My Longkang

There is a place in Sibu called the Bukit Lima Forest Reserve. Many people go exercise there. You walk along the plank walk until you reach the end where you reach the entrance.

A couple used to frequent the place in the evenings. One day they were later than usual. The wife …I will use dialogue to illustrate the story:

Siew Fong: I knew something was wrong. It was getting dark. My husband was getting fatigued and walking very slowly. I decided to walk ahead. I thought this would spur him on.

When I looked back, I saw a woman riding on him piggy back. I was so frightened. Even the forest insects had stopped humming. He is my husband. I had to get him.

I walked back to my husband. I don’t know where I got the resolve and courage. I grabbed my husband’s hand. He was in a daze and seemed unaware of anything. My hair stood on end and I refused to look at the ‘thing’. I lead him out of the forest reserve.

There was a foul smell and it was very chilly. I felt like collapsing.I lead my husband by his hand. I refused to let go. It was a very big effort. I almost fainted. I prayed to God and kept repeating the Lord’s Prayer.

After a few minutes I looked back. My husband was no longer in a daze. The thingy was no longer there. He was surprised to see us so near the entrance. He was sick for five days after that.

We still frequent the place but we go early and leave early.

Another in my series of social commentaries

Character: successful businessman, early 30s, 1.83cm ,75kg, overseas graduate and eloquent in speech. Likes fishing and martial arts. Plays football regularly.

Donald : Write about me.Just leave out the personal information.
Bengbeng: Ok. What do you have to say?
Donald: I hate all women. All men, beware of women.
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Character : 27-year-old lady, Economics graduate, immaculately dressed in attire ala pasar malam. Bespectacled, slightly built, very fair complexion but with the type of olive shaped face and big eyes that seem to dominate the whole face, destined to attract glances from males wherever she goes

Setting : a night spot in Sibu

Mimi: It is simply ridiculous. I am so ashamed.
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I met this Bangladeshi recently. Recently I have been in the habit of having a leg massage every now and then whenever I feel pain in the legs . It all started with an accident half a year ago and my leg hasn’t completely healed. A slight mis-step it all comes back

Character : 25 year-old male Bangladeshi masseur, Rama. !.76m and Bollywood looks.
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Deco pic courtesy of abc.net.au

I met her in a clinic. Benghui needed to see the doctor for some minor ailment. As we waited for our turn, an old lady started to talk to me. Her voice was very soft and I almost had to strain to hear what she had to say.
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Bengbeng: Been a long time since I met you, Sir.

Mr Money Mint: Oh, I have been busy. I just didn’t feel comfortable any more. Each time I come, I am always suspicious of people hanging around me asking for favours or donations or asking me to buy things. It got to the stage where I just had to stop. I came to worship , not to set up a temporary welfare office here. Don’t get me wrong. For most of the requests, I have no problems at all. It is not a matter of money. I have enough but I feel discriminated against just because of my hard-earned gains. I have become weary now of people coming close to me. People whom I like avoid me respectfully because some feel they are not equal socially and some feel they cannot afford to live in my circles.Then, there are those who do everything they can to gain every advantage from me or my family.

The final straw came when I was sick and did not attend for three months. Not a single person called or visited to find out why.

Mr Money-Mint has a point. People like him are targetted everywhere they go for their success and wealth. People try to benefit from association with them but few actually feel for them. That basically, they are just fellow human beings. Or that in the end, they have to go, just like every one else.

It was around lunch time and I was walking to my favorite eating stall when I almost stepped on this snake. It was pissed and angry and how to put it’ raised itself up’ and lunged at me. I could make it dramatic and say I dropped my kongpia or how I heroically caught it etc but all I did was manage to evade it in time. That too was a bit tricky because of my hurt ankle.

Passers-by too were surprised as nobody had noticed it. It was next to a dustbin and seemed to be camouflaged there. Two sweet young things screamed.

I came back later, armed with a camera and it was still there but no longer angry. Just enjoying life in the sun but hidden from public view unless you are looking for it. Some one told me this is a particularly poisonous snake. Anybody out there knows? A name would be enough to google for it to find out if it is poisonous,

computer pic-file photo

My friend and I were as usual taking our morning breakfast when pops in a young man maybe 1.76m and 85kg. He has punk hair and has a little ‘toughness’ written all over him.
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Bengbeng on the telephone: What is it? You sound so ’stressed’.

Yong:

It is my son. He is so stupid. He was walking in town and wasn’t careful. He accidentally knocked into ’someone’.( The son is thirteen years old, cute, polite and very well-behaved boy ) He got in the way of someone who was walking from the other direction.

He was beaten up and no body helped him. Luckily the problem is solved. I asked my eldest son to see the man. I had to as the man is ’someone’ . He told my eldest son he wasn’t angry and that is why he only punched and beat my youngest son on the body and not on the head. Anyway the matter is solved.

My son didn’t go to school for three days. He is better now.

What is sad is nobody helped the boy. He didn’t commit a crime or anything and in no way looked like a crook. He looks very ‘good-boy’ look and in no way could be perceived as a threat. His size is small for a thirteen-year-old.

The father didn’t dare lift a finger. He just wanted to make peace. What is worse, if I were there, I would probably not get involved too. Who would dare to get involved?

:( %&^$#@?><

About half a year ago or more I was approached by certain quarters to help find funds to buy spectacles for the needy. These spectacles were meant for those who needed spectacles but had none because they couldn’t afford it.

The criteria we set was that the recipient should be financially needy and not in possession of a pair of usable glasses. After all we cannot sponsor every one who needs a pair of glasses. Some people who drive Mercedez also applied for these free glasses. Race or religion or ability in academic studies was not part of the criteria.
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