“Hi Alan. Can you reserve a copy of your book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT for me?”, a text appeared on my phone (usually referred to as a “smartphone” [I am still trying to figure out why]). It was a message from my old (referencing “old” as in number of years ago instead of age) classmate.

“Let’s meet next week, say Monday or Tuesday”, I suggested. He said “yes”. Now, to contact the other guy.

“Duncan and I are meeting next week. Can you join us?”, I asked Eddie. A reply came a short while later.

“Sure”, replied Eddie.

Now, to text back to Duncan.

“Hi Duncan, can we meet Monday at 9.30am for breakfast? Eddie Lim is joining us. Let’s meet at the coffee shop next to the pasar pagi (1)”. Duncan agreed.

“Hi Eddie, Duncan is on for Monday, 9.30am at the coffee shop next to the pasar pagi.”

Eddie replied, “OK, I will join you guys on Monday morning”.

It was Friday night, March 20th; when the last message was received. Our meeting plan was set. The three of us – our first get together in over 10 years.

The weekend went as fast (maybe faster) than it came, and I was cruising down the Federal Highway after having dropped my wife, Jeannie at work.

I was an hour away from our 9.30am appointment. I expected to be early into Klang and had made plans to drop in on my folks to see how they were doing. It was one of those rare occasions when my visit to them was an early morning one.

They were having their breakfast when I arrived at their home. Mum was with a bit of a flu, otherwise; both were well. Dad was back to reading the newspaper, from cover to cover. Good for him as he wanted to be up to speed with the going-ons in the world.

It was a good “whirlwind” visit, yes a whirlwind visit as before long, the time crossed over past 9.30am. Both Duncan and Eddie presumably were punctual people and I did not want to keep them waiting. Just as I thought this thought up, I received a call on my smartphone from Eddie. I told him to hang on (to?😂. These English sayings…keeps you wondering at times…😉😇), I would be there in 5 minutes (including factoring parking-the-car time).

As I parked my car in a lot by the field (there is a field around the area), I spotted Eddie and he, me. Or was it the other way round?

As we got to walking to the coffee shop, we spotted Duncan. The three of us meeting together for the first time after over 10 years. The coffee shop was crowded. Notice that throughout this essay, I referred to this eatery as “coffee shop”, and not restaurant? The reason is quite simple. This is Klang. People here tell it as it is. “Restaurant” indeed! (Supposed to look like I’m mumbling under my breath. Haha)

Eddie led us to a couple more, “restaurants”, however they were crowded, too. Next time, we will have to make reservations… at “restaurants like these😉😂🤔THen, Eddie took us to a slightly off the beat, Indian shop. Here, Eddie and I went for capati, Duncan settled for a drink only.

We sat at the shop for a couple of hours, reminiscing old times, school days, what we’ve been doing with ourselves over the years. Eddie then suggested we adjourn to his house nearby. Both Duncan and I agreed.

The walls of Eddie’s house were adorned with all his beautiful paintings that he painted over time. Eddie was simply great at art since as long as I can remember, even when we were in primary school. Testimony to his talent hung on the walls all over his house. An amazing artist he is, even today.

Eddie has three sons, Duncan has two daughters, and I, one daughter. Our children are all doing well in their lives.

As we talked about our lives during school; we never envisioned that we were going to be the age that we are now, looking back at our school years. We were not all that ambitious when we were 10, 11 or 12 years. We did the things normal kids do, I think. During our secondary school years, we were split and went to different classes / streams.

As I personalised Eddie’s copy and Duncan’s copy of SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT, I was looking forward to the next 25 years of our friendship growing even stronger than ever before. We had a good time at our first meet up after 10 years.

Our meeting was so good, that we finally said our goodbyes at 3.30pm, not without going through the stations of the cross. What one would expect starting at 9.30am, to end at 11.00am; ended at 3.30pm. Really good times. We intend to meet on a more regular basis. Perhaps the big one as our other classmate / schoolmate Mak Weng Kit suggested – our 50th year alumni gathering.

NOTES:

1. “Pasar pagi” is Bahasa Malaysia for “morning market”.