Mui-interview of those days
Mingpao Weekly 1641 April 22, 2000
[We put a rod beside the pillow when going to bed]
Anita Mui talked about her relation with Ann Mui
Ann Mui finished her short journey of 41 years in this world. Besides her husband and Mui Ma being in greatest sorrow, Anita Mui, being her sister for more than 30 years, her grief not many might understand, even though she remains cool in her look. When Ah Mui being interviewed by our magazine exclusively, she talked about things that could never be forgotten. When they were over 10 years old, every night when went to bed, they would put a rod beside the pillow, showing how their little souls lacked security; now with success in career, thinking back, Ah Mui felt credits should be given to her sister......
Besides her husband and Mui Ma being the saddest at the demise of Ann Mui, the big sister of music industry, Anita Mui, who has shared sad days and happy days with her, is naturally in great grief too.
It is not exaggerating at all to describe them as walking their sad and happy days together. Anita Mui started her singing career at 4 at Li Yuen Amusement Playground. Her partner at that time was Ann Mui who was 4 years senior to her. Two of them were so close, that they lived together and performed on the same stage. It is not easy for outsiders to understand the close relation between 2 sisters. It is best for Anita Mui herself to talk about their more than 30 years sibling relationship.
[I started singing when I was very little, at night I had to perform. Therefore, just like Ann, we didn't have too much schooling, this is a regret of Ann too.] To Ah Mui, Ann Mui is a very filial daughter, and a sister with very feminine character.]
[Mother has a comparatively strong character, with bad temper. Since young, I have been very defiant. Every time when I did something wrong, mommy would punish me and my sister. The worst thing is that I would never admit that I had done something wrong, but my sister was so afraid of everything. So since young, it seemed that we exchanged our status. Whenever something happened, I was the one protecting my sister instead of she protecting me. I remember it clearly, when we were over an age of 10, before we went to bed, we would put a rod beside our pillows, because we were afraid that our step father would come to harass us. As you know, Ah Ann was afraid of everything, when we were performing overseas, we stayed in the same room, we would leave the light on when we went to sleep. It was because she was afraid of darkness. If one of us went to toilet, the other one would stay outside the toilet keeping the one inside company.]
Not so many admirers as her sister
After Anita Mui got famous, she got both status and money. But it was never thought, before she joined the New Singer Contest, she had less admirers than her sister. At that time Ah Mui was only around 13 and 14, but she already was very jealous of her sister.
[When I was 14, I still didn't start to grow, while my sister was already a tall young lady of 18, lots of boys chased after her. I always stole her make-ups and clothes, She was so upset...] Talking about those old days, Ah Mui said it was just like yesterday. Today Ah Mui is the big sister of the music world, that she said should partly be attributed to Ann Mui.,
[That year when I jointed the New Singer Contest, I was 17. I was already performing in bars and night clubs, and I was already quite well known. I was afraid of losing face, so I refused to join the contest although many people persuaded me to do that. Ah Ann handed in the application for me, so both of us got selected. Ah Ann was eliminated at the semi final, she put all her hope in me. During the night of the final contest, knowing that I got the champion, Ah Ann and mommy held each other crying, they cried for me being able to win. I also remember when I had my first concert, I invited Ah Ann to be my special guest singer. I hope Ann can support me silently in the other world.]
A pair of good sisters with good relation for more than 30 years, now have to face the bitter pain of separtaion. Ah Mui of course felt very sorrowful. But, as Ah Mui is the bread and butter of her family, she knows that she has to be strong. During the period when Ah Ann was fighting against cancer, Ah Mui had been a 100% spiritual support for her sister.
[About a year ago, when Ah Ann realized that she got cancer, I never stopped to give her support, I encouraged her. In fact, her two sons really need their mommy. Ah Ann loves our mommy a lot. I know Ah Ann is always afraid of pain, but during the later period of her illness, though she felt really bad lying in bed, she never moaned in front of mommy. Also I was traveling around due to work, every night I called her enquiring about her situation. She was afraid that I would worry about her, she talked to me with a pretended healthy voice. For a period, I also worried that she might get mad at me as I could not visit her often. But from mommy, I learnt that Ah Ann missed me a lot, but she understood my situation, she only wished I could live on happily.]
During the last stage of her life, Ah Ann suffered a great deal as she was tortured by her illness badly. She finally left in the early morning on April 16th. Though Ah Ann had been sick for one year, people already psychologically prepared for such a day, when a dear one really left, how Ah Mui felt?
