.
***
Of course, there are many interesting aspects about this memory and its significance. For one, why was I never allowed to bathe upstairs? Does it say anything about our different social status?
But what I'm most intrigued by is *why* this memory? They say we remember events that are emotionally charged but the funny thing is, I can't even conjure up the emotion that is associated with it.
So why this memory?
***
Before we had a maid, mother used to send me to a babysitter: Mrs. Lie (most likely Lai) I think her name was. I have only this one memory of it so it must've been some time way back. As far as I can remember, we've always had a maid; but this must've been whilst I was still in kindergarten.
I always had to bathe outside. When the heat of the day gave way to the cool of the evening, her son would lead me outside to a walled-in part of the frontyard. I would undress; he would hose me down and soap me up (in a non-homoerotic way).
And then we would play this game of his (I think he came up with it): he would turn me around to face the wall with my back to him. And as I stared at the punched-out floral motifs of the white wall, he would write alphabets on my soapy back. And under the gentle evening sun, I'd have to guess if it was a "big 'G'" or a "small 'a'".
That's where the memory ends.
***
Of course, there are many interesting aspects about this memory and its significance. For one, why was I never allowed to bathe upstairs? Does it say anything about our different social status?
But what I'm most intrigued by is *why* this memory? They say we remember events that are emotionally charged but the funny thing is, I can't even conjure up the emotion that is associated with it.
So why this memory?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment