Tanjong Rhu by Minfong Ho
Synopsis
Mr T. W. Li, a successful businessman, has just lost his mother. As he mourns her
death, he recalls some important events before her demise, most significantly revolving around
a pair of binoculars. He had bought his mother a pair of binoculars so that she could see farther
as she had cataracts. However, his mother’s only concern was to see Tanjong Rhu, a place
where they used to live while he was growing up. His father owned a small shipyard there
before it was torn down about thirty years ago.
When Mr Li finally convinced his mother to use the binoculars, he was upset that she still
could not see the ships at the harbor, in front of his office. Instead, in her mind’s eye, she saw
Tanjong Rhu in the past, back when Mr Li was still a young boy accompanying his mother
digging for crabs along the beach. He became impatient with his mother who seemed adamant
to hold on to the past and had no interest in the present. He refused to listen to her stories.
Back in the present, Mr Li regrets his actions as now he too long to go back to his
childhood in Tanjong Rhu. He finds that his memories are vague and there are many things that
he does not remember clearly. Unfortunately, there is no one to answer his questions as the