Author: Lee Su Min 李素明

I miss my home ….

CHARACTERS:

Stephanie Wong Li Ching

Justin Chan Meng See

William Ho Wai Tiong

Diana Lee Ling Ling

ACT I – Thursday afternoon

ACT II – Friday afternoon

ACT III – Saturday morning

ACT IV – Sunday morning

ACT V – Sunday afternoon

ACT VI – Monday morning

ACT VII – Tuesday

The scene of the play takes place on the pathway along Kay Siang Road towards the bus-stop in Singapore on 7 May 2020. Stephanie is walking under the hot sun at 38 degrees towards the bus-stop. Thereafter she boards a bus and arrives at the Evans Mall.

ACT I

Scene: It is Thursday afternoon about 3:00 p.m. Stephanie was walking towards the bus-stop along the pathway. A man dressed in navy top and navy pants confronts her. The man approaches Stephanie, and she was taken aback.

Stephanie (surprised): It’s not what you think.

Justin: No, my brains are working.

Stephanie: Well, so is mine!

Justin: But may I ask, why are you here?

Stephanie: Hey, I am just minding my own business. Why are you here?

Justin: Because I enjoy talking to you.

Stephanie: Go away, go look someone else to arrest.

Justin: I am not arresting you. I am just wondering if you needed any help. 

Stephanie: You are preventing me from accomplishing my daily task.

Justin: What is that? And where to?

Stephanie: Why do I have to tell you where I am going?

Justin: I am sure you must have more urgent things to do, rather than walking along aimlessly.

Stephanie: Urgent thing such as?

Justin: I don’t know, could be anything.

Stephanie: Name me a few.

Justin: Oh, I just saw that fire broke out in Okinawa district this morning.

Stephanie: How could you see so far?

Justin: I am not seeing; I am just giving an example.

Stephanie: Apart from Okinawa, where else is there having fire?

Justin: China, for instance, they could be flooding now.

Stephanie: I am not asking you about China now.

Justin: But you asked me for an example, right?

Stephanie: Ok, let’s talk about more urgent disasters now.

Justin: Such as?

Stephanie: Covid.

Justin: Covid 18, 19, or 20?

Stephanie: There is only one Covid.

Justin: Oh my God! 

Stephanie: Why OMG?

Justin: Today is Vesak Day, I just remembered.

Stephanie: Ok! You have not forgotten! Then shall I pay a visit to the Buddha or not?

Justin: It’s entirely up to you. But today is very hot, and the Buddhist Temple is very crowded.

Stephanie: Am I free to go now?

Justin (holds his hands out): By all means, madam.

Stephanie: Thank you Mr. Buddha!

Justin: Hey wait! My name is not Buddha!

Stephanie: Then what is your name?

Justin takes out a badge from his pocket and flashes it in front of Stephanie.

Justin: Let me show you my name.

Stephanie: I can’t see, I am far sighted.

Justin: Then put on your glasses.

Stephanie: Oh ok, I am not wearing my glasses.

Justin hands Stephanie a pair of spectacles.

Stephanie: Oh, my goodness! You stole my glasses!

Justin: So, what do you want me to do about it, report me?

Stephanie: Let me see your name card again.

Justin: You can’t remember?

Stephanie: I no speak the English, me, a Mandarin speaker.

Justin: I give up, just take these glasses, and go!

Before Stephanie walks away, Justin hands her another pair of spectacles.

Justin: Take this as well.

Stephanie: Thank you! 

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT II

Scene: It is Friday afternoon about 6:00 p.m. in the Evans Mall just outside Perfect Grant. Stephanie stands and she ponders. In her hand, she is holding the extra pair of spectacles that Justin gave her. She sees William inside but nonetheless knocks on the door.

Stephanie (shouts): Knock, knock, who’s there?

William: You don’t need to knock, the door is open, can’t you see?

Stephanie: I am not wearing my contact lenses now.

William: Of course not, you are wearing your own spectacles.

Stephanie: Oh, you can see!

William: Err, ma’am, of course I can see, I am not short sighted.

Stephanie: Aye, I can see that you are wearing a pair of glasses.

William: That means that you are wearing contact lenses now, for otherwise you wouldn’t be able to see.

Stephanie: I thought you said that I was wearing spectacles. Decide for yourself whether you want to see me as wearing spectacles or contact lenses.

Stephanie goes to the mirror in the shop.

William (stands behind her): Still looking good.

Stephanie: Of course! I am only seventeen.

William: That’s strange, my daughter is also seventeen today.

Stephanie: Show me her identity card.

William: (looks appalled): Madam, are you ok or not? Why should I be carrying my daughter’s identity card?

Stephanie (crossed): You told me she was seventeen, how would I know if you were telling me the truth?

William: Hey! That’s unfair! I am her father of course I know my daughter’s age.

Stephanie (smiles): I never knew you had a daughter.

William (embarrassed): I didn’t want to tell you; I was hoping to offer you, my services.

Stephanie: What services?

William: Actually, I knew that you were coming in to look for me today.

Stephanie: Who told you?

William: A little girl told me.

William suddenly wakes up; he rushed out of the shop and forgets to lock his door.

Stephanie sits there. 

From being in a good mood, she becomes furious. She walks to one of the displays and puts her spectacles inside.

Stephanie (thinks): Why do I have to look after his shop for him?

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT III

Scene: It is Saturday morning about 8:00 a.m. in the Perfect Grant. Stephanie is still inside sitting at the counter. The door is open, and she sees William coming in.

William returns.

Stephanie: Where have you been last night?

William: Why do I have to tell you? Are you my wife?

Stephanie: I am not, but you made me sit in your shop watching over all your precious articles for at least (she looks at her watch) by now more than 14 hours.

William: Oh, nobody asked you to do this.

Stephanie: I was merely doing you a favour, and I am going to release myself from captivity now.

William: Hey wait! Before you leave, show me your bag.

Stephanie: Why.

William: In case you took anything from my shop in my absence.

Stephanie: But why would I want to do that?

William: I know that you need a pair of new spectacles.

Stephanie: No, I don’t.

William: I say you do.

Stephanie: By the way, I came in here with a pair of spectacles in my hand yesterday.

William: We are not talking about yesterday now.

Stephanie: But I want to know why you suddenly rushed out of the shop when you were talking to me.

William: I was trying to attend to my daughter’s birthday party. 

Stephanie: Trying? You are her father; shouldn’t you be organizing it?

William: She is an adult now; she makes her own decision.

Stephanie: Seventeen an adult? Which county are you in?

William: As a matter of fact, she turned eighteen … wait … just this minute.

William frantically looks at his watch.

Stephanie: It’s here! I kept it for you.

William: Thank God. I thought it was missing.

