There was optimism in the air. The Japanese were no longer in control. The British were back. The people of Penang generally did not gripe much. They were just relieved the war was over.
For Ah San, it was a time of opportunity. Every day was a day of opportunity to earn money. After a hard day’s work selling clogs, he would don the one shirt that he had and take a walk in the evenings…along present day Penang Road to Sri Bahari Road junction. It was a time to ‘see and be seen’. Most of the time he would be wearing a white singlet and big baggy pants which reach just below the knee.
The highlight of his life was when he had a little taste of heaven. Ice shavings shaped and crushed to form a ball and then black and red syrup poured over it. It was absolutely delicious. For a little more money, Ah Pek would put crushed red beans into the ice balls. Ah………simply wonderful. Of course the hands would get sticky as the ice melts, but no body cared. Every body loved an ice ball. I would like to describe it as a precursor of the ice kacang that we eat today.
He was happy as he had never been before. He was financially independent. He could even afford a plate of ‘sar hor fun‘ if he wished : a plate of deep fried flat noodles soaked in a clear soup with pork pieces and vegetables and green chillies. Come on, if a friend asked him to, he could afford to treat a friend to red bean soup at the stall in Sua Tau Kei…..Ah San was contented.
To save time, he ran about whenever he could. To move around in a trishaw would be desirable of course but very expensive. He used to look at the ladies traveling in trishaws behind veiled curtains and knew his prospects were poor. He did not dream about owning a bicycle…only the loaded could afford a bicycle.
His family was in dire financial straits and his job not exactly a coveted profession then: e.g. a clerk to one of the British companies. To be able to work for a British company meant chances for matrimony were higher as the potential groom was deemed to have better prospects.
Ah San was a very handsome young man at that time. He started to have feelings for girls but it was difficult. He felt he could afford to feed himself but definitely not a family. To forget such stuff he would go to a friend’s house to listen to radio. It was like magic, ‘sounds, voices and music’ plucked straight out of the air. His friend was also a bachelor and his main asset being the radio only. They kept each other company…
To be continued………………