Haven

The first time I met Mdm A, we were on a home visit with a Habitat for Humanity staff member. Mdm A had injured her foot and is currently awaiting surgery. With the current COVID situation, her surgery was postponed 3 months later. She can walk for about 10 minutes before needing to take a seat and rest.

During my latest visit, she is frying chicken for lunch. Her children are running around the house. Her daughter draws a Nerf Gun and aims it at her son. Her son uses an umbrella to shield himself. While waiting for the chicken to fry, Mdm A snatches the Nerf Gun from her daughter and aims at both her children. They scream and run out of the flat for cover.

I ask her how her day was before. She tells me that she brought her children to Bedok to collect Merdeka vouchers. Even though it was a long bus ride, at least she could catch a nap on the way. She tells me about how her children would be sitting for their PSLE and N-Levels examinations in the following year and how she is worried that they are not studying enough.

Her son tells me to stay 1 metre between him because if we do not adhere to social distancing measures, we would all get the coronavirus. Her daughter lets me carry one of the kittens which immediately proceeds to claw its way off my hands. They had just gotten a new cage to make a home for all their cats.

A week later, the Singaporean government announced that the country would be undergoing a circuit breaker until May. I text Mdm A to apologize for not visiting because of having to move back home from school.

I tell her to stay safe and healthy and that I will see her soon.