The Taximan Story

The Taximan’s Story
by Catherine Lim
“Little Ironies” –Stories of
Singapore
Take me to National University
of Singapore, please make it
fast coz I got a meeting to
attend and I need to be there on
time. Very good, Madam. Sure,
I will take you there. In
plenty good time for your
meeting, Madam. This way
better, less traffic, less car jams.
Half hour should make it,
Madam, so not to worry. Have
you been taxi man for a long
time? What did you say,
Madam? I said have you been
taxi man for a long time? Ha,
ha,
Yes, yes, I’ve been taxi man for
20 years now, Madam. A long
time ago, Singapore not
like this—so crowded, so busy.
Last time, more peaceful, not so
much taxi men or so
much cars and buses. Oh, you
must been working so hard! Yes
Madam, I can make a
living. So, so. What do? I must
work hard if wants to success in
Singapore. People like
us, no read, no write, we must
sweat to earn money for wife
and children.
Do you have a big family? Yes,
Madam, quite big family—eight
children, six sons, and two
daughters. Big family! Haha!
No good, Madam. In those days
where got Family Planning
in Singapore? People born
many, many children, every
year, one child is no good at all.
Two children, three children,
enough, stop. Our government
say stop! Lucky for me, all
my children big now. Four
of my sons working—one A
businessman, two clerks, a
teacher in Primary School,
one in National Service one
still schooling. My eldest
daughter, she is twenty plus,
stay at home, help the mother.
Is your daughter already
married? No, not married yet –
very shy, and her health not so
good, but a good, obedient girl.
My other girl—Oh, Madam!
Very hard for father when
daughter is no good and go
against her parents. Very sad
like punishment from God.
Today, young people not like us
when we are young. We obey.
Our parents say don’t do
this, we never do. Otherwise,
the cane. My father cane me,
I was big enough to be
married, and still got caning.
My father he was very strict,
and that is good thing for
parents to be strict. If not,
young boys and girls become
very useless. Do not want to
. Do not want
The Taximan's Story
Irony
Characters
1. Taximan
2. Taximan's daughter, Lay Choo
3. Madam
Story Background
The taximan criticizes youngsters for being immature and lacking of moral values
because they became social escorts and wandering around hotels, but it turns out that
his beloved daughter was one. Also, despite his verbal dislike, he earns money by
bringing the youngsters to these places.
The story was written by Catherine Lim and is a part of Little Ironies: Stories of
Singapore, a collection of 17 short stories. The collection is the first collection of short
stories written by a single author in Singapore, and is also Lim's first published book of
fiction.
Themes
1. Differences of the past and present generation in conduct and moral values.
2. Relationship and trust between parent and child.
3. Teenage Prostitution and its societal effects.
Summary
Character Analysis
About the Author
The Taximan's Story is a dialogue between the taximan and his passenger which he
calls 'Madam'. However, throughout the story, only his responses and narrations can be
read.
He talks about his life and how he earns by driving tourists and social escorts around.
He also shares his dislike of their generation's youngsters for their immaturity through
being social escorts. As the story progresses, it turns out that his daughter, Lay Choo,
whom he is very proud of, was one and he was very angry and ashamed. He narrated
how he beat her and locked her home and advises his passenger to be aware of her
own daughter's whereabouts.
The story comes to an end with him saying he is going back to Hotel Elroy to pick up the
boys and girls again.
1. Taximan - He is a talkative and observant person, and a doting father. He criticizes

youngsters for being escorts.
2. Lay Choo - She is hypocritical, materialistic, smart and filial. She turns out to be a
social escort who lacks moral values.
Catherine Lim Poh Imm is a Singaporean fiction author known for writing about
Singaporean society and of themes of traditional Chinese Culture.
She was born on March 21, 1942 at Penang, Malaysia. She has published 9 collections
of short stories, 5 novels, 2 poetry collections, and numerous political commentaries to
date.
https://prezi.com/
rvngjyu3zzy3/the-taximans-
story/#:~:text=The%20taximan
%20criticizes%20youngsters
%20for,the%20youngsters
%20to%20these%20places.
https://studylib.net/doc/
25459644/the-taximan-s-story

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The Taximan’s Story

2. Taximan's daughter, Lay Choo

2. Relationship and trust between parent and child.

3. Teenage Prostitution and its societal effects.

1. Taximan - He is a talkative and observant person, and a doting father. He criticizes

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