Untold Migrant Tales 04; Part 2

In the morning, a cup of tea is preferred to the coffee after a good restful sleep.

The conclusion is here.

Untold tales of a Migrant iv

part 11

Noon Tea ..,

By Jimmy Loong

iV

Owner

They traced the biscuits to my shop, and I was questioned for sometime by three officers. I tell you the kind of things they say about me and my family, I would had poisoned them the next time they come to my shop. But I maintain my innocence, and it was the Chief Inspector who came to my rescue. Its a real surprise that he only did that after I was subjected to these brute and their questions.

‘Kevin, you ever do this to me again, and I promised you you won’t had to say I am sorry to my face unless we meet in your Hell.’ And I walked out of the Station with a very angry expression. Even Ah Heng was avoiding me. But the shop was packed so I had to entertained my guests. They all came to support me and of course have a cup of tea, besides telling their sad stories with the Forces. I made money that day, but it was hard earned money for my hard work.

How was I know who could had taken my biscuits and placed cyanide in it?

I sell them everyday, and most days I cleared at least two trays of these biscuits. How was I to know they can sell so well?

How was I know why the almond smell like poison? I know they smelled like croakcoach smell to me, but I do not know that they can make poison.

The only poison I know is the metal blade I can sink into the flesh. And that is exactly what I felt like doing now.

But I did not do that. I was in my own corner wiping my tears of my own fate, sharing it with the crockcoach.

Chief Inspector

‘On whose instruction was it to bring the chinaman in?’ I questioned the three officers, who just looked down at the floor and said nothing. I knew they did what they thought was right and I was too occupied with my own investigation at the club then. I only knew of the questioning when I came back to the Station to replaced my whistle.

But I learned more at the club.

Michael Chan does owe the club some heavy debts for his tabs, but he asked for an installment payment. There is a review of that as the club consider him as a valued member. He did served on various committee and is regular here. They also confirmed his arguement with Mr Lim, but that was resolved when Cecilia pulled him away. From that day, Cecilia did not rejoined her afternoon tea friends but whenever she is in the club, She is normally seen sitting at the next table to Michael. She keep to herself and reads her books.

As for Colonel Mathew; he was a guest of Colonel Sebastian, and he did spend sometime with Michael on discussion. They did used the small rooms reserved for such discreet talks, and Cecilia do joined in. It was the day before the death of Colonel Mathew’s; the Colonel was in the room with Cecilia alone. That annoyed Michael when he arrived, and Cecilia was seen leaving in a rush. Soon after that, the Colonel left himself. Colonel Sebastian did not know of this as he was away in the plantations that day.

I also learned that yesterday Michael was every happy when he came to the club. He offered to buy everyone a drink, and had one too many himself. If not for Cecilia, he would had slept there last night.

I send out some telegrams to the other Stations to check on some background for me.

But now I have a friend to console on for his predicament as a baker for good biscuits.

Guess I will missed my favorite cup of tea and biscuit for a while.

Michael Chan

‘How can you tell me to stop this now? I am so close to seeing the result. If not for Tommy, I would had recovered the family true wealth?’

‘Michael, we have enough to live comfortably back in Manchester. Can we leave all this behind? I do not want to see you died like Colonel Mathews.’ Cecilia pleaded with me, but I am not leaving yet. I need to see my dream come true. I have the extra means now and she is telling me to leave.

‘Cecilia! Do not mentioned the Colonel’s name here. How dare he suggest to you to leave me for him? He is an old idiot who thinks he is well connected and can take all with his brother’s help. How can you meet him that day without telling me?’

‘I did not, as I thought you told me to be there. He said so, as I explained to you many times. I did not take his money for I love you, Michael. He wanted to loan his money to you because he wanted me. I detest that. I loathe such men. Men like him deserved to die.’

I held my wife in my arms and let her tears flowed. I knew then but I did not stopped it. I let the meeting went on, while I waited outside. I walked in to catch them in compromising positions, but there was none. Cecilia fought his advances, and she walked out. I confronted the Colonel, and he said to me;’You let it on, Michael. You are a loser yourself. You only looked at money and I have plenty. So do you want the money or your wife, chinaman?’

I told my answer and the Colonel walked out. So did my money that day.

‘How is the test, darling?’

‘It looks positive.’

And my tears came down my cheek. We made it to the next stage of our journey. Now we settle down for our cup of tea and almond biscuits.

Country Club

‘Colonel, did you see the price of gold today. Its soaring like the migration flocks. I tell you this is the time to find a mine, if there is any.’

‘As Lord Baden Powell put it; “If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.” I never served under the man, but I have my respect for him.’

‘So you did invest in one? You old fox, tell me where?’

‘Never a whisper from me, until the time is right. So shall we get back into the game. I see a winning hand here.’

‘Colonel, there is a package for you.’ The butler hands over the package. The Colonel opened the wrapping and find a small box. Inside the box was one piece of almond biscuit. And a note; it said ‘Mrs Kelvin Baker’.

‘My favorite...’ and he took a bite.

Owner

I despise most is when someone used my name of my shop for their own good. And this was one of them. I marched up to the person and gave the person a piece of my mind, but in this case, I had to understand why first.

‘Ah Heng, who told you to bake almond cookies? I told we do not do that anymore.’

‘Towkay, this is our best seller. And the orders came in while you were in the Station, so I decided to do so. After all, I know who I am selling to and how much they buy. I marked every box with an ‘X’ like in the books some of the kids read.’

‘And how many ‘X’ did you draw?’

‘About twenty boxes, and they all sold out.’

‘How many ‘X’ per box, Ah Heng?’

‘Only one ‘X’ so whoever gets poisoned without an ‘X’ on the box is not ours.’

‘Good answer, but who else you know bake almond biscuits?’

‘How do I know? Ask the shop who sells the almond. Silly question to asked me.’

It was a silly question then but then later it made sense.

I found out besides myself, there are twenty other customers who buy almond ingredients. For those who buy it for biscuits, there are only three in the town area. I am of the three.

The other two; one bakes for me, and the other learned from me. And they all had tea before in my shop.

Chief Inspector

We answered the call from the club, on the demise of Colonel Sebastian who took a bite of the biscuit he had received. We also recovered the partial eaten biscuit and its almond biscuit. Naturally, no one saw the delivery boy clearly and the claims of every descent was described by everyone but no one claimed to see the boy’s face. I asked to see the register for members coming in today, and noticed Michael Chan missing. I asked the butler, but they said he was not see today. I went over the house and I met Cecilia there in her apron and smelled of flour and sugar. I tell you everything of her that day reminds me of my affection back in Liverpool, but that was years ago.

‘Oh, Michael is in the hills. He said he will be back late, so I thought I surprised him with some baking. Do you like almond biscuits? I baked them myself. We never can keep up with the rate we consume. It goes nice with tea.’

I thanked her hospitality and asked where exactly did Michael go, but she was not sure. So I left her and her baking to herself. I went over the Land Office to check on some land titles. They told me it will take some time to get back as they need to look at the old records. I told the Chief Clerk that he will stay the night in the Station if I don’t get those reports by this evening.

And later I was back in the Station.

The telegrams were there, and I got some surprising news and confirmed some of my fears. These murders are pre-mediated on the families, but was in random on the victims. And the murderer is from this town.

So were the reports from the Land Office.

Mdm Wang

Sometimes, a woman can tell more from a man than he can of the woman. Even in love, as the man tends to see her from a physical perspective, but the woman feels the emotion and the depth of the man. I know as in my profession, we are all experts in extracting such information from the man. We are discreet in the knowledge, so all is safe with us. Unless you annoyed us, and then we will clawed you to the bones and bleed your soul with knowledge we hold over you.

