相中的B，是我大學畢業後第一年，當中學教師時的學生的孩子，是該學生的第二個孩子，亦即我的「第三代」，真是不得不認老。
過去一年，跟失散了十多年的學生聯絡上，參加了他們的晚飯、卡拉OK同燒烤聚會，感覺有點特別：雖然轉眼間當天的青年人已變了三十出頭的成年人，但他們的一舉手一投足和言談，仍然有強烈的昔日影子。雖然沒見十多年，但感覺恍惚沒分开过一樣。
這班學生任職各行各業，頓時我多了些不同圈子的朋友。當天長掛笑臉、道理多多的W同學，今天中港兩地穿梭工作。男班長B同學當上政府行政人員，工餘寫作出書，是位業餘旅行家。至於女班長C同學，某天在我公司的新入職同事通告看道跟她一樣的名字，之後她變了我的同事。戲劇能手J同學，移居新加玻做過阜新娘，相中的B便是她的，大女兒遺傳了她的表演細胞，在鏡頭面前表情多多。我對不起的S同學，上我悶出鳥來的堂她很容易打瞌睡，但永遠努力睜開眼睛，現在日本公司上班，有個混 血小孩。L同學十多歲已說話氣定神閒，今天她是家庭社工。
拍照當天微涼，但懷裡的B很乖、很暖、軟綿綿的，抱著他很舒服。
The baby in the photo is my former student’s. This is her second child, my “third generation”! I have to admit that I am old.
In the last year, I have got back in touch with my long-lost former students whom I taught in the first year of my work life. Seeing them gives me a nice special feeling: In the blink of an eye, they have transformed from impressionable young people to assertive adults. But their demeanour has lots of traces of their past. The traces are so strong that I feel as if we had never parted.
These young adults are now budding professionals in different fields. Getting connected with them has suddenly expanded my social circle. W is as smiley and preachy as before. He now shuttles between mainland China and Hong Kong for work. Male class monitor B is now a government executive. Outside work, he enjoys writing and is an amateur travel specialist. As for female class monitor C, a name identical to hers appeared in the posting circular at my office one day. A week later, she became my colleague. Student R was able to master English very well. Now she works as a litigation lawyer and will become a mum soon. Student J was a drama enthusiast. She moved to live in Singapore after marriage. The baby in the photo is hers. Her older daughter has inherited her talents in acting. She makes all kinds of funny faces in front of the camera. I am so sorry for student S because she tried so hard to stay awake in my lessons. She now works in a Japanese company and has a mixd-race kid. L was a very composed and diplomatic student. She has become a family social worker.
It was a cool day when the photo was taken. But I felt so warm when holding this lovely, warm and cuddly baby in my arms.