Stephanie: Nice watch. But too large for my wrist.

William: Woman! You stole my watch?!

Stephanie: Merely trying it on, not stealing.

William takes back the watch and he look at it.

Stephanie: I didn’t do anything to it.

William (yells) at the top of his voice: It stopped.

Stephanie (emphasis): Err, I didn’t do anything to it, (and then adds) it stopped on its own.

Upon which William slaps Stephanie.

Stephanie (now starts to shout): You are violent!

William: Do you want to call for the police?

Stephanie: No, of course not, but let it be on the record that you slapped me.

William: Then just leave, I am not interested in talking to you anymore.

Stephanie: Bye, by the way, checking your display, you have a nice variety of spectacles, they are extremely intelligent.

William scratches his head.

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT IV

Scene: It is Sunday morning about 11:00 a.m. in the Perfect Grant. William has put up an advertising display in the Fresh Hire App. He wants to hire a new assistant.

Stephanie walks in.

William (looking calm): Why are you here again today?

Stephanie: I saw your advertisement.

William: Where?

Stephanie: In the Fresh Hire App.

William: Where? I want to see.

Stephanie: There you go! Let me show you.

Stephanie hands William her handphone.

William: Oh, I can’t go in, it’s locked.

Stephanie: Forget it, you are too old for this, let me come back for the interview another day.

But Stephanie continues browsing the shop ….

Stephanie: By the way, have you checked your display recently?

William: Why?

Stephanie: Are the glasses in the same order as they have been arranged before?

William scratches his head again ….

Stephanie: I don’t know if anyone disturbed them ….

William (takes cognizance): Wait. Madam! As far as I know, you were the only one who was here two nights ago.

Stephanie raises her hands up immediately.

Stephanie: I swear I didn’t do anything.

William: Then why the innuendo?

Stephanie: What is the meaning of this?

William: You don’t know the meaning of “innuendo”?

Stephanie: I repeat, me, I no speak English, I am a Chinese speaker.

William: Mandarin or Chinese?

Stephanie: Is there a difference?

William: Mandarin is the spoken form of the Chinese language, and Chinese refers to the language in general in written form.

Stephanie: Aiyo, so simple, let me go lah, I didn’t let anyone in last night.

William walks up and tries to grab Stephanie’s bag.

William: I know you took something from me the other night when you were here.

Stephanie: Go look at your CCTV.

William: I don’t have CCTV in my shop.

Stephanie: Then why did you leave your door open on Friday night?

William: Look, it was my daughter’s birthday and I had to attend to her.

Stephanie: Again, the same excuse. Where is your wife? Couldn’t she celebrate your daughter’s birthday in your absence? 

William: My wife is dead, a long time ago.

Stephanie: Oh, I see, I am extremely sorry.

William: About what?

Stephanie: About your wife’s passing.

William: No need to be sorry, she is in heaven now.

Stephanie: Then would you like to join her?

William (shouts): NO! Of course not! (adds): I am having fun here now!

Stephanie: Doing what? Talking to me?

William: No, waiting for someone to come for an interview.

Stephanie: Oh yeah, how forgetful I am, I was here for an interview, not for confession.

William: No, I was the one who was confessing, not you.

Stephanie: In any case, I am not a priest, confessing to me also no use.

William: Maybe I go to the church later today.

Stephanie: Today is Vesak Day, more effective if you go to the Guan Yin Miao.

William: But then I no speak Chinese, want to accompany me?

Stephanie: Err, I can’t, I need to look after your shop for you when you are gone.

William: How responsible! You are hired!!!

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT V

Scene: It is Sunday afternoon about 4:00 p.m. and William, and Stephanie are sitting inside the Perfect Grant. The shop is in the centre of the mall, next to it is a café that sells sweets and ice cream. They both gets bored. Waiting for a customer to turn up wanes the patience.

So, Stephanie and William walk next door, they both forget to close the door, leaving it open.

William: How’s coffee?

Stephanie: Great! Never tasted better.

William: That’s because you are having it with me.

Stephanie (takes cognizance): Wait! You have been here before!

William: Is this a statement or a question?

Stephanie: I thought you speak English?

William: Oh yeah, I forgot! I thought I was in China.

Stephanie: China! 

William: Why.

Stephanie: China is mainly populated by the Chinese race; you don’t see other races in there. Here we are multi-racial.

William: Oh, so I see.

Stephanie: Now you, see? 

William: Err, I need my glasses.

Stephanie (now furious): Do you wear glasses or contact lens?

William: Hey! What has this got to do with you?

Stephanie (raises her hands): I didn’t steal your glasses.

William: Yes, last night I went through all my spectacles, and I found a diamond amongst them.

Stephanie (exclaims): Diamond!!! 

William: Yes, diamond. 

Stephanie: How large is it?

William: I don’t know. All I know is that it is a rare gem.

Stephanie (eyes wide): Can you give it to me?

William: You want me to present you with a diamond for what happened last night?

Stephanie: Nothing happened last night.

William: I know. But only you and I know, and no one else knows.

Stephanie: Apart from God of course.

William: And I don’t even have CCTV, so even God doesn’t know.

Stephanie: Then what can we do to prove that we were innocent.

William: Install CCTV.

Stephanie: You pay?

William: Of course, I am paying for coffee.

Stephanie: How much?

William: Ten fifty.

Stephanie: Sing dollar or U.S. currency?

William: Again, you play the fool with me. I know that you know where you are.

Stephanie: I am here!

William: I can see now; you are none other than my employee Stephanie.

Stephanie: Don’t be rude, assistant not employee. And by the way, I saw something very amusing this morning.

William: What?

Stephanie: I was on the bus, and there the minute I sat down next to a lady. She picked up her handphone, and guess what I saw?

William: What did you see?

Stephanie: She had the picture of a legal assistant as her wallpaper.

William: How did you know?

Stephanie: I saw the name of her contact when she opened the handphone right in front of me.

William: Strange. Do you know her?

Stephanie: No. Never met her in my entire life.

William: Then just ignore. 

Stephanie: Have you paid?

William: I own this café as well. 

Stephanie: Oh, you are rich! I want to marry you now! 

William: Help me find the diamond first.

Stephanie: Which diamond? The one that you mentioned just now. 

William: Of course!

Stephanie and William take a long stroll back to the shop.

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT VI

Scene: It is Monday morning about 11:00 a.m. inside the Perfect Grant. William and Stephanie are sitting inside without anyone browsing around. Both are utterly bored. A cup of coffee is on the countertop.

Stephanie (softly): You are just a fat security guard!

William: Don’t be rude.

Stephanie: I thought after the coffee I can say anything to you.

William: I was the one who paid, not you.

Stephanie: And I was the one who looked after your shop the other night, in your absence!

