In the late 70s, I started working as a general clerk along Beach Street. It was a dream come true. I could take a direct bus from home and just walk five minutes to the office. The most exciting time was without a doubt, lunch time. I greedily counted all the kopitiams (local coffeeshops) I could lunch at. Hey, I could do a two-week circuit without repeating! That made me happy. Barely eighteen was a wonderful time. No longer a child but not quite yet a woman. In those days until you marry, you are still a girl and can receive ang pow (red packets filled with money) during Chinese New Year. My closest friend Mimmi was a few inches short of being a real 'va-va-voom'. She was an elegant, womanly 32 with short crop hair that framed an angelic face with ruby red lips. She had a figure that rivalled Mae West's - so small was her waist. She also often wore three-inch stiletto heels that let her sashay in her walk, always one foot in front of the other like a model. H...