Voice From the Past

I received a phone call this morning from an ex-student of mine. He introduced himself as Wilmi, an old boy of the grand Malacca High School where I first taught between 1969 - 1973 (Feb). It seems I was his teacher in 1972 when he was in Form I. I tried to figure out the 13-year old Wilmi. As a teacher, one can only remember a student for something outstanding e.g. the cleverest, the naughtiest, the most polite, the class clown, things like that. Only after he added that he is Rasiah's (old family friend) nephew, only then it clicked ... oh that Wilmi! I told him over the phone I remembered the naughty, skinny kid who was always very active. He laughed.

Wilmi told me the purpose of the call. The Malay Old Boys of the School will be organizing korban and a kenduri in conjuction with the coming Hari Raya Haji on Saturday, 22 December and would like very much their 'old' teacher to attend. I was flattered that they would still remember me after all these years. I thanked Wilmi but said I segan to attend because I wouldn't know anybody in the crowd, my former students having grown, becoming family men and career persons and I wouldn't know what to say. I'm sure I won't be able to recognise any of them! They might have grown beards or shave their heads, might have pot-bellies ... hee... hee.. Wilmi promised that he'll attend to me, further more the old students and their families would like to meet their old teachers at the gathering. Well ... maybe I'd go... just to see the 'metamorphies' of my cocoons.

I was Form teacher of this class in 1970. Recognize anybody?