Our Rock

            Mama took upon herself very seriously the responsibility for my upbringing. Every day, she would wait on the porch for my school-bus to deposit me home after school. Years later, our neighbour would comment upon this to my mother. We were startled as we had no idea that our neighbours had been observing us so closely.

 

            Looking back, however, I think Mama was just afraid that I would go astray. As such, she guarded me zealously. I was a precious daughter to my mother and a precious granddaughter to my grandmother.

 

            When I came back from school, my  grandmother would always have lunch ready for me. One of the dishes she cooked often was "ikan selar goreng". Ikan selar is a local fish. Mama would slit it lengthwise on both sides. Into each slit, she would stuff her special blend of chilli mixed with her sambal belachan. She would then fry the fish, making sure to leave a generous portion of oil around and beneath the fish when it was plated.

 

            When I ate the fish, I would also help myself to some of the oil.

            In later years, my mum and aunt would be quite amused by the fact that the mention of "ikan selar goreng" could make my eyes light up. Mama would usually cook some soup as well, normally pek chye soup with minced pork and prawns, or tau hu soup, also with minced pork and prawns.

 

            Although these are simple and inexpensive dishes, they remind me of how my grandma would be always ready and waiting for me after school each day with the nourishing dishes she had prepared.