Winnie Yeong and Yu Jingwen

Winnie Yeong:

I see the old rain tree still standing at the centre of the open field. What are there now are rows and rows of cars neatly parked at the space around the dear old tree. The tree is a witness to the changing hands and passing on of the generations. 

My papa rented a third floor of a mansion at Waterloo Street. The first level is a shop which sold a variety of joss sticks and other paraphernalias catering to the needs for the worshipping at the nearby Kwan Yim temple. Mortals and immortals are jostling and vying for blessings from the goddesses. We kids had great fun running and chasing around the old rain tree.

There is a squatter which the folks there innovatively converted it into a Kampong. Chicken and ducks were here there and everywhere. Once it rained ponds are dotted everywhere in the field. Then you see ducks and geese waddle in the pound, and swimming in the pond gleefully. Even pets are not spared when wars ensue. Chickens and ducks of the rival groups are the target of the catapult shots.

Many of my buddies' parents are traders hawking at the market. There was this limbed boy Fook, who helped his mother to run a fish stalls. He scaled and sliced fish like a gladiator. He was but a lad of nine to ten years old at that time. There I had another sweet sister Ah Zeng. She helped her mum to cut threads out of bundles her mum brought back from garment factories. Her mum made a living out of this cottage industry. There were many more kids doing chores, helping out their parents. We had our fun times too. We made catapult out of sticks and branches. These are weapons for the war, when our gang fights erupted.

Of course we had our serious moments. We had a sullen and quiet chap Chiang who seldom joined in our fun. He was our most brilliant among the equals. His father was the coffee connoisseur working in the coffee shop. Everyone agreed that he served the best coffee in town. Chiang would be found at the last table of the coffee shop after school. He would be in his world of homeworks and books, oblivious to what is going on around him. He will only had his awakening at his father's beck and call. There he would pull himself up from his forest, grabbed the tray with the coffee and off to his rounds of delivery. Oh, he is the pioneer of Grab food delivery. He is also known as Kobi Ah Di. We never attempt to get to the wrath of Kobi Ah Di. He was someone to be beholden. He studied very well. Was in Raffles Institution. Much to the awe and envy of all the kids there.

Yu Jingwen:

But things change. They always do. I grew up, and Waterloo Street did too. Now, everything around us is different. Waterloo Street has now become a two-way district known for the development of the arts and culture in Singapore's city centre. As my buddies and I grew older, we witnessed the setting up of many arts organisations near the streets. Many new faces came and went. We couldn't help but feel curious.

For one, Bras Basah Complex was set up. It is a communal retail space that houses specialty stores featuring Singapore's unique cultural heritage. There were a lot of bookstores there, and the shopkeepers were all very nice people. My papa often went there to look for books and would take me along. The winding corridors between bookshelves carry a timeless scent of nostalgia, with each book telling a unique and magical tale of its own. I always loved to indulge in old stories and magazines, and my buddies did, too. 

A while later, Waterloo Centre was established. It is definitely a destination for the arts. The centre houses art/ music studios, creative learning centres, and interesting retail shops and eateries. I had brought my grandchildren over for the International Singapore Biennial to visit art works, and we were simply amazed! For visitors, this place is definitely a must-go.

My lifestyle has grown as well. I always make sure to wake up at the crack of dawn, and together with my buddies, we would go on a stroll along Waterloo Street. Even though the sun has yet to fully rise, Waterloo Street is already abuzz with excitement and activity. As always, we wave to Chiang, who runs his own coffee shop now, and pop by there to get a coffee or two to start our day. I have also learnt to use my smartphone to pay my bills, something that is very convenient to do. Now that I am retired from work, I usually spend the rest of the day pursuing my newfound passion for the arts, or meeting up with old friends to have a chat. 

Yet, no matter how much of Waterloo Street has changed, the old rain tree still stands proud today. It is a witness to the changing hands and passing on of the generations, and I am sure it will still do so for more eras to come.