For today, I learned sometimes, a woman can also be wrong in her judgement. I plea guilty to that, as I misjudged the man I put some money with. He displayed all his emotions and I thought I had it all, but I was wrong. He is more resourceful than me. If I am the fox, he is the forest for I run inside him knowing all his path, but never did I learned he laid them for me.

‘Ah Long, you tell me now you will never teach another to bake these almond biscuits in your shop, except Ah Heng. But you got another source to bake it in your shop too. And how long was this? Three months now, because Ah Heng asked you to allow it. Now Ah Lan left Ah Heng, you are back to doing it yourself with him. How can this be? Almond biscuits is your speciality. And who else would you teach that to besides Ah Lan? Another lover of Ah Heng?. And why not me?’

‘My apologies, Mdm Wang. I did not teach you as your delicate hands may be scarred from the dough and baking. As for Ah Lan, well, she learned from Ah Heng first and then I saw she is good so I taught her. And she did offered to work for me for free. So I agreed but now she is leaving, so I am back to doing it. Its all Ah Heng’s fault.’

‘So why is Ah Lan leaving now? She works for the Chan’s family.’

‘Oh, Ah Lan said the master and mistress is leaving  and so she is out of a job. And I cannot afford to feed her and Ah Heng; so I say bye bye to her.’

‘So when she is of no use, you discarded her. Why did I now see that coming? Tell Ah Heng, next time bring extra money or sit in the dark alley by himself’.

I disliked men who does that. Thats why I make sure they pay for my girl’s services. As for Michael Chan, I am concerned on him leaving so soon; how can that be? We just spoke of investment and I just parted him my money.

I must asked him of this.

Or is he discarding me too like this idiots. Its not pleasureable to do that to me, as I am known as Madam Wang. The last one who cheated on me, do not die of poison; he was made handicapped for his next life.

V

Chief Inspector

I read the Land Office reports and it began to make some inroads into the murders. And my last telegram came from Singapore. It gave me more than I would had expected.

I rushed over to the house and saw Cecilia waiting at the door. I asked her of Michael whereabouts and she said he did not come back last night. I was concerned so I asked her of his mine which he is working on. She gave me the directions.

I found it, and the mine did looked like it just collapsed. It was reported that the mine was a gold mine twenty five years ago and the Chan’s father bought the discarded mine from Lim thinking that it would produce gold again. It did but in small vein and deep down. Michael Chan must had gone digging for it. And could be trapped inside. The rescue team came and a search was mounted. They found mining equipment and some testing kits for leaching using cyanide. But not Michael or any trace of his whereabouts.

I turned back to the team who is still searching the area. All I want to do now was to go back to town to report the matter. And then go to the shop to have my tea.

But I felt I was wrong somewhere, and I am not sure where.

Owner

Its a large area to cover and I am no jungle tracker.I wished I never got involved, but I had to always by accident or personal favors like now. Mdm Wang told me that the mine was here in this hill but where in the hill. This place is all grown with thick undergrowth and only madmen will come here. It does has a nice view of the town and I can see the Chan’s house from here. Funny how when you walked in circle, you may just end up in some place somehow.

Its getting late, and I ought to go back or I will lose my lifeto some tiger and also my bicycle. I borrowed that from the neighbour as mine is in the workshop. As I was walking back the trail I took earlier, I saw a movement in the nearby trees. I slowly moved towards it and saw a hut there. I think it looked like any hut you may find in the orchards or plantations, but this one is different. It was built into the hillside, and there are no back entrance.

I moved towards it and saw Michael Chan leaving the hut. He is all covered with dust and dirt, and carrying a small box. I would had stepped out, if not for the others. They came out of the corner of the hut; there was Ram the club butler and Siva the Chettiah. Michael on seeing the duo tried to make a run for it but the box was heavy. The duo stopped him and there was a brief struggle before Michael was overpowered. The box fell from his hands and out came the contents. It shone slightly like daisy flowers, and then flicker for sometime.

‘That’s mine, you bastards.’ Michael was held in restraint by Ram in an armlock.

‘Not any more, Sir. I am now the new owner. You see, Barath told me more than he should. So I had you in my eyes for many days. I even got Ram here to watch over you at the club. Ram is my nephew by my wife side and he is also my enforcer for bad men like you.’

‘I took no money from you, so why did you followed me?’ Michael was trying to make sense of this matter.

‘Very simple. Barath took my money and lend you. You killed Barath so I now have to find you.’ Siva crouched down to scoop up the gold nuggets.

‘But I did not borrowed from Barath. He refused me. So I owed you nothing.’

‘You see, that is your word against the deadman’s. But he is dead and he took my money so I collect from you. You can then collect from him when you see him. Ram, see the gold value here. Ai-yoh, we can be rich man soon.’

‘Uncle, what about this man? Do we killed him here?’ Now Ram is getting edgy from his looks, and I think he has done it before. I wanted to run and called for help, but if I did, the man could die and the duo escaped. Its my words against them. If I fight them, I may win, or lose. So better don;t fight unless I know am sure to win.

It was then I remember the whistle.

I blew and blew with all my strength. I tell you this, these damned whistle can sure bring the herd of elephants if you blow it like I did. Well, no elephants appeared, but Ram forgot about his armlock and Michael was free of the restraint. Michael come loose and pushed Ram off. He then saw the nearby shovel and grabbed it. He faced his two surprised adversaries with his newly acquired weapon. It was then I calculated the odds was better, I stepped out of the trees with my heavy branch in my hands.

The two would be murderer tok to their heels and it was left to me and Michael. Now the odds are equal, so I am now re-looking my options.

Chief Inspector

‘Don;t do it, Michael. You need not add to your problem by killing him.’ I watched the man named Michael holding the shovel over my friend’s head. Ah Long was lying on the ground with one hand holding his left shoulder, and the other covering his forehead. If Michael hit him with that shovel , I may had to shoot him. And so will the other officer next to me. I see the hesitation in Michael’s face, but I am tired and its getting dark. No one knows what will happened next.

‘Michael, think of Cecilia. She is waiting for you at home for your afternoon tea. You don;t want to dissapoint her.’ Funny I said that, as it was actually me who wanted the cup of tea now. But it worked and my friend was safe from another near death act.

It was not by dusk when we were all in the Station, and the nice Corporal served us some hot tea. He said he boiled the tea again, and we all agreed it taste terrible. But we are relief to be alive. As for Michael, he was in the cells, and his wife was informed. Cecilia came later in the car driven by the servant, and she was relieved to see him alive.

The officer on duty next to me then asked me; ‘what is the charge on Michael?’

I said none; not yet anyway. Let the man be with his wife for now. We can discuss tomorrow. Right now, I sending a friend to his shop and hopefully get a cup of real tea.

But I did tell him to bring in Ram and Siva, the other two for more questioning.

Country Club

‘Did you hear it? Michael was arrested today. And he had some gold from the mine. Its a new one, and there was a sizeable load too. Its seems he really made it, but why was he arrested.’

‘I am an attorney at law. I will present myself to defend him.’

‘Screw your top, James. I am his attorney, and by George, I will handle his case.’

‘Screw yours too, Ian. Last I heard Michael threw you out on the last case of his. He is mine to defend as I am in talks to Cecilia.’

And so on was the legal fratenity at the Countty Club.

One butler said to the other, ‘I thnk you better tell the cook to boiled more water. We may need to serve more tea this evening.’

‘They pay tips or not?’ asked the other butler, with his hands securely tucked into the his vest pocket.