William: But I am now paying you.

Stephanie: Oh yeah, how much is my salary?

William: I thought you wanted the diamond, in lieu of salary.

Stephanie: Ok, I will help you sell your diamond for you.

William (searches his pocket): OMG! I left it at the café!

Stephanie: Quick, let’s hurry back.

They both rush out of the Perfect Grant, arriving at Sweets and Dreams, three shops away.

William shouts at the girl behind the counter.

William: Have you seen my diamond?

Diana: What diamond? 

William: I left a small box here.

Diana: I didn’t see.

William: Didn’t see or cannot, see?

Diana: No difference.

William: You need a pair of glasses.

Diana: Oh ok, I will drop by after work.

William: Don’t forget to close the café when you leave.

At the same time, Stephanie closes the shop at the Perfect Grant.

William comes back and sees that the shop is closed, he goes home.

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT VII

Scene: The next day. Diana walks into William’s shop, she and William arranges the showcase. They counted and found an extra pair of spectacles. 

Diana (confronts William): You slept with the lady who came in with you yesterday.

William (raises both hands): No. I don’t sleep with my staff.

Diana: Then why did she leave this pair of spectacles behind?

William (raising his voice): I don’t know!!!

Diana: For Christ’s sake?

William: Yes, I confess now! I went to the 观音庙 yesterday!

Diana goes to the counter, opens her bag, and takes out a box.

Diana: Here you are!

William (panics): I never intended to give it to her.

Diana slaps William. 

William opens the box. He sees nothing inside.

William then grabs the letter opener by the side, he shoves the object perpendicular to and directly into Diana’s body.

Diana (softly): Do you have CCTV here?

William: You told me not to install.

Diana (a whisper): Then just go ahead.

THE CURTAIN SLOWLY FALLS

Trying to find his way around in Aunty Mui’s house ….

Chapter 1

Every human has the insatiable need to take revenge. To hate someone, they must be worthy of notice. No one hates me because I am no princess. Despite that, the books I read had promised me that my husband would be a knight coming in shining armour. At twenty-two, I have not read a single Mills and Boon. 

Chapter 2

I remembered Aunty Mui again. She was sitting on a swivel chair, in front of her was a large computer, instead of a vanity mirror, like all dames would have. The moment I entered, she turned around and said to me, in an opening statement, “I have lost him for good.”

Aunty Mui was a writer; I thought that she was referring to one of the characters in her story. So naturally, I did not take her seriously. I looked at the computer, it was on, and I could see that there was a draft on the screen. Aunty Mui was already seventy, being able to type on a PC meant that she was highly educated.

I found a chair and I sat down on the rattan. But before I could settle myself in, Aunty Mui asked if I were comfortable, and if I needed a pillow. And then before I could respond, she pulled out a cushion from under her table and passed it to me. The cushion was soft. I put it on top of my legs rather than behind my back.

Then I kept quiet, waiting for her next order. She did not switch off her PC, the screen was bright, it was obvious that the browser was waiting for her to input further bytes. Then she took quite a while before she rearranged the position of her mouse on her mouse pad and finally putting it away. 

I felt strangely welcomed. Aunty Mui had decided to meet me in person. She had been communicating with me virtually. And I had begun to equate her with the Empress in one of the Chinese dramas. Now was the only time that I could be close to her. Aunty Mui has two dogs and three cats, so it was not easy for her to give me any consideration, least of all, time.

The old lady has never mentioned about any man to me before, so that was a subject that took me completely off guard. A man?! Aunty Mui was not the glamorous type. She wore only loose shirts and long pants, never skirts or dresses. And she kept her grey hair short above her ears. In short, Aunty Mui doesn’t bother about her looks. And I respect Aunty Mui because she was simple and intelligent. Never would I have imagined her harbouring a lover either in her thoughts or deeds.

So, who was this “him”? A relative? An ex-colleague? A former staff? A stranger in the lift?

I gave her time. And I merely sat there, waiting for her to give me further information. I did not want to make her feel like I was probing, although I was very tempted for a quick answer. This was certainly very intriguing. 

Her bedroom door opened, Sandy her helper poked her head into the room, 

“Excuse me, ma’am, barley juice for two?” as she was talking, she came in, standing right in front of me she asked, 

“Do you want sugar?” “Warm or cold?”

I gave her my preference. 

And then I turned to Aunty Mui, “Do you want me to put up a missing person advertisement for you, Aunty Mui?”

“No!” she shouted immediately, “Of course not!”

I had never seen Aunty Mui so vehement before, so naturally I apologised straight away. I wasn’t in the wrong. It was the most logical suggestion, based on what she had just told me. 

“Then what can I do for you, Aunty Mui?”

She kept quiet, her eyes looking at me with hatred that I couldn’t fathom. I quickly looked down, avoiding her stare. I must have offended her greatly. My stupid cleverness!

And then knock knock, even though the door wasn’t shut. Sandy came in this time holding a tray with two cups of fresh barley. She put one on Aunty Mui’s computer table, and another cup on the small table in front of me. 

I said thank you, and then I kept quiet, waiting for Aunty Mui’s order. 

“Look what you have done!” Aunty Mui said.

“Err …. I ….” I haven’t done anything since I last saw Aunty Mui, apart from buying the August Wheat stock over the counter. It is a company that sells frozen food products.

“I thought I specifically told you not to go into the stock market,” she announced.

How did she know?

“Sorry Aunty Mui,” I replied. I had to say something, even though I wasn’t feeling sorry.

But inside me I was getting annoyed. What has this got to do with her? I was using my own money to buy the shares, as far as my bank statements tell me, I have not been borrowing from Aunty Mui.

“You have been using my resources to buy some shares, I was told,” she said.

I was shocked, “Using your resources?! How could it be?” “What resources of yours have I been using??” I asked.

“You have been communicating with Jackson!” she replied.

Then Aunty Mui got up from her chair, now swung towards me, and removed my cup from me. I still haven’t drunk the barley juice.

It is the same story. A woman falls for another man, the man courts her for a while, then decides to leave her. He disappears. The woman gets frantic, she looks for him everywhere but can’t find him whereupon she goes spiritual. 

But that was not the last time that I saw Aunty Mui.

Chapter 3

Having made some money from my investment, so that this morning I wore the hot pink dress to work. It was a new dress, and many people on the bus were looking at me. I felt important and that made me happy.

And I was beginning to be noticed by the customers who came into the supermarket at the Green Sloane. Also, I was beginning to remember where the grocery items were displayed. The can foods and dried goods on the shelf along the wall, the cereals, biscuits, and bread on the opposite row, and then behind the row it was the cleaning utensils the detergent. The wines and coffee were placed together I guess they were categorised as beverage. And then the dairies were on the other side of the wall. But I couldn’t understand why the freezer was stuck right in the middle of nowhere. It was a large container; customers must go round it before they move from the wine to the dairies. 

