For My Grandfather. (1930 - 2000)

Dear Datuk,

Got your nose! Just kidding.

It's been way more than ten years since you passed away and it still hurts to know that we can't go out buy records and watch wrestling together anymore. It's kind of sad to know that my little cousins never got to lose their noses and have it returned after saying the magic words.

You would pick me up after school to bring me out shopping for random things at Toys'R'Us. I never got Barbies and girly things... I went for the Chemistry sets and other non girl kid items like Legos. I never told mom and that caused her to freak out so many times and ground me as soon as I got home. Sorry, mum. And you would always bring me to dinosaur exhibits where they would animate it and I would stare, wide-eyed. You got me dinosaur books, tonnes of dinosaur books and I told you the Compsognathus was my favourite dinosaur -- It took me several tries to get the name right. That one time we walked around City Square with my hand firmly planted on my cheek where some offending spots were, you laughed but still bought me KFC.

You always had a smile on your face and a loud laugh. Everyone loved you. I have never heard anyone say anything bad about you, not even once. You were so cool. You were the coolest grandad ever. None of my friends had grandads as cool and hip as you. You watched wrestling, listened to the Corrs and went to my kindergarten sports day even if all I was participating in was some random peanut-eating contest. You also had this awesome pointless quirk where you doused everything in Tabasco sauce, especially that fillet steak at Victoria Station. Oh, and everyone knew you.

I was at school when they told me you'd passed.
I couldn't cry at first, they took me hope to prepare for he funeral.
It was the first time I saw my ayah cry.
You looked so serene when we all said out last goodbyes before they covered you in kain kafan.
That was the end.
No more datuk.

I hope you're proud of me.
I hope I'm keeping up to most of your expectations.
because...

... I miss you and if I could be half the human being you once were, the world would be a better place.