[I felt very bad, that is unavoidable. At the final stage, I saw her suffering so badly, death might just be a release for her. Then I worried about mother most, I was afraid that she could not stand the fact that her daughter had left her. The demise of Ah Ann is a very bad blow to the aged mother. I suddenly told myself: "Anita Mui, you can't collapse, you are the pillar of the family."]
Communication Problem
When Ann Mui was sick in bed, her family, especially her husband was taking care of her every night. His love for her was fully displayed. At the moment when Ann Mui was leaving, he promised her by whispering into her ears, no matter where he would be, he would be with her. Therefore, Ah Ann's ashes will be kept by her husband. Will there be a tablet established for Ah Ann in HK? Ah Mui said: [For the convenience of paying respect to her by mother, perhaps mother will set a tablet at home.]
When Ann Mui was hospitalized in St Paul's Convent Hospital, it was said there was argument between Ah Ann's husband and Mui Ma. How Anita Mui, being in the middle, will settle this family dispute?
Ah Mui said quietly: [Can't say argument. There has been misunderstanding in communication. In fact, mother and my sister-in-law, both are for the benefit of Ah Ann. My sister-in-law trusts western medicine, while my mother is a Chinese medicine practitioner, of course she believes in Chinese medicine. No matter how, all are for Ah Ann, but just with different point of view!]
As for a pair of nephews, Anita Mui promised her sister, within her own capability, she would take care of them.
[I am rather busy with my work. Though I can't see them everyday, I will try my best to give them guidance. My sister-in-law and my nephews won't leave HK within a short period, hoping grandma will spend more time with her grand sons.]
During the funeral period of Ann Mui, her friends kept on sending wreaths to the funeral home. Even Anita Mui didn't know that Ah Ann got so many friends. Finally, Ah Mui takes this opportunity to thank all Ah Ann's friends for their wreaths. No matter if they had come to the funeral home or not, they showed their care towards Ah Ann, on behalf of Ah Ann, Ah Mui sent them gratitude from bottom of her heart, as they had given unlimited support and energy to her family, and at the same time, during the last journey of her life, Ah Ann had got endless warmth and comfort from them. Ah Mui will always remember those friends who helped in Ah Ann's funeral, and they will remain in her memory forever....