The other thing also was that I was beginning to find a correlation between the August Wheat shares I bought and my visits to Aunty Mui. Whenever I have paid a visit to see her, the price of my holding moved up, sometimes by a larger margin and other times by a smaller edge. At first, I attributed it to just pure luck, then as I visited Aunty Mui more often, and the momentum of my holding appreciation began to follow, I had to admit that there was some element of relativity in it. Of course, I call this superstition.

Chapter 4

It was not easy to gain forgiveness from someone whom you were not related to, much less on a matter on which you were responsible for. Aunty Mui had called to see me again. I knew that this time I had to make it or break it. 

I already knew that she does not lock her doors. The minute I greeted her, Aunty Mui said, 

“You are here only by the Grace of God,” 

I muttered in agreement. That meant that she had gone into extensive prayers before she asked to see me. That also meant that she could not make up her own mind. 

Then I wasted no time. Even before I sat down, I told her,

“Aunty Mui! This man has no real power. Any power he has is perceived by you. You love him, and you told yourself that he is the only man for you, and that you can’t live without him. He is riding on that and leading you astray,”

Aunty Mui did not pretend that she didn’t know whom I was referring to. 

“Jackson is not Jesus!” I began. But you could find our saviour in church, in the Eucharist, and in your prayers. You cannot crystalise the Son of God!”

“Whoever said that Jackson was Jesus?” the old lady retorted.

I could not argue with her, and I was too tired to. I had been very bogged down by the bear market. I was a Catholic and I have attended Mass. Telling Aunty Mui that I no longer believe in her religion would break her heart. And I didn’t want to be seen as a rebel. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. It’s just that I could see where Aunty Mui was heading.

I found the rattan chair and I sat down again, waiting for my fresh barley.

Aunty Mui immediately let out a cry, “Don’t leave me!!!”

“I won’t,” I said, that was the most natural response. And I had intended to come back again. I want my August Wheat to go up. I didn’t want to provoke a recession.

“I have been praying for your safety ever since that night ….” she began.

Since that night?

“What night?” I asked.

I had never been to Aunty Mui’s house at night.

“You don’t remember? We drank red wine under the palm tree …. and we slept under the moonlight until the sun came up …. you called me Eve and I named you Adam.”

Adam and Eve had no clothes on in the Garden of Eden. 

So, this confirmed it. Aunty Mui had a lover! 

But I am not her lover!

I quickly said, “Excuse me, Aunty Mui. It was barley water, not red wine. The last time I came to your house, your helper Sandy served me barley water, and we never slept under the moonlight, we were indoors most of the time, in fact, all the time.”

And in case she accused me of telling lies, since I am seated in her house now, I ventured to add, “you have been watching too many movies,”

“No, it is you! Say it is you!” she shouted at me again.

“I, err, I, err, ….”

I decided not to offend her. I really needed this on-going relationship.

“Ok, yes if you say so,” I complied.

“No! Not if I say so, it is fact. And the truth is that I still love you, even after 20 years,”

“That is a long time ago, Aunty Mui,” I replied.

“Are you sure you still remember the facts?” I added.

“No, it was just two months ago,” she said, “Don’t you remember? You were sitting here on this rattan chair,” Aunty Mui gave a wicked smile.

“Oh yes, I am here for you now, Aunty Mui,” I quickly brought her back to reality whilst I still could. 

“Why do you keep calling me Aunty Mui?” she enquired.

A strange enquiry.

Psychology books I read told me that I should henceforth pretend that I were her lover, Jackson. So that I said, 

“My dear Mui, I am here for you now, ask me for anything and I will answer you,” still waiting for my fresh barley.

But suddenly Aunty Mui sprung up, “Don’t toy with me, Geraldine Tay Swee Lian! I know who you are.” 

My face fell. So, Aunty Mui was making fun of me all this while. But the thing that disturbed me was that she called me by the surname Tay. The Chinese name Swee Lian was correct, but I was Yeo. And this was not the first time that she made the mistake. Could it have been deliberate? 

I needed a drink to calm myself down. The lady continued with the charade.

Let me tell you why you are here, I need you to find him for me,”

“I am not clairvoyant,” I put in a caveat.

“Well, then go get a crystal ball!” Aunty Mui yelled. Aunty Mui is a rich woman, and she is demanding.

“Ok, deal! Next time I come, I will bring one,” I promised the old lady, who seemed more likely to possess magical powers than I. She has three houses and a helper at her disposal, not to mention the cats and the dogs. 

I continued to stay. I told myself I would not leave until I’ve had my barley. It has a correlation with my August Wheat shares.

True enough, Sandy knocked on the door, and she came in with two cups. This time she already knew my preference.

Once I finished my drink, I made a quick excuse and left the old lady whilst she went back to her story.

Chapter 5

Since the new pink dress got me so much attention and unexpected joy, I continued to buy more dresses. From dresses I progressed to tops, and then as I saw that earrings were also advertised, I went ahead and bought a gold pair. I told myself I shall wear that if Aunty Mui were to summon me again.

There was a man in my supermarket. Having a man in my shop was not something to be alarmed about. But this man was here four days in a row. And today was just Thursday. We are closed on Sunday, which means that the man has been here every day since Monday.

Whenever he came in, the first thing he did was to go straight to the dairies. But he didn’t pick up any items. He would use his handphone to text someone first before he took a loaf of bread. Each time he came back with a different type of bread. Sometimes fine grain wholemeal, sometimes high fibre white, and even oat soft grain. I became quite amused. Surely, he need not consult anyone before he picks out his own staple food. And as far as I was concerned, bread is bread, whichever kind. But that was not it, after he has made his selection, he would go to the freezer and pick up the butter. I observed that the butter has always been the same brand and unsalted.

Ok, he has come round again. He greeted me this morning, and he smiled. Yes, his countenance was good, and his clothing impeccable, a shirt tucked in with a belt. 

“Hello,” he began. I quickly took the opportunity to ask,

“May I know why you are texting in my supermarket?”

“Huh?” “Why are you spying on me?” still smiling, the man said.

“I … err … oh ok, it’s just that I noticed you buying a different type of bread every time, surely you must have your own preference,” I told him the truth. 

“The answer is simple. I have four people at home, and each one prefers a different kind of bread,”

“That’s awfully inconvenient, I dare say,” I replied.

“By the way, would you like to tell me which kind of bread you prefer?” 

I scratched my head, “Err, actually I don’t eat bread at all,”

Then I would recommend wholemeal fine grain, it’s least harmful,”

“How would bread be harmful?” I was puzzled.