Michael Chan

‘Darling, I am okay. We got the gold out. It worked as you said it would. And we will be okay.’

‘I know it worked. And I am happy for you. We are free now.’

‘No, we need to pay those money we borrowed.’

‘But they are dead. Why must we returned it? There were no written records. More to it, their investment was on the old mine; this is from the new mine you discovered. Nothing here belongs to them. We can sell the gold and leave for Manchester soon. We can start again. And we can have the family you wanted.’

'No, darling. Its a matter of honor. I have Lim’s notebook and I will return every cent I borrowed. And also to the two Colonel’s. Its also in my family tradition to do so. More to it, the old mine led me to his new mine. I just created a new entrance and tunnel as its safer. Its still the same mine.’

‘And I done all that for nothing.’

‘What did you do, darling?’

‘Hush, my love. All is over now.’

‘Wait, Cecilia....don’t go. I love you.’

‘But you love your tradition and honor more than me. Farewell.... Michael.’

Chief Inspector

I never knew how to have a serious discussion with a lady before, not so when she is in the Station. If its over a cup of tea or dinner, I can do it. In fact, I am always having serious discussion that scared off most of my admirers. One did tell me off bluntly; ‘you are too stiff for your own good’. I never knew what she meant, but she was one of the few who told me off.

Today I am told off by another.

‘Chief inspector Kevin, I am here to confess to my crime. I, Cecilia Chan Brown murdered nine person with cyanide poisoning. I would had poisoned you too, but you did not eat my biscuit. I murdered them on behalf of my husband. Michael Chan. I will list down the names for you to check.’

I counted eight names I can linked to the files, but one was unknown.

‘Aaron More is Colonel Sebastian’s son. He was your ex-fiance. How did you murder him? It was said he died of a heart attack, of which he did had a weak heart. That was why he never joined the army like his dad or his brothers.’

‘Aaron death was not of my causing alone. I assisted him in his suicide. He was upset with me leaving him for Michael. He came to see me in London, and I told of my engagement to Michael. He asked me to let him die if he cannot have me. I tried to talk him out but he won’t listen. So I agreed to the wish, but on one condition. He is to die after I have left London with Michael. I made the vial of cyanide with his guidance; he was a chemist then. He kept the vial until I left London. When did he actually took it, I did not know. But I heard of his death from a friend who came from London a year later. He died in his lab later, making it looked like an accident. I used to asked of Aaron from his father, and he would say,he will pass on the compliment. Colonel Sebastian lived here as if his son Aaron would had if he was alive with me. Colonel Sebastion hid his son;s death from me.’

‘But you did not killed Colonel Sebastian? His name is not here.’

‘No, I did not.’

‘How did you make the biscuits?’

‘I used to buy them from the shop, but when Ah Lan baked them, I helped her. I noticed the smell is similar to cyanide, and I tried on it one day. I fed it to my dog, which died. From there, I planned my murders on those who caused Michael’s problems. I will select one which will be laced with cyanide. I send them to victims with the special box and addressed to them. Everybody in the list likes almond biscuits, and I have send other boxes without cyanide to built up the trust. I was taking a chance they will eat it all by themselves due to the personal address. And so they did, but the Governess was a mistake. She must had taken it without her master knowledge. They were all responsible for the silly investment of my father in law, and as for Barath, Lim, Chong, I did it out of the money they loaned to Michael. If Michael fails in his mining, he would had not enough money to return to them. But if he had the gold, he would be alos giving away a chink of his wealth that he worked hard at. We needed the money for me. I am sick with cyanide poisoning.’

‘Cyanide poisoning?’

‘No, Chief Inspector. I did not poisoned myself. I got poisoned from the testing and leaching I did on the gold. Because of Aaron, I learned about cyanide and my nursing skiIl helped me. But I got careless or I was not trained properly. When I offered to help Michael, I got poisoned doing it for my real love. There is a difference between a nurse and a miner, although we know cyanide well.’

Michael Chan

‘I told her to be careful, and she told me not to worry about it. I send for the test kit from Bristol to check if she was sick. When we got the testing kit from Bristol, its confirmed that she had been contaminated with the poison. But there was a treatment suggested to work for her. She did seem to get better now, but the cure is still very far ahead of us.’

‘But who do you think can do the same as she did because Colonel Sebastian did not die from her poison, someone did copy her method.’

‘I don’t know anyone. For someone to copy her works, has to work with her. And I did not work with her. Nor did I murder him. I owed him money but I told him I will pay him off his tabs at the club.’

‘And Aaron?’

‘I never knew him. I never asked Cecilia of her past and she never did mentioned it.’

V

Owner

I read the notes in Kevins’ notebook. He is still missing one victim’s murderer. So I consulted Mdm Wang, who was still upset at her loss of her money. But she was more upset that her judgement of character was flawed. So I made her a cup of tea to soothe down her anger and we let the tea do their charm.

And I got my answer.

I was in time at the Train Station. She was standing there with her wicker case, and bamboo umbrella.

‘Hello, Lan. You are leaving the town so soon.’

‘Yes, Mistress paid me and asked me to go. So I bought the late train ticket to Penang.’

‘You mean you are going to Gemas. You are saying your last goodbye to Inspector Kelvin Baker. You missed him and hated the man who made him take that train that day. You killed the man who let your fiance took that train.’

‘How did you know?’

‘Colonel Sebastian lived with that thought in his head. And also of his son, Aaron. He is a retired army officer, and he fought many battles, but he could not win the last one. And the only persons he can talk to are his ‘discretion’ partners. They listened to him, and watched him cry, as well as cry with him. For they are the best to know the man, beside his own wife. Inspector Kelvin was his protege in the regiment and looked like Aaron. In fact he was Aaron’s mirror image. But he left the army to be with the Strait Forces. The colonel came here to be near his new ‘son’. That day, the Colonel told Kelvin to meet him in this town. The Colonel wanted to become his Godfather. But Kelvin was in Singapore with you, so he took the train back but never made it. Kelvin told you he was meeting Colonel Sebastian and will come back after that to marry you. But he never did come back. You blamed...’

‘I blamed him for my fiance death. If he did not called Kelvin to come back to this place, I would be called Mrs Kelvin and not Ah Lan. It was by coincidence I met Cecilia, as I wanted to get access to the club to see the monster. When I knew of Cecilia plans on how to kill the other men, I did the same for the monster. I send him the package. I addressed it to him care of ‘Mrs Kelvin Baker’.’

‘But why Ah Heng?’

‘You men are all alike. Just because I am close with him, makes me his lover. I actually was close with him to learn how to bake better biscuits and make good tea. And he was to me more like an elder brother duirng my short stay here. I told Cecilia when I am finished here, I want to start a new life as a Governess. But for me to be one, I needed to learned from both Cecilia and you as all of you are the best. But your mind is twisted.’

I did not stopped her from boarding the train because in my twisted mind, I was not able to act.

Mdm Wang was right. We men looked at thing at the surface, and never in depth. But sometimes, she is wrong too, as I did in some instances. One of it was this case; I learned that Ah Heng sometimes addressed her as Mrs Kelvin Baker when they were baking. I thought he is playing his pranks on her, as the name was of no importance to me. When Ah Heng mentioned the name, Ah Lan will raised her left hand to show a ring on her finger. To me again then, it was like role playing these two lovers in their own realm. But how was I to know that I was wrong in my own judgement of character too.

Right now, all I wanted was a cup of tea. So I pop into the Train Station coffeeshop and shared one with an old friend of mine there. His tea is the second best in town next to mine.

Michael Chan

I confronted the Chief Inspector on my wife confession. I wanted to say I did it all, but he said the case is closed. Cecilia got her case as suspended for she is dying and may not last long. As for me, I have two  thing to do.

