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My house is the first on my street. Living in the house next to mine is an
elderly lady we call Aunty Su. She lives alone with her pet cats. No one knows
if she has a family. She has been living next door to my family for as long as I
can remember. I do not know how old Aunty Su is but she looks over sixty at
least. Her hair is mostly grey. Her face is covered with faint brown spots and
freckles. She has dark brown eyes that turn into slits
when she smiles. She is slim and of medium height. At home, she is always
dressed in a long flowery dress. In spite of her age, she moves quickly and with
firm steps.
Aunty Su leads an active life. I often see her taking care of her orchid
plants surrounded by her seven pet cats. She loves cats and keeps adopting stray
ones. She has another wonderful hobby and that is cooking. My family and I
benefit greatly from her culinary experiments. At least twice a week, Aunty Su
will give us a generous sample of her cooking. It could be anything from a Thai
curry to some fancy French bread. It does not matter, as everything she cooks is
scrumptious.
Aunty Su is not only generous but also encouraging. Unlike old ladies who
like to gossip about others, Aunty Su always says positive things that make
people happy. It is no wonder then that anyone who stops to talk to her walks
away with a smile. Moreover, people often go to her for advice about everything
under the sun. For example, my mother consults Aunty Su on housekeeping matters
while my father likes to ask Aunty Su about business matters. She seems so wise
and knowledgeable. She is also sweet-natured and patient. I have never seen her
lose her cool except once when she saw a
couple of naughty children ill-treating a kitten. She rescued the kitten and
gave the culprits a scolding that they never forgot.
A good neighbor is also a good friend. But a bad neighbor can be your worst
enemy. Everyone hopes for a good neighbor. Fortunately for me, Aunty Su is such
a wonderful neighbor and friend. |