The man merely took out his wallet and credit card to place it on my tap pay device, and then without a further word, he walked out of my supermarket.

Chapter 6

I didn’t see the man for a week. And I really regretted not having noted the name on his credit card. Now I would have to go back on my records, and it is not allowed. So far, I have not made any mistakes on the collection. And I must tell you, it is not easy. Some customers prefer to pay by foreign currencies, and I had to convert the denomination into local dollars. Not an easy task. But this made my job more challenging. I like work that is demanding.

But at the back of my mind, I was still thinking of my August Wheat shares.

I logged into the website to check on the price of the shares every day, by now I have progressed to, twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. I am grateful for the technology which allowed me to see the price of the stock on my handphone, although they said that public data was not a good gauge. Well, if that is not a barometer, then what is? 

This morning they sent a memo to say that they found a cockroach behind the shelves in one of the can foods. I panicked and quickly hid the memo in my drawer below the cash register. Just at this moment, the man walked in, 

“Good morning,” he greeted me. 

“Yes, hi,” I said, composing myself.

“Listen, I was trying to look for green peas yesterday, and you don’t seem to have any,”

I didn’t know where the cockroach went, so I gave a non-committal answer,

“I am not sure if we still have green peas, yesterday a customer bought three cans, and I think we are out of stock now,” to prevent him from walking to the shelves, I added, “Why don’t I go check it out for you?”

I quickly rushed out of the cash counter and walked towards the shelves, whilst in a hurry I knocked onto the display stand with all the batteries, sweets, and stuff. The whole clip fell, and all the items splashed all over the counter as well as onto the floor. I hastened to pick them up, and the man also came forward to help me pick them up. 

“Sorry,” I said, “didn’t mean to be so clumsy,” 

“No issue, Geraldine,” he replied.

I have had my second cup of coffee today, so naturally I was more alert than usual.

“How did you know my name?” I asked.

He smiled, and he said, “I think you don’t look at yourself in the mirror,”

“What do you mean?” “Are you telling me that I am ugly?” I was a little annoyed, being clumsy was one of my failings.

He is rude! 

“Nobody told you to help me,” my voice a little louder this time.

“Hey! You don’t have to get angry over such a small thing!” The man merely got up from his squatting position, stood up, and walked out.

I am saved! Let me check for more cockroaches and see if there were any canned green peas. 

Only when I went to the toilet to freshen myself up before heading for home did I realise that I had my name tag on, and that the man saw my name on my chest.

I felt terribly ashamed of myself, and I wished that I would meet him again to offer him an apology. To cheer myself up, I went to the pop-up café by the side of the neighbouring hotel and consumed another cup of coffee, this time a double shot.

By the time I went home it was almost 9:00 pm, and I couldn’t remember where I had roamed after the booster.

After a good night’s rest, I woke up still feeling fresh, and the minute I arrived at the supermarket, I picked out the remaining can of green peas from the shelve, and I placed it prominently on the cashier counter. This just in case the man came back again for what he missed yesterday.

Chapter 7

My August Wheat shares fell today. I panicked and immediately thought of Aunty Mui’s barley water. It must have been because I have not been to her house for several, I think, weeks by now. The invitation was usually sent by her, and so I thought of inviting myself. 

I now remembered that I was supposed to buy a ball, specifically a crystal type, to present to her on my next visit.

But I couldn’t close the cash register at this minute. Not when it is at 11:45 am and I didn’t have an assistant. 

I waited till lunch time. After I put up the sign for “Out for lunch, be back at 2:00 pm” I left the supermarket and took a Grab straight to Adrenaline Street where I knew where crystals are being sold. 

The owner of the shop was just too eager to see me. He sold only crystals, of varying shapes and sizes, in all sorts of designs. I was completely fascinated, and I wanted to buy them all. Finally, I realised what I was there for, and I quickly picked a sphere. But there were several, I didn’t know if I should choose a large, medium, or small.

What size would Aunty Mui like?

Finally, I decided that I couldn’t afford an expensive one, so I carried the small to the owner.

“Call me Uncle John, you will see me again,” the rather good-looking man ordered.

“How much is this?” I went straight to the point.

“For you, today, it is at 134 dollars net.”

“You mean with GST?” I asked.

“If you come back tomorrow it would be without GST,” he smiled.

Without further ado I took out my purse and I paid him cash. I didn’t want him to know my name. I didn’t want to make this another area of my expenditure. 

Chapter 8

I called Aunty Mui. It was Sandy who picked up the phone. 

“Hello, is this ma’am Geraldine?” as usual she was polite.

“Is Aunty Mui in? Can I speak to her?” I did not waste time.

“Ma’am, I am afraid so, your aunty is very sick, she has not been eating for the last three days,” she volunteered.

“Then I must come and see her,” a good excuse.

“Come anytime you like,” Sandy replied.

It was a Sunday. I didn’t usually go to church. I took a Grab and arrived at 75 Riverton Drive. Aunty Mui’s house was packed in the middle and painted in yellow. I hopped off and rushed right in.

I peeped into Aunty Mui’s room before I stepped in. She was lying on the bed, sideways, her head facing the window. 

“Aunty Mui,” I whispered, not sure if she were asleep. 

Aunty Mui didn’t turn around. I guess she recognised my voice. 

“Don’t let your shadows darken my doorstep again!” In one go, mustering the remaining brute strength that she had.

I knew that I had provoked her by my science based and logical thinking on the last occasion. I should have known that religion is a taboo topic. I should have known that if I ever wanted to drink fresh barley again, I must not disagree with Aunty Mui on whatever she said.

Reluctantly I walked towards the bedroom door, not forgetting to say, “Sorry Aunty Mui, I will see you again.” 

Aunty Mui did not respond.

With trepidation, I hugged my crystal ball and walked towards the staircase and decided it best I left and texted her later after she has cooled down.

As I was going down the stairs, I saw Sandy. We said hi to each other and then she promptly disappeared into one of the rooms, presumably the one next to Aunty Mui.

Outside Aunty Mui’s house I stood, the rain started. I attempted to take out my umbrella but instantly saw that I had taken it out of my handbag to sun after yesterday’s downpour. The weather had been unpredictable these days.

Extremely frustrated, I muttered a curse, and then I decided that getting angry with the sky did not help. What I needed to do was to borrow an umbrella from Aunty Mui. But after the tiff, I could not bring myself to go back again.

But then I had not drunk the barley juice, which was the sole purpose of my visit. I went in again. I could ask Sandy for a glass of barley juice directly.

Sandy was afraid. She told me to see her employer again. I had no choice but to allow myself to be scolded again.

How do I neutralise her?

I decided to come clean with the old lady.

“Hi Aunty Mui, do you buy stocks and shares?” outside her bedroom I said, in a tone that I felt was audible, before I stepped in.

