An evening with Sau Heng

It's been ages since I've been to any old folks home. Today i manage to secure some time after my 2-hour at work. It's mid autumn tomorrow and a charity organization over here had organized an event to celebrate the occasion with the old.

I was a last minute addition to their 40 over individuals, so i can't be in any predesignated team. The only team they can't find enough people on is the team to engage the old folks. Talk, to be precise. Just my kinda thing.

We arrived at about 6 in the evening. Could have been sooner, but i was late. Was feeling rather bad to have made the whole bus waited. But anyhow, they were very forgiving. I got assigned to my team on the way, they gave me a green vest with a white sticker on my left pocket, so that they will be able to recognize me from far. I was feeling rather excited already, though i was still trying to hold back the cold sweat and fever.

We were given about 10mins each to head upstairs and get our counterpart for the evening. Grab anyone they said, anyone who doesn't have a partner. Though i was feeling rather shy at first, i went on to the 2nd floor...found no one...the beds were empty. I went up to the 3rd, nothing too. When i was about to turn and head down, i saw her coming out from the toilet. That's my lady for the evening. I went on to talk to her, she seems rather warm...though very old. 82, i found out later.
I was throwing my teochew and hokkien at her...hoping she would speak any of the more common dialects...to my dismay, she could speak both. But after a few verses she told me she's Canto, i was laughing when she mentioned that...i could have stick to the default. So it's Cantonese all the way.

I spent about 3 hours or so talking to her, getting to know her...getting her to be involved in the activities and trying to convince her to go for the lantern walk. But she's suffering from some aches in the foot, so instead of going for the walk, we spent the additional time talking. I kinda like her, she looks a lot like my own grandma. She's been with the home for about 6 years now, she said there used to be quite a number of them but a lot has perish through time...it's sad to see your old friends leaving. I can see tears welling up in her eyes. I can't possibly imagine how it's like but i do feel for her lost. I suppose it's not something easy to deal with.

At about 9, my fever got worse...sweat was pouring out from my forehead and i know i couldn't stay any longer. I didn't manage to bid her farewell, at that time the crowd has moved in for some prayer session. I had to leave quietly through the back. I'm just hoping she would still be around when i get back next month.