A soldier

Today after dinner with Jian and Jer,

I took the train home and was waiting for the bus

when an unkempt man, in his sixties

approached me for the time of the next bus..

Talking to him further wasn't my initial intention.

**

Turned out that he is a half-Portugese born in Shanghai

enlisted in the British Army

and positioned in Malaya in the 60's


He said

he used to think he's got what it takes to face the world

the bold air of confidence

not unusual in bloods of the young

but his experience in the army humbled him

for life's not to be taken granted for

and that he's very, very lucky

compared to his comrades in India.



He said that

he had learnt 3 things:

Be Kind

Respect Others &

Never Give Up - for dreams do come true.


**

A brief encounter

nevertheless a meaningful one.