Promethean Flame

Today, my mum who embraces national pride like no other, the typical pre-65er excitedly informs me that the YOG torch was going to pass through our area. That led to much to-ing and fro-ing as she kept trying to get me to go down with her to, as she says, "support the torch".

Still feeling the effects of last night's football game, my body was screaming "no!". The filial son in me however was nagging and very VERY grudgingly, I agreed to go along.

A sense of nostalgia always hits me whenever I enter into RI. Turning into the parking lot, I subconsciously recall how this used to be the area where we would end up hitting stray shots into from the tennis courts. Walking through the main foyer, I can't help but think that this used to be just rickety benches and a row of vending machines. Looking at the humongous artificial pitch, I reminisce how we used to have to share the pathetic field with softballers whilst at all times keeping off lane 1 and 2 of the track as the athletes went sprinting by.

As I leaned against the railing to look down at the YOG mascots, a man came and stood next to me. He didn't see me but he looked familiar. "Mr L?" I thought to myself. I looked down at his waist where a security card dangled. I saw the familiar name printed on it "LNS". Ahh... our SEA games Judo bronze medalist. How the hell he held me in the grip on that train trip in China and how helpless I felt, I'll never forget that moment.

He walked away and joined up with another man in tinted glasses. "Mr E Ng!" Wow! The head of boarding in my time. In my progress report for PE, he ticked A for almost everything that was in there.. sporting ability, fitness etc etc. And then I spotted an "E" grade. It was for "Sportsmanship". He taught me physical education but as you can imagine, he taught me so much more than that. I wanted to say "hi" but I was not in the most sociable mood so I let it slide and since he didn't spot me, I moved along.

After watching the YOG torch go by, we turned to walk towards the car. Just then, another familiar face walked past me. "Was that Ms Chia?" I asked my mum. My mum said it wasn't but at my insistence, she said "Try lah, go say hi"

"Are you Ms Chia?", I asked.
"No. I'm Ms Tan" came the reply. "I get that a lot. You are referring to Ms Chia T P?"
"Yes"
"You're an old boy? You were a boarder? You boarded at Morrison House"
I smiled at that quick fire series of questions and said yes to all the questions.
"Ms Chia is in HK now" she said, smiled and then went on her way.

We crossed the driveway over to the car and suddenly someone stands right in the middle of my path and thrusts his hand out waiting for me to shake it. I was so happy. It was Mr Ng. We exchanged pleasantries, he of course asked what I'm doing now and I enquired about whether he attended the 10 year batch reunion last year. I wish I had more to say to him. To thank him for teaching me a valuable lesson in life. But that would probably have been foolish and rather awkward.

12 years has passed since I left RI. All these wonderful human beings continue to serve the school in their own capacity. At this juncture where having been with the Firm for 3 years, I'm already considering my loyalty. These people show me what true loyalty means. True stalwarts of the school. True Rafflesians.

As the YOG flame fleetingly passes through the RI today. Another flame burns brighter. Promethean Flame. And these are my true torch bearers.