Page 43 - Our Hawker Stories

“Urgh,” mother groaned. The kitchen shook as she took
out the many metal pots and pans from the cupboard.

“What is going on?” I rushed into the kitchen, followed
by my elder sister, Anne. Beads of sweat gathered on her
upper lip.

“There’s no food today,” she sighed.

My family was poor and could not afford many things,
like bags, clothes, and sometimes even food. We lived in
a small house. My mother was a janitor who earned ten
dollars a day. Sometimes on weekends, I would go out
with Anne to sell tissue packets for fifty cents. I looked at
my younger sister, who was beside my mother. Her eyes
welled up with tears. She was hungry.
I explained that my family was poor. When she heard
I decided to take Anna out to the park. Mother agreed about it, she generously gave me a free packet of mee
as she went to search for food. As we were walking, a soto and some kueh.
particular place caught my eye. I dragged Anna towards
the area. “Thank you so much, cik,” I thanked her profusely.

“Two dollars and fifty cents stall,” I read aloud. “Oh, this Hawkers are our unsung heroes. They save worlds like
must be a hawker centre. So cheap!” I thought. mine by providing local delights that sustain our hungry
tummies and delight our souls.
I dragged Anna towards the stall that sold affordable
food. I searched my pockets but could not find any
money. When I went home, I told my mother about the “The makcik didn’t just give me food — she
stall. She handed me two dollars and fifty cents. gave me kindness, hope, and a full heart for
my whole family.”
“Buy a packet of nasi goreng, so we can all share,” she
said.
Auni Mardhiyah Binte Muaz
I immediately ran to the stall and bought the delicious P5.1
nasi goreng. North Spring Primary School

“Girl, you are so skinny, why did you buy only one
packet?” the friendly makcik asked.

Our Hawker Stories 39