THIS IS MY LIFE - 3

3 - CHILDHOOD – during the JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Soon the Army was proscribed. We children moved again, this time to Poh Leong Koek on York Hill, a Home for girls and women needing protection from vice syndicates. Before Major Grey and Captain Willis were imprisoned in Changi, they arranged for us children to be sent home if we had any relatives. As Mother had passed away Father’s second sister, Aunt FONG Heng, we called Ye Ku Ma, became our guardian. She took us out of Poh Leong Koek because she was not happy for my sister and me to be classified as needing protection from vice. At first she had problems to prove her guardianship of us, but finally we left, sponsored by her boss.

At that time my aunt was working as nanny to two young children of a Mrs. Wong in Outram Road. She stood guarantor for us. My sister and I were something of a novelty to the people in our street because we spoke English or “Singlish” we would say today.

In those days everything was in short supply. Whenever there were rumours of something available, be it food, firewood or anything at all, there would be long queues, some people camping overnight even. It was too much to expect the Wong family to keep two children for the work of one woman. I was coming to six years old and my sister 2 years younger. I could help round with the general housework like sweeping, dusting, emptying and cleaning the spittoons and chamber pots. My sister was too young, about 4 years old, needing care and attention. Fortunately a childless couple, Mr. and Mrs. Chow living next door, offered to take her into their home. Mrs. Chow went through a temple ceremony to have Pui Sim as their god-daughter; she lived with them for some time. However, one day the Chows decided to move to Kuala Lumpur. They would have taken my sister with them, but my aunt insisted that our family should stay together under all circumstances.

To keep us near her, my aunt found work for me in the neighbourhood, while Pui Sim took my place in the Wong’s household. The Japanese government opened a noodle factory a nearby. As part payment the workers were provided with 2 meals of rice. The manager was kind enough to let me help around and though not paid I did not go hungry. The only snag was that all the other workers were young men and my aunt was worried for my moral safety.

Ku Ma was very relieved when someone recommended me to a hairdresser in Tiong Bahru, working at home. The lady was a widow with a daughter, eleven years old; the idea was that I could be a companion for her. I was told not to let on that I was only 7, but pretended to be the same age as Pansy. She was out very often, at piano or other lessons during the day, so I was really needed as a maid. My work was general house-cleaning, to boil water for the clients’ hair wash, and to sweep the floor after each cut or perm. The first time I ironed the clothes, I accidentally burned my wrist! I should be able to do a better than I was doing. I well remember her slapping me for not cleaning her daughter’s shoes the right way. I had never worn shoes, let alone clean any before! I used to be in fear and trembling of her getting angry and caning me. I once hid her cane but she soon acquired another. Her complaints to my aunt meant I would be reprimanded again. A tenant in the same house advised me to pray to her deity – the goddess Kuan Yin. So I did, every morning and night, but it was no help. Then one day some next door neighbours told my aunt of my plight, so Ku Ma took me away.

This time I was sent to another family in the neighbourhood. The mistress was Mrs. Mary THAM, a very kind Japanese lady married to a Chinese shipping merchant. They had two young children, Maggie and Willie. I was very happy, helping their nanny, going for walks, feeding and playing with them. The only fly in the ointment was that the two domestic workers, were not on good terms; and sometimes I got hurt in the crossfire!

One day there was an air-raid with bombs falling all over the district. Almost every house in the vicinity was hit, but fortunately not many missiles exploded. However, in the distance the sky was filled with thick, black billowing smoke because the oil refinery in Alexanra Road was hit. The Tham family decided to evacuate to Sumatra. I could have gone with them, but Ku Ma declined the offer.

One day, not long after this, a plane was flying very low. I saw leaflets being dropped. It was to announce the end of the war! Soon military trucks and tanks paraded all over the streets of Singapore lined with people welcoming the liberators – the Allied forces!