06 March 2008

Chapter 1, Part III

The cool evening breeze caressed her fair cheeks and fluffed her already fluffy hair as she left the house. Beatrice felt pretty happy that she remembered to put on a warmer T-shirt this time.

Her keys jingled in her pocket as Dot the Intrepid Explorer tugged at his leash, zig-zagging his way along the road to sniff at every possible thing around. Overexcited at the prospect of actually reaching the park, Dot began to dance in circles while barking and wagging his tail non-stop.

She laughed at his silliness and bent down to pat him on his head. "Siao Kao!(3)"

"Handsome-looking dog you have there" a gentle and decidedly manly voice said.

Beatrice looked up and saw the elderly figure standing before her, wispy white hair neatly combed in a right parting on his balding egg-shaped pate, and showing no signs of intending to start a comb-over. Wearing nothing but a white Cap Pagoda cotton singlet over a pair of navy blue trousers, the man’s thin form towered over Beatrice’s round five-footer frame. His wrinkly, fair and liver-spotted face smoothed itself into a grin as he motioned with his antiquated black umbrella to Dot, who by now had made acquaintance with his right trouser leg and was about to start a fine tug-of-war game with it.

Aiya(4)… Dot! Very sorry about that, Ah Pek(5)” Beatrice apologised sheepishly while tugging Dot’s leash for him to return to her side.

“Don’t worry about it, girl” he replied, smiling broadly at her while exposing two straight rows of yellowing dentures.

“He is just like my dog, Ah Kao(6). My wife will be walking him over shortly…would you like to meet them? Ah...here they come now.”

A lady not much older than Beatrice bounced happily over with an equally enthusiastic Golden Retriever. The lady giggled as her curly fringe tumbled past her eyebrows and made little shakes with her head, causing her waist-length mane to shimmer in the light of dusk. She was a picture of youth in her figure-hugging yellow T-shirt and sea blue shorts. Ah Kao and Dot immediately sniffed each other before yelping and running in circles together. Beatrice felt slightly shocked over the age of the man's wife, but quickly chided herself mentally to not kaypoh(7) about other people's business.

"Dear, meet..." he paused before glancing back at Beatrice. "I must have forgotten my manners, young lady. My name is Kong(8). How am I to address you?"

"Umm... my name is Beatrice, but you can call me Bea. Nice to meet you both!" she said while shaking both Mr and Mrs Kong's hands, trying her best not to look like a goggle-eyed nitwit.

"Nice to meet you too, Bea!" chirped Mrs Kong, before turning her full attention to her husband. "Darlinggg....you make friends so fast, I don't think I can catch up with your sea of friends!"

"Don't catch up then - just wait for the tide to turn" came the quick reply.

The couple grinned appreciatively at each other over their private joke, momentarily forgetting their surroundings.

Beatrice coughed.

"Umm...I'll just be going to the park right now" she motioned.

"Do wait for us Bea" Mr Kong said.

"Yes... do wait for us, Bea" chorused Mrs Kong, before cheerfully announcing "We can walk there together!"

"Okay lah.. let's go then" Beatrice said.

Dot and Ah Kao barked in unison before happily dashing off to the park by themselves, stopping occasionally to turn back and ensure that their owners were in plain view.

The five of them were quite a sight in the neighbourhood that evening. Those not in the know would have easily mistaken the group for a grandfather having a wonderful evening stroll with his two grand-daughters and dogs.



(c) Maggie Chong, 2008
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(3) Crazy dog!
(4) Oh no!
(5) Usually used for any (i.e. not related to the family) elderly man as a form of respect. Variation of this being Ah Kung or Kung Kung.
(6) Lazy form of name for dog.
(7) Poke her nose into.
(8) As in surname i.e. family name, not King-Kong. ;)

04 March 2008

Sick

Not feeling well since Monday, but much better today.

Think I can do another part of the chapter after all. :)

03 March 2008

Chapter 1, Part II

"Its the strangest thing, Mika" Beatrice mulled over the phone. "He just sat in one corner and didn't say anything the entire morning. Mai chap wa pun(1)."

"Don't be silly, Bea! Dogs don't say anything because they can't. Kao em hai yan lah(2)...stop treating pets like humans!"

"Tapi... there is one cause for concern" Beatrice insisted, ignoring Mika's admonition.

"Bea... I've got a meeting coming up at 5 pm. We'll discuss this the moment I get home, okay?"

She sensed Mika rolling her eyes at the other end of the line.

"Okay...balik makan or not? I'll call you eight-ish if you're not home by then."

"Today's meeting is going to be a short one, I promise. No need to cook dinner tonight, I'll ta pau something back for us. And Bea?"

"Yah?"

"Get some fresh air - go jalan-jalan in the park or something.. its not good to stay in the house alone for too many hours. Rosak your brain only. Love you, 'kay"

"Love you too. Bye."

Beatrice carefully replaced the pale blue receiver on its cradle, before pacing the living room frantically.

"I am NOT going to worry over nothing! Yes, I will go out!"

As if to affirm her thoughts, Dot shuffled up to her - wagging his tail, walking leash in mouth. She had to smile.

"Come Dot, lets jalan in the park" she sang as she grabbed her house keys.



(c) Maggie Chong, 2008
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(1) Didn't want to acknowledge me.
(2) Dogs aren't human.


29 February 2008

Break

Not writing anything this weekend. Verrry sleepy today.