“Why, no,” she said, and then, “I am too old for that,” further on she said, “come on in,” 

I jumped at the chance. “There is no such thing as too old,” I said, in a bid to cheer her up. Although I did realise that anyone above seventy should not be allowed to take risks, it’s bad for the heart.

“Why do you ask?” she said. 

Sandy came in on time. She quenched my thirst and simultaneously drove up the price of my August Wheat. 

I stopped short. I changed my mind and decided not to confess to Aunty Mui. She still didn’t know that I had bought some shares after the day she spoke to me about the lost man. 

Aunty Mui and I chatted about her book and then we decided that it was still not time to publish yet.

Strange that the old lady changed her mood so suddenly. The weather must have had something to do with it. For I could hear the rain coming down heavily the raindrops splattering across the window.

Chapter 9

I almost lost my way home this evening. Maybe that was because I went into the pop-up café again. I felt recharged every time after I had taken the double shot. Tonight, immediately after my coffee I felt that I had to see Aunty Mui urgently. The price of the August Wheat had dropped again. I decided to go to 75 Riverton Street, and paid Aunty Mui an unannounced visit. I could just ask for a glass of barley juice even without seeing the old lady. 

Bolder this time, I opened the unlocked door and walked right in. I found Sandy in the kitchen, and I tapped her on the shoulder before asking, “Can I have a glass of barley juice?”

“Of course, you can, ma’am,” the girl was cooperative. And she promptly went to the jar by the side of the fridge. I saw an ant on the jar before she poured the liquid onto the pot to reheat it.

“How much barley do you add?” I asked. 

“A table spoonful, and some rock sugar.”

“Oh, that means I can’t control the sugar since it’s pre-cooked,” 

“Here you are, ma’am,” Sandy said.

I took over the glass, and the barley water was drowned by my double shot earlier on.

Aunty Mui was really sleeping this time. I tip-toed to her side, saw that she was breathing heavily. There was a document on her computer table, and out of curiosity I picked it up and I saw –

That was my own birth certificate! 

I almost fainted. 

No, this cannot be true! This must be one of Aunty Mui’s stories!

Without thinking, I took the glass of barley juice placed on the table and drank it all in one gulp forgetting that this was Aunty Mui’s barley.

I woke up from the story, then I excused myself from the sleeping lady muttering,

“Sorry Aunty Mui, I come back and see you again,” even though I knew that she could not hear me this time.

Chapter 10

Aunty Mui had not been looking for me for more than a month, and my August Wheat fell sharply. I went back to 75 Riverton Street, but it was overwhelmingly crowded. The entire house was decorated with white wreaths, and I walked in without being noticed. The entire living room had been cleared, in the middle was a coffin. Automatically I moved up to see who was inside. To my horror I saw Aunty Mui’s frozen ashen face. She was dead! 

I couldn’t stop myself from speaking loudly to the corpse in front of all the other mourners, this time decidedly repentant, and I thus began,

“Aunty Mui, I genuinely believe, and has been for some time now, that you are my real mother,”

“No, you are not my daughter, and what makes you say so?” Sandy replied.

“I saw my birth certificate,” I said.

“From where?” she asked.

“Your table, you left it open the other day when I was here,” I was honest.

“Whoever gave you permission to look at my things?” Sandy raised her voice.

“I …. err …. I …. I didn’t mean to be nosy,” I spoke like a baby.

“Is that what they teach you in law school?” Sandy was decidedly angry this time.

“No, I never went to law school,” I confessed.

“Then what were you doing in the university?” she became curious.

“I was doing accounts, but ended up as a cashier,”

“Oh,” she sounded quite disappointed.

“Sorry, Sandy,” this time I became bolder, since I had already made up my mind that Aunty Mui was my mother.

At this time, Uncle John came in, if you remember where I found him.

Chapter 11

The man was accompanied by another man whom I already knew, Jackson. 

Huh? How did they know each other?

Jackson moved up and paid his respects, bowing three times. I quickly followed suit since I have made a fool of myself. This was certainly not the time to rebind with your own mother. 

I greeted the man, who has been the one responsible for asking me to buy the August Wheat. He turned to Uncle John and introduced me to a man whom I had already been acquainted without his knowledge. 

“Hi Geraldine, please meet Tay Wee Loke, my dad,” then he added,

“He is one of the directors of August Wheat.”

Tay Wee Loke was the name of the father on the birth certificate!

Oh My God!

OMG!

At the same time, Tay Wee Loke came up to me.

“Look Geraldine, tell yourself that you will meet this Aunty Mui of yours in your next life, then you won’t feel so miserable,”

“But …. but ….” I stammered, “Aunty Mui is my mother,”

“Yes, I know, she treats you as though you were her daughter,”

“No, she is my real mother!” I said, almost crying.

“Real mother as in biological mother?” Tay Wee Loke said.

“Yes.” I said, sobbing.

“Who told you? She?” he asked.

“Nobody told me,” I said softly.

“Have you seen the birth cert.?” he asked.

“Yes, am afraid so,” I nodded my head.

“Oh, so that explains it,” he looked strangely confident, suddenly.

“She told you about this before?” I asked.

“No, she left everything in her will to you making me the trustee,” the man answered.

“Oh, so that’s why you are here,” I was surprised.

“Yes, I haven’t seen her for about twenty years.” The man lamented.

“So …. that means that you are her lover, and she abandoned me because of you!” I exclaimed.

The purpose of the will was for him to do a habeas corpus!

“No mother abandons her child wilfully,” Tay Wee Loke assured me.

“Then why didn’t she tell me for the past twenty years? And you know what? I am already twenty-two now,” I started sobbing.

Tay Wee Loke gave me his handkerchief.

“Do you still carry these things nowadays?” I was amused.

“Ok, you cool down for a while, let me go in and get some coffee,”

I sat amongst the mourners, and I left my mind blank. There was no music to liven up the occasion, and rightly so. 

Tay Wee Loke came back with his cup. 

“I thought you were going to get coffee?” I asked.

“You have been drinking barley from my recipe since time immemorial,” he said.

I took over the cup and hesitated to address this new figure Tay Wee Loke.  In any case, I have lived through life thinking that I had no family. I am not so sure that I welcome the idea of a new father now. 

An old lady presumably Mrs Tay sat by the side of mother’s coffin. She looked frail and haggard, as though she was likely to fade into the background anytime. I felt sorry for her. 

And then I realised that mother must have been communicating with her in her last days. What the two women have to say to each other I had no idea, save that I should henceforth go back to my father I am sure. I wondered if my fate would have been different if I were a boy.

