Agong

Agong was my Grandfather while I was an exchange student. As a Chinese businessman, he’d set up the family shop and still greeted salesmen with a smile and authority.

I rarely spoke to my Agong. Sometimes, I’d be asked to sit at his desk, where we’d hardly talk – just be together. He’d grin at me. He’d pat my head. He’d buy me an ice-cream when he bought his other grandchildren one.

Agong was proud of me. He didn’t tell me – I just know. I felt it and I loved him in return.

He died last year. He’d told his family when it would happen and - surprising no one, he was right.

The Chinese say you should not be too sad when someone dies. That would mean that you did not think that they had lived a good life.