24 Flavours — 4. Milo is a Family Drink

This 24 Flavours literary journey is part of a series of writings from a few years back when Math Paper Press was actively publishing it. The series has since gone into hiatus but I’ll sharing the pieces that were written. Each piece is based on a food theme, 24 in total. I had devised mine to centre on my family, and some of the storylines are interconnected. Not all 24 stories are completed so you’ll have to check back periodically to read all of them.

“You must never ever forget this matter for as long as you live.”

Ma always droned this into my head after Kor had been scolded for getting into trouble at school, or for hanging out with his gangster friends. It seemed as though it was her way of compensating for her harshness with Kor.

Kor is seven years older than I am, and it was the year when Pa got his taxi license. Ma had retold countless times the story of their hardship days before I was born. Apparently, when Kor was around four or five, Pa was addicted to gambling, and as all hardcore gamblers go, Pa had a knack of losing more than winning. He especially had the habit of losing money meant for food, daily necessities, and household bills.

The situation reached its peak once after having lost almost everything. Pa only had enough money left for one Roti Prata Kosong. He bought that back on a Sunday morning after an all-nighter of gambling. Ma said the only thing that kept her sane was Kor. That was the only meal they could afford for the whole day. Kor had half of it for breakfast + lunch, and Ma saved the other half for his dinner.

Both Pa and Ma sustained themselves on Milo, the only food left in the kitchen.

“So you must always forgive your Kor, and keep a lookout for him when you grow up. Be patient with him no matter what happens. You must remember this.”