Chapter 12

And then to my surprise, I am no longer the insignificant minority shareholder of August Wheat, but now one of the directors of the company. Dad Tay announced to me that the Tay family is the owner of the staple crop company. And then suddenly it dawned on me that Jackson was in this right from the beginning. He had been following me, helping me to make some money on the sidelines. 

I felt very sad for myself. I had missed my meetings with my mother. Had I known that she was my real mother I would have treated her differently. No wonder that I felt strangely connected to her. 

After a three week hiatus, I reported back to the Green Sloane supermarket. And to my surprise the man who was supposed to collect his can of green peas arrived at my counter this morning. 

“Listen, if I buy up all the green peas in the store will you join me for dinner?” he asked.

I was a little taken aback, but I had to visit my dad that evening in order to lay claim to my late mother’s estate. Even if the man were the knight in shining armour, I still preferred my dad. I missed my mother and now Tay Wee Loke is my only other parent left.

Chapter 13

Nonetheless I agreed and together the man and I walked slowly to the neighbouring pop-up café and did a double shot before I went to see my father again. He makes wonderful fresh barley water.

I went home and dug out the copy of an old Fairy Tale “The Princess and the Pea”, left unattended since I was ten. I seemed to have found my prince through a can of pea, but all I wanted was for Aunty Mui to come alive for me to call her “mother”.

Life has its rewards and punishments. 

The innkeeper’s wife ….

Chapter 1

Money makes the world go round. It is also true that the one who spends least is the winner.

Chapter 2

Mohamed Imran came in when Betty summoned him. Mr. Imran is a middle-aged man with no airs. His apple turnover was perfect. It was not too sweet with a lot of crumbs. Betty has it regularly at least once a week. 

Without a further word, he passed her a note. In it said, “I request that all meals be sent to my room at 1:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. with immediate effect. And every meal must be accompanied with a red rose.”

She has gone crazy! Betty told herself. Mr. Imran nodded his head seemingly, but he disagreed with Betty. She could see that he thought otherwise, and she was rather displeased with him. He is always on her side. Betty thought to herself.

Imran could read what Betty was thinking of. Betty Ling liked people who agreed with everything that she said. But he was not about to kowtow to Betty. Imran decided to talk to Simon about the note. 

Betty once asked Simon to be her psychiatrist. “To be a psychiatrist you need a medical degree. I have never been to the university I could only act as a counsellor. A doctor must have a calm and even temperament. Moreover, I have never held a scalpel in my entire life.”

“A scalpel?” Betty asked.

“What is a scalpel?” “And what has a scalpel got to do with being a counsellor?” she asked again, ignorant.

“Chopper, I mean a knife for cutting meat.” Simon replied.

“But I am not asking you to operate on me!” Betty said, bewildered.

Simon rang Imran on the phone in front of Betty, “Has she ever cooked?” he asked.

“What has a chopper got to do with spiritual counselling?” Betty was still confused. She shouted after Simon as he was walking away.

Chapter 3

After he hung up the line with Mr. Imran, Simon quickly booked a room at the Smart Bacon Inn and asked to meet Patrick. He offered Patrick the key card to a room when he sat down in front of him. “246” Patrick looked at the folder with the key card slipped inside. Straight away Patrick took the card out and hid it in his trouser pocket although no one could conceivably have seen him at the time. He then took a sip of the wine and without finishing his salmon he stood up. He didn’t think that Simon was insincere in his offer.

“What shall I do?” Patrick Chan asked himself. 

I really shouldn’t go out with Simon anymore. Patrick looked at his watch and registered the time as 18:06 and then he told himself to stay put for another twenty minutes. Once his patience wears out, I would be able to sneak out from the back door and leave by the hotel back entrance.

After Patrick had taken the key card, Simon found his dinner companion missing. Disappointed, he realized that Patrick had played him out. The cost of a room at the Smart Bacon Inn would have covered his Grab car ride for the entire month. So far this month, he has already spent two hundred and fifty-four dollars on private hire. You had no idea how much anights’ stay at the Smart Bacon Inn would cost.

“This woman must be punished,” he said at once, his mind thinking of Betty. 

“Let me do it for you,” the waiter came and put a napkin on Simon’s lap.

Twenty minutes later, the waiter came back and placed a lamb chop on Simon’s table. Simon was so furious he had no mood to eat. But that since the food was already on his table, he decided to cut the meat into small square pieces and then he sprayed some tar 10 sauce over it, so that no one else could eat it. Tar 10 is a combination of Capsicum and Tomato Ketchup.

But, in effect it was too early for dinner. The purpose of the meeting was to have a heart-to-heart talk with Patrick. Patrick runs a photography studio. Now that the meeting was off, Simon had nothing more to do for the entire weekend. “Let me adjourn it to the next week,” Simon muttered under his breath. 

Meanwhile, Betty had slipped out from the side of the Inn. 

Chapter 4

This morning, when Mr. Imran went to the kitchen to give Betty a key card, Betty was slightly disappointed for she didn’t think that Simon too would complain to Patrick about her. Why would the lady of an Inn want a key card? Betty thought to herself.

The logical interpretation would be that Imran wanted Simon to check into the Smart Bacon Inn with her. But that she had not done anything untoward for him to trade her, unless one of their guests had offered him an “Indecent Proposal”. 

Nobody knew that Betty had gone out with Keith for the night.

As usual Imran went to the tavern for a quick check before work. He found Keith at the corner. Keith was just finishing his plate and he gave Imran his credit card for payment. Imran found that his card failed. 

“It didn’t go through, Sir,” Imran went back to his guest and told him.

“So, what does that mean?” Keith asked.

“Do you have another payment method?” Imran tried to help.

“Of course, I have,” Keith quickly replied, opening his wallet.

“There you go,” Keith dug out another card. 

How many credit cards does he have? Imran thought to himself.

Chapter 5

This morning Mr. Imran presented Betty with an omelet in the kitchen. Betty was in an extremely bad mood, not having slept the entire night. 

“What did you put inside?” Betty asked, almost raising her voice.

“I didn’t put anything inside, ma’am,” Imran replied, he always called Betty ma’am whenever they were alone together.

“I thought I saw you in my room last night,” Betty replied in sarcasms. 

“Don’t frighten me like that, Ma’am,” Imran opened his eyes wide and continued, “I couldn’t have entered your room,” and becoming angry as well.

“Then someone else must have come in,” Betty insisted.

“You locked me out, don’t you remember?”

“My word is final,” “If I say that you did, it means that you did,” Betty was really in a very foul mood.

Mr. Imran looked at her in dismay and he said again, “Ma’am, I am a truthful witness, I can swear an oath if you wish,”

Of course, Betty couldn’t hear that part of the conversation, as she had already walked out of the kitchen.

