My primary and secondary school was in Happy Valley, with school buildings situated against the side of a hill. The school site had an elevated view of the Racecourse and the tram tracks.

My favourite pass time at recess was to lean against the waist-height stone wall with my school friends chatting while watching trams pass by and chanting every now and then with the sounds of “Ding Ding”.

It must be at one of those recesses in primary school when my classmate, Helena, told me her grandmother’s story. Her grandmother, Madam Chiu (趙碧顏女士), moved from Hong Kong to Macau after she got married at the young age of 16. She had 10 children and when they grew older, some of them crossed waters to seek better opportunities in Hong Kong.

On one of her visits to her children, Madam Chiu was in a tram on the upper deck at a seat by the window, when she saw another tram approaching in the opposite direction, there she spotted a familiar face.

It was her best friend from primary school Madam Lau (劉雪珍女士), whom she had long lost contact. The two ladies instantly recognized each other. As the tram moved slowly apart, they exchanged telephone numbers across the windows. The two kept in close touch for a few decades until Madam Chiu migrated to Canada.

Madam Chiu is now in her nineties, she may have forgotten a lot of details but she still remembers her friend and that memorable tram ride.

*Photo: (Left to right) Madam Chiu’s second daughter, Madam Chiu's mother, Madam Chiu