‘Mdm Wang, this is your investment plus the profit margin.I hoped you are pleased, but this is the only time we can do it. That is the last of the gold from the mine.’

She was happy and thank me. I am glad I managed to pay someone back their loan personally.

‘Chief Inspector Kevin, I murdered my brother Tommy. I fixed his brakes and he died as a result of it.’

‘Let us discuss the case over a cup of tea.’

Chief Inspector Kevin

‘Well, Towkay. We did not solve the case, but the case was closed by the confession of the murderer. So technically we did close the case.’

‘Kevin, you are wrong. We solved the case as it was all about greed. Just as the victims deserved their punishment, the murderer also accepted her’s. But why did you not convict Michael Chan of his brother’s accident?’

‘Michael Chan did not caused his brother’s accident. The report showed the brakes was good on the car. Michael must had fixed the wrong car. I think the man wanted was to keep his family wealth in place as part of the tradition. He did that as now with the gold he mined, his family true wealth is back to the previous level. He lived to the family tradition well. But why did you let Ah Lan go?’

‘Ah Lan? Oh, there was no case to be built against her. It was Mrs Kelvin Baker who murdered the Colonel and we are still looking for Mrs Kelvin Baker. So Ah Lan is free of the crime.’

So we parted ways at the Train Station.

As I sat at the carriage, I looked at the report I replaced at the file of Tommy Chan. I did get to read it as it flew off into the river below the bridge we were crossing. Just like Mrs Kelvin Baker, no one will ever see the true story.

Now where is my cup of tea. And almond biscuits.

And the cat to drink from my saucer.

Mdm Wang

I am looking at my investment payback and smiled. I am still good at my judgement of man, and Michael Chan did not diminish my faith in it.

But I doubt I will see him here for a while. I hear he is busy with his business and taking care a lovely wife in her last days. But they will eventually when the need arise.

Cecilia Chan

‘Please tell me I kept up with your tradition.’

‘Yes, you did. Darling, you made the Chan’s family together again, and you make the best tea in this town. And also almond cookies.’

‘Well,I learnt from the best in the family. Your mum taught me the basics, and I just refined it with Ah Lan. We both used it to our advantage and it worked.’

Owner

‘Coffee? We only served tea here. So drink up or get up.’

We win justice quickest by rendering justice to the other party. Mohandas Gandhi

Untold Migrant Tales 04; Part 1

 The saga continues...

Untold tales of a Migrant iv

part 1

Morning Tea ..,

By Jimmy Loongi

Owner

The only thing to do when the late afternoon sun is on the near far horizon and the crowd is missing, my only interest is a cup of tea and some milk biscuits. All of the above, I can get in my shop; the finest brewed tea drink and the crunchy yet melted in the mouth biscuits. I did just that, made myself a cup of tea, with the right amount of milk and grabbed two pieces of the biscuits. As I sat down on the table facing the entrance of the my shop; incidentally is empty of customers at this hour, as they already had their filled an hour earlier. I put my cup of tea on the marble table top and poured out a sizeable portion of the tea to the saucer. This is to cool it down as the brew is made from boiling hot water. I took up of my biscuits and looked for signs of any ants, which loved to climbed into my cookie jar if its not closed properly. I took my first bite and then stooped down to take a sip of the milky tea in the saucer.

What a pleasure to feel the milky tea as it makes way down my throat in to my stomach. I tell you there is nothing more refreshing than a cup of tea on a hot afternoon.

A shadowed crossed my view, and I looked up to it.

That was the moment my tea went into the wrong channel and caused me to cough.

‘Ai-yah! What did I do today to have you on my doorstep? I thought you died in the last carriage overturn at Gemas. So many bad days I can see now, coming my way.’

‘Ah Long, I am sorry if I startle you. I just came in on the mail train from Singapore. Do you think I can have a cup of tea please.’ The man who addressed me is Chief Inspector Kevin, from the Straits Forces. He always bring bad luck to me,  and I am happy to served him tea with some rat poison, but then they will arrest me, and who is going to take care of my family.

‘Teh jug ( One tea in local dialect’ was my holler to my faithful assistant, Ah Heng. I can hear him putting the cup on the saucer, and removing the water boiler cover. ‘Oui, you do not break my things, or I will deduct your wages...’

I guess by now, you know Ah Heng is not receptive to this englishman from Singapore. Everytime he steps into my shop, some died and will die, but not him; he is the white devil who never die. Moreover his presence scared my customers, they think I am with the Strait Forces too, so they come no more to drink my tea, and eat my bread.

‘Kevin, you not die in the crash at Gemas ah? I thought they said in the news, one senior officer died in the crash. They said his name was Kevin too. I wasted some money burning those ‘hell money’ to you ( chinese tradition as a form of offering to the departed or ghosts. ). Can get some money back ah? Shop business not good these days. Too many shops opening here in the town, and they make stupid tea but they sell cheap.’ Business has been slow and the competitors are price cutting so we had to keep afloat with the best tea in town. But then the best tea in town cost one cent more.

‘No, Ah Long. I did not die in the crash. It was Inspector Kelvin Baker on his return from Penang. Poor chap was thrown off the train, when it crashed. But I am sure he will happy to know you offered him some ‘hell money; although he is in heaven now.’ Kevin was not one to hestitate to sit himself on my table, and helped himself to the tea offered. At least he pays in Straits money and not Hell money.

‘I am here to ....’ I hushed him up, and looked all around the shop. I can see Ah Heng has sneaked off to the back to chat with Ah Lan, his current lover.

‘Speak smaller, so others cannot hear you.’ I hate this moment as Kevin is about to take me on his investigation again. And my tea is getting cold by now. Kevin spoiled my afternoon drink and I am sure he won’t pay for it.

Chief Inspector

‘I say, old friend. How have you been doing?’ I looked at my good friend from the town which gives me some good memories and cases. It also helped me to promote to my current position, and I am much obliged to this chinese man, who looked rather haggard today.

‘Bongkang ( local expression for ‘stupid’ ) you, I am no older than you, and I was doing very good until you came in today. Why you come back? Singapore no ladies want you or you scared them with your murder stories’. I knew Ah Long was exasperated to see me, after all the last few cases he handled with me, he almost lost his life. But now he is a protectarate of the Strait Forces, and has been deputised by the Chief for excellent works. So technically, he is my subordinate, but I prefer him as my friend,. As in the later, he is one good guy to have on your side.

‘I  have a new case, and I need your help’, was my reply, which caused him to stand up and took his tea away. He sat on his cashier counter and smiled at me.

‘You now customer, and I am now boss. So drink and pay up. We no discuss anymore cases.’ Then he took up his newspaper and buried his nose in it.

Well, I knew him long enough, so I left the shop with my payment for the tea. I also misplaced my notebook which outlines the details of the case. I must had been careless these days. I am sure it will be taken care of.

The Tea Time murderer was we termed the case, as all the death occured during tea time. Todate, we have five murders in the elite society, and the last one was the Governor’s own brother which prompted me to act. And the case was in this small town, where he came to visit an old friend, Colonel ( Retired ) Sebastian. They go a long way back, and the poor man died having his cup of tea at the country club. But none of others died sharing the same tea party then.

Todate, the victims are one governess, three businessman and of course the retired pompous Governor’s brother; retired Colonel from the other continent. He was visiting as stated above his old friend, here in the Straits and loved the weather.

