Alone, he watches the slow wobble of the ceiling fan.
The skeins of grey haze from his cigarette entwine with layers of darkness.
Three wives. However many useless children they bore.
Bah.
The old man drifts, shutting out the chattering whispers of regret.
In the old house on Jonker Street, a mattress begins to smoulder.
-----
This is dedicated to my grandfather, who apparently continues to haunt the house.
Hmmm...not good, when one has to provide backstory to the story...do I still qualify for 55 words?
My maternal grandfather died in a fire set off by him falling asleep whilst smoking. The house was restored but no one could live there for long, citing hauntings. It's still there at the Temple St. end of Jonker St.
Mum was already married at the time. He told her never to step foot back in the house if she chose to marry. Which is quite funny, considering that he'd twice given her away when she was a baby, since there were too many girls in the family. Can't say he wasn't consistent.
I'd say that amongst his regrets was that none of his precious sons were inclined to have him live with them towards the end of his life.
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7 comments:
I hope your grandfather did not have useless grandchildren too;)
Hmm.. who is staying at THAT house now?? Is this the one that got almost burnt? And this punya your father or mother side??
Hah?! True story ah?
Wah, I am impressed. But wait.
One day, when I am old enough to open the closet, I shall blog about my granddad 'stoneface' and his 'shorty' wife who cursed him at his funeral, my randy dad who has a total of 10 kids from two wives.
And at the time of his death, a companion half a dozen years younger that the youngest of his off-springs... cradled him in her arms, while my mom looked on.
Seriously.
Oh, and I hasten to add it would take no less than 550 words.
When I finally master the art of brevity, okay?
Wahhh...
Hrmm... try haiku.
Creepy story! I been to jonker street & wouldn't be supprised if a few ghouls haunted that place...
Ame - plenty! those who only invoke his don't care whether divine intervention whilst sitting 35000 km in the sky in a hunk of flying concrete.
jay - ahbadden?
percolator - ooo, now that's a story that could fill a book. will wait patiently. :)
vish - try oredi lor. i like making nonsense ones. like this one for you. :)
AJ - call my ah kong a ghoul?! wait i ask him to visit you....:D
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