While the adults were busy in the house, the children were still happily playing outside with their friends. They had just discovered a few newly-born kittens.
I asked the siblings to go home to wait for the guests.
Very soon, children from the neighbourhood arrived.
Many of the Seri Siantian flat residents got to know Grace's family because of Harap Learning Centre (HLC) where she was teaching.
Grace had prepared fried kuehteow, fried meehoon, hotdogs, nuggets and chicken wings. Mrs Ee who could not come had given agar-agar.
Nigel's grandfather had sponsored a 2-kilo cake with a design of an aeroplane, knowing that the grandson's ambition is to become a pilote when he grows up.
This 8-year-old boy also received a toy car from the parents, a pencil box from me and other stationery from his peers.
After the birthday star blew the candles, his mother cut a small piece of cake to feed him as the tradition. The father who was still at work had missed these scenes. Since I was there with my camera, Grace could show her husband the photographs later.
Sis Aidah came with her three lovely children. Every time I saw their big round eyes, I would unconsciously try to make my eyes wide open.
Theresa, a former HLC teacher, also appeared with her two sons.
Though more than a dozen children were present there, all of them were very well behaved when serving or eating the food. None was making the place noisy or messy. I was impressed.
Nigel requested that I took a picture of him. He did not want to open his mouth to smile because of some flaws of his teeth.
His best friend Fikri also followed his example and finally both of them posed with a serious look.
One day, they will realise that women's eyes zoom in to men's character, not appearance.