《明報周刊》 第1641期 2000年4月22日
「睡前，我們在枕邊放一枝木棍」
梅艷芳細說姊妹情
梅愛芳走畢了四十一載短暫人生路，最傷心的，除了丈夫潘立德和梅媽媽外，與她同甘共苦三十多年的妹妹梅艷芳，外表雖極度冷靜，內心的悲痛，卻非旁人所能了解。阿梅在接受本刊獨家訪問時，說到姊妹間難忘的往事，十來歲的時候，每晚臨睡，她們都在枕邊放一枝木棍，反映了小心靈是多麼的缺乏安全感；如今事業有成，追源溯始，阿梅甚至覺得這是姊姊的功勞......
梅愛芳的逝世，最傷心除了她的丈夫和梅媽媽外，當然是與她同甘共苦的樂壇大姐梅艷芳。
用同甘共苦來形容她們一點也不誇張，梅艷芳由四歲開始在荔園演唱，當時的拍檔正是比她大四歲的梅愛芳，兩人關係是何等密切。兩姊妹共同生活，同台演出，姊妹情深不是局外人可領略，三十多年的姊妹情，最好由梅艷芳本人親身道來：
「我們細細個出來唱歌，晚上又要兼顧演出，所以，我跟阿Ann一樣，讀書不多，這亦是阿Ann的一個遺憾。」在阿梅眼中，梅愛芳是個十分孝順及性格柔弱的家姊。
「媽媽的性格比較剛烈，脾氣又大，而我自小性格反叛，每次做錯事，媽咪都會罰我跟家姊，最慘是我這份人不肯認錯，姊姊卻怕事，所以，自小我跟阿Ann身份似乎對調了。每次有事發生，都是我保護姊姊，不是姊姊保護我。最記得我倆十幾歲的時候，臨睡之前，一定把一枝木棍放在枕頭邊，因為那時擔心後父會來騷擾我們。你知啦，阿Ann份人比較細膽，我倆在外埠登台，大家住在一間房，一定會開燈睡覺，就是因為阿Ann怕黑，兩個人如果其中一個去廁所，另一個一定要站在廁所門外陪伴對方。」
追求者不及家姊多
梅艷芳走紅後，名利雙收，但估不到在她未參加新秀之前，她的追求者不及家姊多。那時才十三、四歲的梅艷芳，也會呷家姊的醋。
「我十四歲，尚未發育，家姊已經十八歲亭亭玉立，大把追求者，我常常偷家姊的化粧品及靚衫，氣得她紮紮跳.......」提起兩姊妹的童年往事，阿梅說仿如昨日；梅艷芳能成為今日樂壇大姐大，她說有一半功勞歸於梅愛芳。
「當年十七歲參加新秀的我，已經在酒廊及夜總會薄有名聲，我好怕瘀，身邊不少人慫恿我參加新秀，我都婉拒，但阿Ann卻替我交了報名表格，我們兩個都入圍，但阿Ann在半準決賽便被淘汰出局，她所有希望都寄託在我身上。總決賽當晚，知道我得冠軍，阿Ann與媽咪擁抱在一起哭，為我出人頭地而流出真摯眼淚。還記得第一晚開個人演唱會，我還請梅愛芳擔任特別嘉賓，我希望阿Ann在另一個空間仍然可以默默的支持我。」
一對曾經攜手度過卅多年歲月的好姊妹，竟然要面對死別的痛苦，阿梅此刻心情當然心如刀割。不過，由於阿梅是家庭的主要經濟支柱，她知道自己不能軟弱下來，在阿Ann抗癌過程中，阿梅在精神上及心靈上百分百的支持姊姊。
「大概一年前，當發現阿Ann患有癌症時，我不斷的支持她，常常在她身邊鼓勵她，事實她的兩個兒子很需要媽咪，阿Ann向來好疼惜媽咪，我知她一向怕痛的性格，但在病發的後期，她在床上雖然極度辛苦，也沒有在媽咪面前哼半句，而我一直為工作四處奔波，每晚打電話問她的病情，她為怕我擔心，總會裝出一副正常健康的聲音。有一陣子我擔心過家姊會嬲我，怪我沒有經常探望她，後來從媽咪口中得悉，阿Ann心中一直好掛住我，好明白我，只想我今後可活得開心。」
梅愛芳在病發最後階段，整個人被病磨得好辛苦，終於在四月十六日凌晨離開人間，雖然阿Ann病足一年，對於這日的來臨，大家早有心理準備，但當面對親人的離去，阿梅的心情又是如何呢？
「心情難過總是難免，後期我見她如此辛苦，死亡對她而言可能是一種解脫，那時，我最擔心的反而是媽媽，怕她接受不到女兒比她早離人間。阿Ann的去世，對我年邁的母親是一個非常大的打擊，剎那間我只跟自己說：『梅艷芳，你不能跌下來，你仍是這個家庭的主要支柱。』」
溝通上有少許誤會
梅愛芳臥病期間，她的家人，特別是丈夫潘立德每晚在床邊照顧太太，愛妻之情表露無遺，在梅愛芳撒手塵寰之前一刻，他在阿Ann耳邊答應過她，無論他在世界任何一個角落，也會與她一起。所以，阿Ann的骨灰將會由丈夫保管。至於會否在香港設置靈位，阿梅說：「為方便媽媽拜祭家姊，或者會在媽媽家裏為阿Ann設下靈位。」
在梅愛芳入住聖保祿醫院期間，曾傳出梅媽與阿Ann丈夫潘立德發生過拗撬，處於兩者夾縫中的梅艷芳又怎樣處理這宗「家庭糾紛」？
阿梅淡淡的說：「不可以說拗撬，大家在溝通上有少少誤會o者，其實，媽媽及姊夫，也是為阿Ann好，姊夫比較信西醫，但梅媽本身是醫師，當然信中醫，無論如何，他們出發點也是為阿Ann好，只是大家觀點與角度不同而已！」
對於一對姨甥仔，梅艷芳答應過家姊，在她能力範圍內一定會好好照顧他們。
「我的工作比較忙，雖然不可以天天看住他們，但我會盡力教導他們，姊夫及姨甥短期內不會離開香港，就是因為希望有更多時間讓一對孫兒與外婆見面。」
在梅愛芳設靈期間，阿Ann生前好友不停送上花籃，就連梅艷芳也不知道阿Ann生前有那麼多的朋友。最後，阿梅藉這個訪問，多謝所有曾送花籃給阿Ann的朋友，無論他/她們有沒有到靈堂弔祭，對於各好友一番心意，阿梅代表梅愛芳對每一位朋友作出衷心致謝，令她及其家人在是次事件中獲得無限的支持及力量，也令阿Ann在人生旅途上的最後一站，獲得無限的安慰及溫暖。對於曾為梅愛芳喪禮出過力的朋友，阿梅永遠銘記心中，一切一切都會留在她的回憶裏......。
文：媚媚