Page 86 - Our Hawker Stories

Hawker Life in a Child’s Eye

As I pulled down the shutters of my family’s wantan mee
stall, I glanced at the gold-framed newspaper article
featuring my mother proudly holding an award in front
of our stall. A torrent of memories rushed through my
mind.

Entering Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre in my
school uniform, the rich smell of spices wafted through
the air. I made a beeline for Swee Heng Wanton Noodle.
Mother waved at me as she wiped the sweat off her
forehead. I proceeded to a nearby table and started on
my homework.

Occasionally, I would look up and watch in amazement as
mother skillfully chopped up the char siew and placed it
on a bed of noodles before pouring piping hot, peppery I instantly grabbed my cup of iced milo as the chilli in
soup into the bowl. With a generous hand and a warm the peanut sauce burned in my throat. Gulping down
smile, she would hand the customers their orders. mouthfuls of milo, my body cooled down instantly — as
though blasted by air-conditioning — even though the
My stomach gurgled, so I left to grab a bite. I went to only fans around were decades old.
Chomp Chomp Satay and ordered a plate of chicken
satay with their unique pineapple peanut sauce. After I snapped back to reality and found my thin arms
that, I went to the drinks stall to get a cup of iced milo. struggling to close the shutters of my stall. The uncle
from the drinks stall came over to help. I had taken over
Setting down my plate of satay on the table, I admired the business, as my mother had passed on. I wish I could
the meat skewers glistening in the dim lighting of the have spent more time with her while I still could.
hawker centre. Without hesitation, I bit into one. The
flavours of the fragrant spices exploded in my mouth
as the tender meat disintegrated on my tongue. I put “My mother’s wanton mee wasn’t just a
another stick, dipped in peanut sauce, into my mouth. meal — it was a memory, a legacy, and the
The nuttiness of the peanuts, the sweetness of the reason I continue her story at the hawker
pineapple, and the spices paired perfectly. Soon, the stall today.”
whole plate was gone.
Hannah Christine Tiah Hui Chin
P6.1
North Spring Primary School

82 Our Hawker Stories