We checked all the staff and friends who was at the tea party and drew no conclusion. The cause of death was heart failure or heart complications. So we narrowed our searched to poison and we found it. It was cyanide and it was on the biscuit they took; only one particular piece to be exact and not on the balance in the plate or jar, but there were traces of it. The other similarities is that all these victims are in their elderly age, and share a love for afternoon tea and biscuits.

But in my research, I found more than five victms, I actually counted another three of influential members of the ethnic was also dead by the same mode in a stretch of three months. But because their dead are not reported to the Strait Forces, this information came to by the informers. And this town has now three of these victims, including our retired colonel.

So I am here to find out why, as the first two victim here were from here. They were a chinese towkay ( successful businssman ) and a rich indian money lender. For some reason, the murderer left this town after the two murders and now is back again. The bodies trail was from here to Singapore and back to here. This is why I am back in this small town to see an old friend who can lend me his help.

But I need to convinced him to do so, or he will just be a ‘passenger’ in my carriage. Yes, we swore him to the deputisation, but it was more to protect him for his work for us. But somehow he gets dragged in as the team and risked his life several times. I sympathise with him, but he is invaluable here in this town.

Country Club

‘I said old chap; heard the friend of yours hit the road. Pity he was a good poker player and he still owes me some opportunity to get them back. But I guessed the money he would give me are ‘hell money’ now.’ The man who spoke of this is the gentleman of the far east descent, educated at the best, and wore his bow tie like a signature of his ranking. He is none other than the affluent Michael Chan, patriach of the Chan;s empire. His other weakness to poker is his cup of tea and one was about to be served by the staff of the establishment.

‘Colonel Mathew was my counterpart in the war which we had in India, and he commands well. We were tagged the ‘terrible duo’ for our column courage and high records of won battles, but sadly he has to lose it here when he has retired. Do you know he died having his favourite cup of tea at this club?’

That prompted Michael Chan to sip his cup of tea held delicately by the china bone handle. He paused later and looked at his tea, and decided that he will not have his full cup of tea today. Anyway here with the Colonel but he shall do so at his own home, where he knows its safe.

‘Something wrong with your tea, Michael. I hoped I did not scared you.’ This was what the retired Colonel said and he took his sip of his cup of tea. He pasued to cleared his throat, and said’ bloody good one too. I always find the staff here makes excellent tea.’.

But Michael was not amused and decided to call this discussion over. He signalled for his coat and hat, and took his pace to the entrance. He hates these pompus idiots who sits all day in the club and talks of the ‘good old days’. Yes, they paid their price in their youth but do they need to gloat over it now. As for Michael, he came by his wealth not only by inheritance, but also manipulation of his family kins to see his way. And of course he had to buy some ‘assistance’ from his society’ peers, which they now feel he needs to entertained them for it.

‘Would the tab be on you, sir?’ asked the local descent who acts as butler here. Michael nodded his head and exit to the car waiting for him outside.

‘I say, Michael. You should not always be picking my tab. I can do it with myself, even if I may die from this cup of tea’, remarked the Colonel as he bid his friend a nice trip. Now Michael was not listening to the snide remarks of the colonel. His mind is on the lastest shipment from London, whom he has requested with utmost discretion. It was shipped by Braun’s Chemical in Bristol.

Mdm Wang

I do not know what I detest most; the Strait Forces or the criminals which I am now obliged to hand over to the Strait Forces. In the earlier days, I would had my clan dispensed any criminals to swift execution; a simple cut to end his life and his body would never be found again. But today, due to my alliance with Chief Inspector Kevin , I am restrained by those acts; more so when he is in my town. I knew this from Ah Long, and why he is here. I knew the Colonel Mathew and his friend well; they are my regulars and pays well for the discretion. But the recent murder of his friend drew me some attention from the local Forces, as they need to find the killer for their own reasons. And now made more urgent with the arrival of Chief Inspector Kevin.

‘Mdm Wang, you are as beautiful as the day I left this town.’ I smiled at the poor Chief Inspector selection of pleasantries. He is obviously not a man like my regulars and probably get ditched at every ball by the ladies. Maybe he showed his gun at his waist, would had attracted more ladies than his words.

‘Chief Inspector Kevin, how am I not surprised to see you here today? I have little to tell you that your counterpart was not advised beforehand. So you are here for another reason? Its a faraway town from Singapore.’

‘I read the reports and knew of your submission. I here for the hidden side of the Colonel. Did he annoyed anyone in his ‘discretions’?’

‘Everyone’s discretion here is welcome here, and that is what we offered; discretion. But no, since you asked, none of my girls complained of his ‘discretion’. He was very much an old man, with an ego but that was about all he had to offered, besides good money; although paid for by my own ethnic cousin.’

‘Pardon me. You are saying someone pays you for his visits.’

‘Perhaps this will assist you.’ I handed over a piece of paper with some writings. In my trade, we do not whisper their names, we just recorded it down on paper. And some of these papers get lost or stolen without our knowledge.

Owner

‘Ah Heng, you got the tea ready? They are grumbling for the late service.’ I disliked Ah Heng when he is one of his moods. And today was no exception. It all happened this morning when the customer insisted on seeing how he made the cup of tea. Now that is taboo to the shop, so he went crazy on that; almost pouring hot boiling water onto the customer if I had not stopped him.

‘I wanted to make sure the tea was okay to drink. Nowadays you cannot be too careless or you end up dead.’ Well,. That is one customer I lost today; courtesy of my range of profanities and upholding my staff integrity. But Ah Heng has not got over it, so he is working slow to showed his anger. And I got a couple of customers who is going to be late for work.

‘Aiyah! I do it myself. You go and collect the cups and clean the tables.’ I told Ah Heng who went off in an annoyed manner. Its his domain here, but I also know how to make a good cup of tea too.

There are a few factor to a good cup of tea; and the most basic is the boiled water must be hot as like newly boiled. The other factor is the tea leaves which when we do it on the shop, its all added into this cloth filter and dipped in the large pot of hot water. Two things happened here; one the tea leaves which was used to make the first pot would be constantly added in hot water to strain more tea drinks. That’s okay as the tea leaves are still very strong in their flavour, but after a few straining, it will get weak in its flavour. Most inexperienced persons handling it will add in more leaves to make the tea flavoured better. It works but you are adding onto new leaves to the old ones. Ideally, you should cleared the old leaves and used only new leaves.

And tea leaves dipped in the hot water too long will make the taste bitter. The tea leaves should be removed from the water when it has released it flavor.

And the next factor is the milk; it must be of good quality or the taste of the tea will be compromised. And the right amount must be added in not to make it too milky or less milky. The later will will be bitter to drink. This is the art which many has not learned yet. I used fresh milk as they come out nice and not too milky.

‘Mr Chan is here. He wants his special today.’ Ah Heng never liked those chinese who dressed like the englishman and worse of all, smoked those pungent cigars.

‘Mr Chan, good morning. Please have your drink and some biscuits to go with it. The biscuits are baked with almond and fresh from the oven.’ I would had called a man like him, as ‘Towkay’ ( Boss for local dialects ) but Chan here is different. He dressed and talks like an english man. Some of us said, he is more english than the english man himself.

‘Almond biscuits; I would like to have that.... ah, delicious and well done. Like the ones which my wife made fro me. Can you have some send to my house.... say two dozen of them, and make sure they are wrapped in those brown papers.’

As I wrapping the biscuits, Ah Heng came up to me and said; ’may he die eating it.’

Chief Inspector

I wondered how cyanide can be introduced into the household and why these few people. The two victims common indicator is that they are both businessman. But not the latest, a retired colonel whose only favourite past time was talking about his past glory in the country club. So where is the connection and why is it only at tea time they died.

