For a long moment, there had been an interlude of disconcertion among the guests as Lee Song Kiah, the Invocator attempted to call them to attention in order to begin the program for the evening. But they seemed to be caught in the web of deepening conversation and were unable to free themselves from the tangle. The Master of Ceremony, Tan Meng Kwang came to his rescue to no avail. Perturbed, I looked around, wondering what could be done. It was too late for remedy at that point in time and all the two gallant gentlemen on stage could do was to laugh the disorder off and impute it to the strength of the first flush of reunion fever. In retrospect, I can envisage how a drinks reception prior to the dinner proper as proposed by Sam months before would have toned down the unrest.
-------Three Degrees: Ma ma mia …..
No real harm had been done though and Lee Song Kiah finally got the audience’s attention and introduced the Master of Ceremony. His excellent academic achievement was certainly enviable but his commitment to fostering a caring community through his involvement in Eldercare is even more worthy of praise. The crowd laughed at Song Kiah’s jokes while Meng Kwang performed his duty according to the planned program. He called upon the Organizing Chairperson, Chin Sik Foong to deliver her speech. All focused their attention on this slim ‘nyonya’ whom many were still trying to associate with the authoritative lean young girl who seemed to be a perpetual class monitor akin to disciplining. But before one could form any association she had already finished with her welcome speech. Surprise, surprise. But come to think of it, who needs a long speech that makes you snooze in a gala such as this?
-----John Denver: You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest……
The one-minute silence in remembrance of our deceased batch mates was solemn and respectful of those who we can but keep alive in our memory.
Kok Pu Long, Ng Ngiap Peng, Pang Hui Kim and Yip Miao Leng , may you rest in peace! Your generous offer of warm friendship will live in us for as long as we live.
-------Willie Nelson wails: you are always on my mind…you are always on my mind…..
‘To Sir with love’ was played to get us into the mood of expressing our gratitude to the teachers in attendance by arising to sing ‘You Raise Me Up’. Yap Fong Peng’s sparkling eyes gleamed with genuine feelings for the teachers, touched by the eloquence of the lyrics which said it all on the students’ behalf. Right before the screen at forefront, Lee Chow Leng and Ho Siew Fong stood posed in their feminine manner to serenade in earnest while Loh Bee Heng sang with gusto in his sonorous voice, raising his arms at some points to help his feelings flow. Ong Chee Peng was seated too far away to see the lyric on screen but dutifully finished the song by referring to a song sheet in hand with conviction. Go Wee Ser looked at him with admiration to cheer him on.
The teachers sat at their tables in a somber manner, obviously moved by this emotive interlude.
----All students & Gosh Groban:
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up: To more than I can be.
The first course was served. Some of those at the vegetarian table grumbled at the deep fried starter but I thought it tasted better than what is normally served at regular ones. However, it was understandably hardly an occasion for gastronomy; there was simply no time for masticating. Relatively settled for the first time since arrival, I had the opportunity to greet Tan Eng Bee who crossed over from the next table to our left where his clique comprising of Irene, Ivy, Elsie, Loh Chok Hian, Lam Lee Ring and Yap Kok Meng. He was as congenial as I have remembered him. Neither had he put on too much weight; I am sure he can still play good basketball if he still has the zeal for the sport. This was one of the two tables with more sophisticated taste where wisp of smoke mingled thickly with the scent of alcohol. On our left, 5AA students bombarded us with the same combination of aroma of equal strength. The Providence has a way of balancing things up in its amazing ways termed ‘coincidence’. The health conscious vegetarians inhaled enough second hand smoke to make up for not consuming the high oil and cholesterol content food served at other tables.
------Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…..
Neo Say Yew came to chat with us while we commented that Tan Mei Leng looked quite changed from her prefect’s photo in the SSP school magazine conveniently placed on the table. I apologized to Chin Kek Ming for requesting Chai Ten Chun to persuade him to come as he seemed quite alone, being unfamiliar with most except the 5SE students. We are quite a reserved bunch and this made boisterous non-5SE vegetarian Koh Mui Cheng a little out of place as she chatted volubly to everyone and made cat-calls during the roll-call. I was delighted to see normally low-keyed Koh Hoi Eng all dressed up formally in electric blue for the occasion, looking really smart.
------Teresa Teng : Xioa chen gu xi doa…
Then a very personal moment - the high point for each and every member participant had come : the Roll-Call. Tan Meng Kwang called out each name in alphabetical order in his animated manner:
Chew Hui Guan! (Oh…….clap, clap, clap…)
Chin Kek Ming! (Yeh, ......clap, clap, clap…)
Chin Sik Foong! (Wooooooo………………….)
The whole room sudden came alive, charged with the excitement of having the limelight shown on a particular individual though it lasted no more than a few seconds
-----(Song played completely drowned by the exaggerated uproar of cheering.)
Yap Say Peng and Sim Kian Chuan joined us then. We stood up for a first round of photo session for 5SE. It would be some mementos for us as it was a rare occasion for the eight of us to be together after all these years.
-----Three Degrees: When will I see you again….
Everywhere else in the dining hall, students took indefatigable delight in posing for group photos with different combinations of friends. They were so engrossed that they failed to realize they had neglected the teachers who seemed a bit left out. Fortunately, some sensitive students who took up the responsible to oversee that everything ran smoothly noticed this and made amend by asking students to approach the teachers for conversation. This soon restored harmony in the party and the joyous ambience resumed itself.
----- Lulu:but how do you thank someone who has taken you from crayons to perfume? It isn't easy, but I'll try…To Sir, with love….
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