The people I respect.

“Brother, study hard and heed your parents’ advice,” an old man often told me this. My family and I respect this old man. He was our neighbor; he often walked his dog in our neighborhood. He stayed few streets away and often came to visit us.

He was a mayor in Kluang, Johor. He also worked as a cook in a military camp. Later, he also worked as a cook in a military camp. Later, he ran a restaurant in his village but did not accept rewards. He told us he could be poor but he would not accept a car as a reward when he was a mayor.

He called me “brother”, although he was an old man. He came to my home usually on weekends, because I stayed in the school hostel and went back on weekends. He taught my mother to cook lamb chop and Hainanese chicken rice, He advised me to study hard, not to be shy and try to make more friends. My family and I loved to hear his stories.

I promised him to visit him every weekend but I did not do it, I broke the promise, I thought I could visit him next time but he died suddenly. I learned a lesson to do all the things now but not “next time”. I learned I should never procrastinate as “Procrastination” is the thief of time.” I don’t know why I have the bad habit of postponing things.

The last time we visited him he told us his story about how he married and the story was to be continued the next time. Nonetheless, we must imagine the story and complete it by ourselves as he is no longer with us.

I will be a good boy and remember what he taught me. I also will take care of what I have today and do not waste it. He will be in my mind for a long time and I will always respect him, though he has passed away.