I can’t help thinking about it, and watching Ah Long sweep the floor for the second time I am here. Perhaps he is telling me something that I do not know. But I can wait for him to tell me, but right now I am enjoying my cup of tea and biscuits.

The man I want to see is here now.

ii

Chettiah

‘You asked me if I know the man; of course, I don’t know him. I know a little bit about him, besides that he borrowed a lot of money to the chinese businessman. He play big money here. His name is Barath, and he is not my race. He is Indian Muslim, from the nothern region. He takes big risk in the business, but he got good customer.....’ Rude of this man to stop me with his hand from talking, but I am okay to obliged as long as he is paying for the cup of tea.

‘Sorry, Siva, but I need to know if Barath knows Towkay Lim, who died some months back. Your group talks to each other to share information.’

‘Ai-yoh! I already said, Barath works with different customer, and his money is big amount. I lend to the poorer people, like the clerks and towkay here’ pointing to the coffeeshop owner. ‘But he never borrowed from me. I just say like his kind.’ I don’t want my cup of tea to have extra ingredients if I betrayed my customer’s names in public.

‘So you are telling me; Barath borrowed big. So who will need such money?’ asked the Chief Inspector.

‘For business of course. I know one towkay came to the association to asked us to joined together and lend him money. He want to buy this machine from London and needed the loan. But we declined, so he went to see Barath.’ I tell you the cup of tea is worth the information I give out. Second best in town, as the best is made by my wife at home.

‘What’s his name?’ asked the Chief.

‘Michael Chan, the chinaman.... Oui, Towkay, add some more biscuits. Very nice to eat.’

Owner

One thing I disliked about Siva the Chettiah; is that he talks too much when he is drinking. And the other, he drinks more when he is not paying the bill. But today, he tells me some news even I do not know. I knew Michael Chan went around looking for land to build his new factory, but he never said he wanted to borrow money. The Chan’s family is rich and they owned many business here and also land. But the death of Old Man Chan, caused a big problem. His two son, Michael and Tommy fight over the father’s wealth, but poor Tommy died in a car accident. He was drunk and drove into a ravine. The newspaper said it and we all know Tommy was always drunk by nightime. So no one was surprised of his accident. But the land purchase raised some queries. As said the Chan’s has lots of land around, but why would Michael wants to buy more, and needed to raise money?

I will check that later, but right now I need to look at my newspaper for the latest in the news.

‘Towkay, did you see my notebook? I must had left it here the other day.’ The Chief asking for his notebook, which I did find the other day. I run a honest business, so I kept it for him. I handed to him the notebook and he pocket it immediately. I did not return to him the pencil as its short and stubby when I saw it.

“Oui, Siva. The towkay Chong who died that time; you know him? He do what business I am not sure?’ I was trying to find out something from Siva. In his trade, the businessman comes to him for a short loan or fast loan, something which the bank do not do at times.

‘Chong...ah, he was Chan’s partner in some business, but later they separate. No more friends after that. I can tell more if I have one more tea please.’

Kinda tells you how much a cup of tea can make a person talks more. And Siva did more than he should. So much that the Chief Inspector standing behind the pillar at the shop next door was paying attention to the conversation.

Country Club

‘Cecilia, I am honoured to be meet you again.’ The colonel was in his best of manners to greet the wife of Michael Chan. ‘I take it upon that Michael is coming over to joined you, or are you her for the ladies tea time.’

‘Actually, neither of those. I am here to see you, Colonel Sebastian. I am here to personally thank you for helping my husband in his new venture.’

‘A good investment never eludes me, although some did in my life. And I am ever willing to help where I can for good friends.’

‘Thank you again. And please convey my regards to Aaron’s mother, if you do see her. I hope my past will not discrupt the future. I must be off now. Have a nice day and cup of tea.’

‘I say, old chap. That lady Cecilia is a charming lady. You know her well?’ asked another old retired major who chose to retire in this humid country.

‘Yes, I do. She was from Manchester and a fine lady for a gentleman, though she married out of her rank. I knew her father well; fine chap in the regiment. Cecilia used to dine at my house every weekends, until she went to London for her nursing studies. Met Michael and we never seen her since then. By jove, how about a game of cards? I am mighty twitchy to win back my money.’

So a game of chances was on.

A cup of tea was served for a man with some distant thoughts of his son.

Chief Inspector

That was a rush for me, having one too many cup of tea, and how was I know that the bathrooms are all occupied when I needed one. I could had joined some of the locals, but that would be ungentlemanly of me to do so. I read my notebook and the extra notes on it. I knew the owner will not failed me despite his rude appearance. All is forgiven in the course of duty. His notes tells me more about the who’s who in this town.

Chan came into his inheritance, but not without a long fight with the brother. And later he found there was not much to fight over anyway. Tommy had taken the chunk of the wealth with him in the form of debts for his drinks. The lands are there, but they are all encumbered to the banks for survival of the existing business. It was also rumoured that Michael Chan had found gold in some old mines up in the hill. Now gold is the commodity to hold onto in these times, so he is trying to extract it. But has limited resources to do it. Michael did once asked Ah Long who can he trust to test some samples he has got. So Ah Long told him of a good goldsmith who can do it, but he swore Ah Long to secrecy.

It was about then when Chong came into the scene. He wanted to liquidate his shares in the business with the Chan, and an ensuring legal fight was on. But the legal fight went dead when Chong died of a heart attack, and the next of kins were not keen to pursue anything during the mourning period of ninety days. But it tells nothing close to the murder of the two victims.

As for Barath and Lim, there was little to tell, as there was no connection except they all died of heart failure as a result of cyanide. It could be coincidental. I need to speak to the widows’

Owner

Why can’t the widows’ be english woman, so I don;t have to be dragged in as interpreter. For one, the chinese do not like to talk about the recent departed so I had a hostile time talking to the family. But luckily, I managed to convince them that we may have some connection here. And education counts a bit too. The Chong and Lim families has children who studied in english missionary schools, so their thinking is a bit more ‘open’ to such discussion. So in the conversation, there was one common factor, they all had tea and biscuits before they had the heart pains.

To be exact almond biscuits from my shop.

So was Barath that day when he collapsed in pain.

The moment I reached the shop, I told Ah Heng to removed all the almond biscuits and throw them away. But the stupid Chief said no, he wants to analysed the. I looked at the english man and said; ‘you think I do this people? You are one mad man too.’

But they took all my biscuits and all the flour with it.

I only served bread that week, and no more biscuits.

Chief Inspector

The chemist told me there was nothing on the biscuits or the ingredients. And we had a lot of almond biscuits for tea time. I went back to tell Ah Long, but he said they are now baking only bread.No more almond biscuits. Anyway, almond smells like croakcoach and they had enough of croakcoach to contend with. I do not know what turned me off the almond biscuit’after that day; the taste, or the rodent. Or the case.

But we have a common connection; almond biscuits and a cup of tea among the three victims. But why Towkay Lim?

I will need to see Michael Chan on this information.

‘Lim from Main Street? Yes, I know him. He and my dad go back a long way. I was at the funeral and I felt sad for the family. What do you want to know?’ I see the man named Michael Chan accomodating my discussion. He shown no signs of anxiety or remorse, but calmed as if this is just another afternoon talk in the country club.

‘Do you know him well? I mean like in business trade; did you worked together? Or planned to do so?’

‘Lim? No, we did not do anything of such. We discussed things like any other businessman would do, but we never got together. Is there anything wrong here? Please be frank on it.’ I looked at the man’s eyes and see no emotions to the matter. It was then we were interrupted by his wife.

