Shengliver’s Note: Jianchi the girl still has fond memories of the two senior citizens.

In my childhood two elderly people gave me deep impressions.

One of them was an elderly lady. One year I had to be admitted to hospital on account of appendicitis. Next to my bed was an emaciated old lady. Every evening she would take a short walk with her husband’s help. In no way could she walk very much because a short distance would take her a long time and leave her gasping for breath. I was so young at that time that I had no idea what condition she was suffering from. Every day the doctors had to remove some yellowish liquid from her stomach. She did not talk very much. Any time I sneaked a look at her grimace, my heart went out to the miserable lady. Even though she had been fighting against the disease for years, she still passed away. I miss her very much today. May she rest in peace.

The other is a lovely gentleman. I got to know him as a toddler. According to my grandpa, he used to be a diplomat stationed in an African country. This gentleman was often seated in an armchair in the yard, and every child from our tower block, when passing him, would greet him. Sometimes he responded in English, other times in Chinese. By that time, I had just started to learn English. Trying my newly learned English words and phrases on the gentleman was great fun. As years wore on, his mind was not as quick as before. Some kids asked him, “Old guy, do you know the English word for xiongmao?” He tried to say it but to no avail. Then these kids would burst into laughter, but he still smiled warmly. Seeing the dignified gentleman daily gave me a sense of security and orientation in my hectic adolescent existence. I guess this year he must be 75 years old. Every day he still surveys the flow of people from his armchair in the yard, does shopping at Dongyue Market and takes evening walks with his wife. He is not very tall, but in my mind he is a giant.

The lady is no longer there. The gentleman will be gone someday. However, their spirits will stay with me forever.