*yawns*

28 February 2008

Chapter 1, Part I

He crouched silently in the corner, hidden from view.

Training his keen eyes on the white-washed suburban home, he watched her henna-dyed red hair bobbing about as she frantically moved from room to room. Searching. Calling out the name of her loved one in vain. Should he help ease her worries?

No.

He is determined to give her no such relief. Not after the horrendous crime he witnessed this morning. His eyes narrowed at the thought.

Pressing his slim frame as close as he could possibly manage against the wall, he held his breath a few seconds a time before exhaling slowly, careful to minimise the whoosh of air coming escaping from his mouth.

The sun is rising, its light filtering through obsessively symmetrical shrubbery. The morning dew evaporates at the gentle touch of the warm rays, giving off curiously musty hints of damp leaves, insects, bird feathers, earthworms and dirt, all fused into one intangible aroma.

He is beginning to sweat - the cement floor greedily drinks in the liquid as small drops quickly spread into large, deep grey polka dots. And the poor workmanship of his cheap cotton t-shirt (with the words "Who let the dawg out?" emblazoned in red across the back) was starting an itch just below his shoulders. He badly needed to scratch it.
A tiny spider industriously spins its web on the wall, near his face. He could feel the cold and sticky threads just barely touching his nose. How he loathes araneae in all their disgusting eight-legged existence. Yet he remained in that corner, motionless and unnoticed by the world.

The woman has stopped her search momentarily. He knew from the rumble of the house's main water pump that she was in the shower, getting ready for work. In his mind's eye, he could see her stepping daintily out of the steam-filled shower, dressing up in clothes carefully matched the night before, styling her hair and giving her eyes and lips a "quick swipe" of make up before balancing her brown plastic 80's-style spectacles on the bridge of her nose. The same routine, just as he has observed her doing every weekday, year in and year out.

Exactly 5 seconds more before the main door opens.

5...
4...
3...
2...
1...

The heavily-polished rubber wood door swings open, and the woman spots him almost immediately. Damn.

His cover is blown. The operation is over. He would need to think of a valid reason...no, three valid reasons...for this unforgivable failure, by way of explanation to the Chief.

"There you are...where have you been all morning? You had me worried sick!"

He shared none of those sentiments with her as he casually strolled into her waiting arms, the morning's crime erased from his memory through sheer generosity and forgiveness.

And what sort of name is Dot Kueh for a regal and intelligent Pekingese like him, anyway?

Stupid human.



(c) Maggie Chong, 2008

Epilogue

"Do you know what your problem is?"

Beatrice reluctantly moved her attention from the delicious novel that she was just diving into to the owner of the voice with the accusing tone. It was Mika, arms akimbo over her fashionable dress, her expertly made-up-to-look-like-there's-no-makeup face stern, her long silky blue-black hair whipping in the cool morning breeze.

"Huh? Apa dia?"

"Do you know what your problem is?" Mika repeated.

"No, what is my problem?"

"Your nose is either stuck in a book or glued to the PC. When are you going to get a life? And a date?"

"I do have a life, okay!" Beatrice protested weakly. "I have you, and my Dot, and my 'net friends, and um... erm..."

At that, Mika smiled broadly at her. Rather too quickly in fact, Beatrice realised a little too late.

"Beatrice Kueh! Its high time you came out of your shell, woman. You are wasting your life that way. What are you... 35 this year? How are you going to meet someone like that? Come on lah... you can't be hiding your fabulous self from people all the time. And pets die sooner or later. Lets go shopping and give you a nice makeover!"

"Tapi ha..."

"Uh huh...No 'but's! You are coming with me!"

Beatrice heaved a sigh of resignation. Growing up with Mika since their kindy days, she knew when she was beaten, fairly or not. Once Mika made up her mind to shop, nothing short of an unnatural disaster occuring in Malaysia could stop her. And foundation on her sensitive, easily-inflamed skin? Aih...

'Hmm... if I can divert her attention with the 50% discount bins, I may still have some daylight to stroll in the park with' she schemed as Mika happily strategised the day's shopping agenda.

"Ahah! If we do this right, we may be able to stay in the shopping complex the entire day. Oooh... this is so exciting!" Mika bubbled.

Beatrice groaned inwardly and outwardly at the same time. And prayed really really hard that there would be a cute guy or two to catch Mika's eye.

'And then maybe, just maybe, I will be able to escape the madness!'



(c) Maggie Chong, 2008

The Series

Have you ever had that moment when characters (with a main plot to boot) suddenly materialse in your mind?

I had one yesterday during my shower.

This is going to be one fun experiment! :)

05 February 2008

Persoalan

Mampukah ku
menyandang kesemua
limpah kurniaMu?

Mampukah ku
menyerahkan segala
hati dan batinku setibanya siang?

Mampukah ku
berubah menjadi
perempuan yang disayangiMu?

Mampukah ku
melihat wajahMu
memegang tanganMu
menyujud kakiMu?

Mampukah ku
begitu
tanpa kasih suciMu?

Past Writes

Friendship

When in Doubt, Percolate

Silence

Matters of the Heart

Sejenak

The Dream Centre

Ketika Ku Leka

Standing

The Sacrifice

I Am Woman

04 February 2008

I'm Not Crazy, Just Compartmentalising

That's right, this is where all poems, stories, etc will be posted as of today. :)