‘Cecilia my wife, this is Chief Inspector Kevin from Singapore.’ I was surprised to see an english lady in the company of this man. I am not a race conscious, but I was not prepared for it. And she is a beautiful lady of the isle. We shook hands and she sat next to her husband.

‘You can called me, Kevin. I am here to check on some routine matters on the Lim’s and thought your husband can help me. Please accept my apologies if I am interrupting  your afternoon.’

‘None whatsoever. Michael never joined me for my tea ladies sittings, and I detest the gossips, so its a blessing to be dragged away. I do not know the Lim’s. Who are they, Michael?’

‘Some businessman who used to worked with daddy, and now he is dead from heart attack. I have never worked together with him.’ I can see Michael dismissed the issue as a trivial discusson,.

I excuse myself when I saw the Colonel walking in. The Chan’s was kind to vacate the seat for my guest, and he gave the young couple a bow to their departure. The Colonel was in his best riding dressing, and he looked tired. He signalled the butler for his tea to be served.

‘Chief Inspector Kevin. We finally meet, and I have heard of you. How is your dad? Pardon me, your step dad I meant.’ An arrogant bastard I would has termed him, just like the Colonel, but I held back my speech lest I scared the afternoon ladies from their tea. We exchanged some pleasantries like where I was staying and whom I met since then.

And finally we went down to my discussion.

‘Lim of Main Street? Crafty bastard that one. He conned me to buy a land of his for a hefty amount, and then ignored me on the street. He did the same to Michael but the deal went flat. Oh, sorry. It was the other way around. Michael wanted to sell one of his land, but pulled out at the last minute. That riled up the chap, and they argued here in this club. Shortly after that he died; poor sod but I couldn;t care less.’

And tea was served then. But no almond biscuits.

Owner

‘Ram, you not worked today’ Ram is one of the eight butlers’ working in the country club. He is dressed in his usual drab’ old shirt and shorts, plus sandals.

‘Today, I am off. So serve me my tea please. And bring some biscuits.’ So I did but no almond biscuits; only milk biscuits.

‘Ram, if I hired you to work for me, I am sure to die of over work. Where can I afford to let you off one day a week? Even Ah Heng asked for one hour, I also shoot him down.’

‘Thats’ why I am working at the club and not here. You chinaman all the same; work and work. No stop for rest; only work.’ Ram has taken his second sip of my finest tea so time for me to start on my topic.

‘What to do? Like Towkay Lim, work till die. One day, even Chan will also be the same.’

‘Those two; terrible to the club. I tell you, they come one day to the place, and shout at each other. Lim said Chan owed his money for the business, and now want cheat him of the land. I tell you so embarassing; the two argue like children. Luckily the Chan’s wife was there to drag the husband away or else sure fight. Then we would had the two ‘suspended’ from the club.’

‘So bad huh?’ I top up his cup of tea and add another biscuit.

‘All because of money. I tell you these rich man sometimes got no money, but they act like one. I also hear Lim liked to lend money with no paper; he is afraid of goverment checking on him. But he got write; I know. Its in his small notebook he carry with him. Once he left it at the table, and I returned to him. I got rewarded one dollar. Hahaha.....’

Thats’ a lot to pay for a notebook. I wonder if Kevin will do the same for me, after all I did safekeep his notebook twice.

iii

Mdm Wang

‘Chief Inspector, you are asking me to check on my customers who has dealing with Michael Chan. I will tell you none and that is the only answer I can tell you.’ I looked at the english man who came in here today to show his authority over my territory. I may had been pledged to served ‘voluntary’ to the Forces, but this is not within my scope of ‘voluntary’.

‘I asked is a favor from you, Mdm Wang.Michael Chan could be my only link to finding out on the murder. And you lost two good customers, and can you afford more of them?’ Nothing annoyed me is when someone questions my business.

‘I could afford to lose more than you know, but can your people afford to lose me? I know more secrets of your kind that your station cannot even think of. So don’t think I am a woman here; in my house, I am the Empress. And be humble on your next visit. Now go.’

I am not happy today, and I signal my errand boy in.

‘Get me Michael Chan. And bring in the cup of tea for me. And hold back on the sugar.’

I know Michael Chan will see me on the drop of my pants, in a manner of speech, and so he did.

‘Michael, I am curious about your investment plans. The one which you mentioned to Old Man Lim. Care to share with me? I have a need for some retirement plans.’

Michael Chan

Nothing is more pleasurable than wealth, especially if it can be measured in value of dollars. I had no problem with it when I was in London, swinging with the crowd and dancing at the balls. It was only on my return, that I found that the wealth was in the name only. Father had used up the dollar value in silly investment and now laid in bed with an ailment of unknown causes. Tommy, my elder brother given the task to run the business was in bed most days and drinking most nights. We lost half of our wealth to my father’s associates. Even my news of my engagement to Cecilia was not welcomed by any, as they felt I married out of my kind.

So what is my kind?

The one who cheated my father when he is lying in pain, or the one who drinks to the fullest every night. I was blamed for the issue too with my lifestyle, but I defended it. I was with the right crowd to expand our business overseas. But now I am without the wealth of value to do it. I tried to control the remaining wealth, but they said its for Tommy as dictated by my father in accordance to tradition. I can only be the master when the rightful master is dead. So he did died, when I fixed the brakes on his car. He knew nothing about the western technology, like me.

I also confronted Lim on the deeds he took from my father. I exposed his wrong doing and manipulations, and he asked me to forgive him. I needed his help so I asked him to lend his wealth value to invest in my latest scheme. He did on the ground of secrecy, and he broke it in open at the club. Cecilia was there, and she was distraught at the embrassment. If it was in London, I would had slapped him with a challenge, but this is only her colony at the Far East. But Lim died before I could regain my honor.

Now this lady of the class wants to be my partner. I am blessed to be with this change of luck. Its like when I was at the tables in London, when the bets seemed to be against you, it can chanegd with the presence of a lady. And that lady was then Cecilia, and today its Mdm Wang. I took her wealth to invest in mine. And we will see the gleam of gold from it.

And it was all done over a cup of tea and some biscuits.

Owner

I don;t know what to say when Ah Heng told me he is going to leave me for another shop. It seems he was upset that I ‘invaded’ his position to make tea the other day. And he was also upset that I demoted him to serve on the tables. I had to pacify him over two hours for him to re-consider his position, and also allowed him to go off early to see his friend, Ah Lan.

Its deplorable the new workings of the new establishment following the english man’s rules, makes mine like a slave camp for workers like Ah Heng. I work as hard as him, and yet I do not complained. Even I don’t get to see my wife on the days I wanted to. And now I am everyman in the shop; doing everyman’s job, and they still called me ‘towkay’ for boss.

And I thought the day was bad, it just turned worse.

Kevin came in with his notebook.

He ordered his tea and bread as we ran out of biscuits. So he sat there and write his notebook with another stubby pencil. Must be the pay they are getting in the Forces. I am not paid todate anyway. Anyway, I got one pencil left once by a passer by, so I passed it to him. He was glad to have a pencil to write longer than his thumb.

When he left, he took his notebook with him this time, but he left a dollar on my table. I ran out to give his change but he was long gone down the street. So I kept the change to cover his next drink. But he left something behind; his whistle.

Thats bad as every Forces person never leaves their whistle. Its like not putting on your hat when you walked out the house. I fear for his safety then.

Chief Inspector

Its a hot day, and I did two things today which will marked the day. I left a dollar for the drinks at the shop as I had no change. I wondered if I should asked him for those when I go there again or just ignored it. Well, at my salary, I really can’t afford much dollars to give away. But the call of nature was too great to ignored.

