I was sent to supervise the construction of a new stretch of road in this town. As equipment and machineries were sent here in stages, I didn't have much to do, so I spent most of the time driving around and reading papers over cups of coffee. I liked to sit in one particular coffee shop giving me a full view of the wet market.
One morning as I was having coffee, I noticed a lady walking towards her car parked near to where I was sitting. She must be in her late 60s. With an average height of 170cm and a thick body, she reminded me of my childhood music teacher. In my early school days, we all loved our music teacher. We loved the songs she taught us. I remembered those songs very well till today. The Old Kentucky Home and Santa Lucia were my favourites.
As she came near her car, someone greeted her. I immediately knew that it was her, my favourite music teacher. She had both hands full of vegetables and fish from the wet market. I walked up to her and help her open the boot of her car. She looked up and immediately recognized me. She was so happy to see me. She asked about my family and her other ex-students. She introduced me to some of her friends passing by us. She told them that I was her favourite pupil.
We exchanged phone numbers then she headed home. I heard of her retirement many years ago through some former classmates. She never got married and had remained a spinster till today. We had so much love and respect for her. I was hoping to meet her again and would like to buy her gifts. She was also a family friend.
Later that evening I received a call from her. She invited me over to have dinner. So around 7pm I drove to her house. It was in a housing estate. I spotted her car parked at the car porch. I rang the door bell, and in a moment, the door opened. She was her usual self and still wore knee length skirt. She was alone off course and had me seated at the dinner table. So we ate and talked about the old days.
After dinner, she prepared coffee and we sat watching the television. She asked a lot about me but out of respect i never asked about her. The wall clock struck ten. I excused myself and told her I should be on my way. She insisted I come for dinner again the next day. Promising her that I would come, I drove back.
That afternoon I went around town searching for a perfect gift. I couldn't find any thing meaning for some one her age at the gift shop. So I went to the supermarket and strolled along looking high and low, still I found nothing suitable. Then the last department was the pharmaceutical. I pondered over those range of nutritious products and decided on chicken essence. I bought a 1 dozen pack.
I reached her house a little earlier at 6.30pm hoping to help her prepare dinner. She was at the door when I exited my car. I handed her the box of chicken essence and clearly she was elated.
"So thoughtful of you" was all she said.