36 years ago ......

Mother passed away 36 years ago. I can still recall the events of that day. I was in Upper Six and was in the middle of a class when I saw Siew Cheng in the corridor. She came to tell me that mother was in Muar hospital and was very ill. I can't remember now who drove us there but I think it was father. She was unconscious and lying on the bed. Kim Chai was there too, he was on university break. I think it was elevenish when I got there and we were there until about 3.00 when the doctors told us to leave her bedside. I think we were losing her and maybe they were trying to resuscitate her. Anyway not long after father came out to tell us that we have lost her. I went back in to her bed and gave her a kiss.
Earlier on in the morning she was shopping for groceries in Tua King's brother's shop. She was carrying Kimmie and as she chatted to the aunty, her speech started to slur. The aunty then told father something is very wrong and to take mother home. I think father called an ambulance. We rarely talk about the events that happened soon after. Only once did Kim Chai asked me what happened the months following as he does not recall anything.
We never had a proper wake unlike father's with the get-togethers each night after his funeral. Perhaps one day we should have one and then everyone can move on.