And the other I seemed to have misplaced my whistle. I can’t find it on my person, and I don’t fancy looking at it at the Outhouse. So I will just put it in as ‘lost’ in my next report. But there is a taboo in the Forces for us to lose our whistle. Its like losing your rank, as the whistle is our best hope of alerting anyone in case of assistance needed. But I will put it aside, as it not like I lost my gun. That will be an earful of enquiries and hearings.

I was also surprised to see a box of biscuit in my room. According to the lady downstairs, it was delivered by a delivery boy addressed to me. I requested for a teapot of tea from the kitchen, and it was served shortly. I opened the box, and found fresh baked almond biscuits. I was about to reach for one, when the door was knocked. I got up to admit in my guest; Mdm Wang with her pet poodle, Nancy; I think.

We sat down to talk and I offered her a cup of tea. She obliged me, and I handed her the box of biscuits. She took one and offered it to her poodle.

‘Nathalie likes amond biscuits.’ So that was Nathalie, and not Nancy. So we laughed at the likes of the poodle. And that was we remembered of her last.

The biscuits was sent to the Chemist and confirmed on the contents; cyanide in it. I tried to track the delivery boy but came to no result as this community shuts itself on outsiders.

Mdm Wang was very upset as Nathalie was her closest companion, and died in her arms. She refused my assistance in taking care of Nathalie and we never discuss on the things we planned on.

So was the attempt on me?

And why me?

Who knows I am staying here?

The Station? Mdm Wang? Ah Long? Colonel Sebastian and probably others in the Club. And also my would be murderer of mine.

I ponder this over my cup of tea, with parts of it served in the saucer for the house cat. The cat survived so will I.

Folk Tales 10; Golilocks

Golilocks homestay with Three Bears  ....

Now life in the city can be quite exasperating and stressful, especially if you have four walls, one door, plus two windows..... oh, they called it an apartment in downtown. Now this is a typical scene of a normal family with both parents working and one kid to be minded. So the parents one day looked at the child and said; ‘she need to know life outside of the city’.

So fine they packed her off to a outdoor camp with three hundred kids of her age, and ten coaches of which five are elderly folks. And its located in the wildness and far from any convenience shop. The first thing the kids are told of, in the cities you get muggers and serial killers; here you get bears and cougars which does about the same except they mauled you first before they devoured you partially, leaving the rest for the balance of the community to scavenger on. And they replay this documentary on wild animals carnage instead of cartoons. By then, you probably had terrified 90.9% of the kids, and the balance probably not; as they are deaf by the walkman they used to hear on.

But there is always one in every group; the maverick. And in this group her name is Golilocks.

Golilocks is a tough kid, holder of the martial arts darker belts, and reads horror novels when kids was reading fairy tales.

So guess what? Golilocks on her first outing to the forest trail, decided to divert off on her own. She sneaked off from the back and hid behind the tree while the pack moved on, skipped over some bushes, crawled on her front through the poison ivy shrubs, and swam the rapids. It helped as she studied the terrain before she enrolled. But no GPS tells her of hunger pangs and tired limbs, which is what she is having now. But luck has its way to her. Golilocks came across a cottage in the middle of the forest. It a unique house, as its got three doors, one placed over the other like the ones where your pet can crawl through at night. These one must be small, medium and large frames. So was the window sizes lined a row.

As curiousity called on her architect interest, Golilocks ventured in. To her dismay, she had never seen such poor design of interior decorations; all items comes in SML. This is absurd as its a waste of space and duplication spells monotony. But she spied some food left in the fridge. There were three fridges with different food contents, but she tried them all leaving half eaten portions. When she had her fill, she took on the task of redecorating the place with her acquired taste. Its not too bad, as she managed to split the unit into SML cache. She reckon the inhabitants will prefer their own private spaces in that manner. As she was tired, she slept on the small couch which fitted her frame.

Now the owners of the cottages came back from their honey excursion trip; and its the Bear family of Pop, Mom and Son. They went in in turn with Son, Mom and Pop so the door won’t slammed on the other. To their dismay, they found their home raided by some creature who has arranged the furniture in the wrong order, and also eaten their food. They called it dis-harmonic intrusion into one’s life. And then later they heard the Son screeching that there is a lady in his bed.

‘Now, Son. We are distressed by this, so don’t add on your fantasy notion in the mess. Pop, you need to talk to your Son more’, said Mom but the kid was frantic.

So the parents went to their son’s bed and saw Golilocks sleeping there. ‘I knew it was a blonde who did this. Wake her up, and asked her to leave our house. We can’t have her here as it will spoil our reputation.’ So Pop reached for Golilocks and tried to wake her up. She did and screamed at the top of her voice, causing the three bears to run out of the house. Unknown to them, the authorities was there and on seeing the rampaging trio and screams, they shot down the bears.

And so Golilocks was rescued and sent back to the camp. And the Counsellors reminded the kids of the danger of the forest again.

( If one is at someone’s home, don’t take it for yours as you could create mayhem. Just sit still and smile. Or better act dumb. )

MALE TALES Issue 1.077; Surviving your own

Issue 1.077: surviving your own .....

My first time moving out of my home comfort zone to be on my own was when I enrolled to college. Let me relate to you some experience then.
Here I am late teens and all dressed up in t-shirt and jeans, holding the piece of paper that says ‘you are in on the condition you pay your fees first ‘.  And guess what, I am the last batch to be approved aka means others did not registered so I am the filler.
How do I know?
Its only two days to Orientation or ‘Welcome to the College Day’. Gee, I made it before they closed the gate. Anyway, I was standing by the staircase which is the only place devoid of moving traffic and cluster of people in the Hall. And the guard came up to me and said; ‘move away’. I replied; ‘huh?’ and he pointed up. I guess he meant I was a voyuer. I am not, so I moved to the far corner to wait for my number and making sure there is a ceiling over me, and no windows besides me. So I guess I am safe from being re-classified on my first hour in college.
Okay, I signed, I paid and given a silly design shirt to wear plus ‘please make your way to the main hall’.... it was the canteen actually with rows of benches. So I proceeded like a trail of cattles to the abatoir... sorry, main hall. There I sat and met some guys who are like me; newbies. We shook hands and exchanged greetings and forgotten their names by the next hour.
It was the usual repertoire by the Staff and then we were ursher off by the class assigned. There I got tropping off with thirty others all looking like innocent lambs. The first thing they showed us were the toilets locations; essential in times of need. And then the canteen; equally important, and we proceed on a tour de look of the college. Luckily then, it was not that big, only a couple of hectares wide. And guess what we adjouned for lunch, and the senior ( he is the chappies who took us around ) says the food outside is better than the ones in the canteen. But that means walking across those hectares and coming back for the afternoon session, I guess not. Honestly, food in the canteen was not too bad; for one who is eating it first time, but after spending three years there, I can agreed with the senior.
After all the tour de look, it was a scamble for accomodations; and its on your own. Here I am running to the notice board and going down the list available. I am maybe the one of more than a thousand newbies looking at probably one hundred available rooms. Its frantic and crazy, and who cares about being molested then. But I was saved by an old friend who was studying there, and we bump into each other, he introduced me to who and who and I found my room, three miles away by bus, cramped three in a room, and shared by all nine of us in the same house, but wow.... its coed...I mean three guys and six ladies.
And so the college life starts... studies and mixing with new friends including ladies, and exchanging names, and envy those who drives to the college, even though its a rundown mini.
But guess what?
I met my first real love then. And college days ain’t that bad after that.
And all this happened in one week of college...... and I spend over a hundred fifty weeks there.... gee, that is long... but its more enjoyable when you have someone to share with.

To my Spanish friend

Bienvenidos a mi blog.

Cheers