Chapter 6

Patrick decided that he must help Imran. So, the next thing he did was to see a therapist. He could then refer her to Imran. A therapist is generally someone who would make you feel better, she could either give you a massage, a spa, or someone who was prepared to lend you a listening ear, not having any preconceived notions about your past and non-judgmental. But that they would charge you at the end of the session. If you have the money, why not?

Patrick did a thorough web search before he found the Tic-Tac-Toe Room.

The man arrived at the Moore Lords Building. The place was large and there was no clear sign telling him where to go and how to get to the therapist’s office. He knew the unit number. Finally, when he found Claire Chang’s clinic, the receptionist told him that it was impossible to see her unless he had a prior appointment, he became slightly crossed with himself.

“Wish I hadn’t come,” Patrick muttered.

“I can hear you,” the man standing next to him said.

“What?” Patrick’s voice got louder.

“Oh, just keep quiet, will you?” the stranger said.

“Why are you so rude?’ Patrick became angry with the man. 

“Anyone who talks to himself is possessed by an evil spirit,” the man said.

“What evil spirit?” Patrick was shocked, “Who?” “Where is it now?” 

Before he could get a response, the lady at the reception passed him a card to fill in. 

Patrick grabbed the card and sat down by the lounge.

Impatient, he stood outside the consultation room for twenty minutes instead of sitting down, waiting for the assistant to open the door.

“How can I help you?” first things Claire Chang asked.

“I would like to know the name of your man outside,” he was still angry.

“Err, what man?” Claire Chang was curious.

“Your next patient,” Patrick said.

“Wait a minute, for this I would have to check with my assistant,” Claire replied, her hand on the intercom.

She buzzed and a nice girl came in.

“Jill, could you let me know who my next patient is?”

“Oh ok, his name is …. Alex,” Jill looked at the card.

Claire turned to Patrick, “So, what is your next question?”

“Ok, let me explain,” Patrick elaborated, “I saw a man outside,”

“Outside, outside where?” Claire continued with the thread.

“Outside your clinic, of course,” Patrick said, instead of “room”.

“Did you have difficulty finding my clinic?” Claire asked.

“Yes, it’s too deep,”

“Too deep? What do you mean by too deep?” Claire asked.

“First of all, it’s on the tenth floor, … then there are too many units here,” 

“How long did you take to find me?” Claire.

“Almost half an hour,” Patrick.

“Oh my God!” Claire said, she buzzed Jill again.

Jill came in, “Yes, Ms. Claire?”

Where is the sign board for my unit?”

“It was taken away by the management,” 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” by this time Claire was sullen.

Jill, “Sorry Ms. Claire, I was too busy,”

Claire said, “Doing what?” She looked at Jill.

Inside, Patrick was laughing, he thought to himself, I can make a therapist angry!

He stood up immediately, and he quickly rushed out of the clinic.

And by this time the rude man had already left.

In the room, Claire was asking Jill, “Where is my next patient?”

“There is no one else outside,” Jill said. So that Claire left to go outside for lunch, and then she gave herself the rest of the day off since she had to do retail therapy for herself.

Patrick wasn’t born yesterday. He hid behind the door at the staircase for at least another half an hour until he was sure that Claire had left the clinic.

Hiding at the staircase landing seemed to be his forte. Patrick was happy that both therapist and assistant had left the clinic. He had done web search and found out that the charges were at one-hundred and seventy dollars per session. And that was provided that he need not see Claire Chang again.

Chapter 7

Claire Chang kept permed hair, and although her eyes were large, the rest of her features were small. Her face reminded him of some fruit which he used to like, round and full. Her body was neither too thin nor too fat, but short. Patrick has no objections with short women. The thing he liked about her was her voice.

“What happened to you?” The first things she asked. 

Patrick was in a good mood.

“If you are asking me about myself, of course I can tell you the truth. Surely, I know what happened to me.” Patrick told Claire specifically when he sat down in front of her at the next session.

Patrick re-examined her this time. He looked at her again and decided that she was too good to be true. Then he looked at her ring finger. There was no ring!

“So, how much would this cost me?” he came straight to the point, his mind thinking of the ring he would need to buy in order to get Claire to marry him.

Outside, Jill recorded a debit of three hundred and forty dollars for two sessions.

Once he was out of the counselling room, Patrick headed straight towards the nearest jewelers to hunt for a ring. He saw several but then he could not decide on which one. The salesgirl approached him and asked, almost confrontational, 

“Are you interested?”

“Of course, why do you think I am here?”

“I am not sure what I want,” Patrick said.

“Ok, I am available now,” the salesgirl offered immediately.

“I like one with a stone inside a large band,” he said.

“We have several; emerald, ruby, and sapphire,” salesgirl pulled out a tray from her drawer.

Patrick looked at them, he frowned, then he said, “No, not these,”

“Bring the bride here the next time,” the salesgirl ordered.

I do not know how long it would take. Patrick was lost for a moment. And he immediately rang Simon for help. 

“Listen, can I check in using your key card and bring another woman in?”

Chapter 8

Today Betty found herself in the Smart Bacon Inn alone waiting for a new guest to arrive. She had received a text message from an anonymous caller telling her that she needed to check in urgently. 

The caller was a man. Betty usually got male guests. The men were mostly noisy tourists who checked in because they were transiting in the country. The women were often guests who came in only for an hour or two. Some could still recognize her, but most could not remember her name. She always recorded the names of all her guests. 

They saw her for one or two nights and then they would just wake up to the situation and left. Betty was relaxed about this. She had enough capital to last her for at least three years. The Inn was bought over from an estate magnet Richard Phua in 2006 after she and Imran came back from London.

Before the guests checked in, she always knew what to ask them,

“So, where are you going for a holiday next?” The smart ones would respond with,

“Am I not on holiday now?”

Some would say, “If I ever come back to Singapore again, I would certainly check into this Inn,” 

To which Betty would respond, “Sure, we would be around,”

Another would ask, “For how long?” 

“For as long as your heart’s desire,”

“A diamond for a Christmas present?”

“Oh, let me make a booking for next Christmas,” 

Betty would look at her calendar and record the date.

Today the note came again, “You missed my rose last night at 11:00 p.m., what happened?”

Betty wrote, “Florist closed,” and she went up to the second floor and slipped the note under the room door of “246”.

There was no reply.

Chapter 9

“Are you awake?” this morning Betty was concerned. She went to room “246” again and slipped another note under the door.

When she went down again, she saw a text from the same anonymous caller, the man who wanted to check in.

“Where are you from?” she asked.

“I am here,” responded the text.

Here? Where? Betty couldn’t see anyone in front of her now.

This is serious, my guest has gone MIA. Betty became more worried.

Keep calm. She remembered the advice given by Imran whenever she was in a frenzy. 

“Call me now,” the next text came.

Immediately Betty rang Imran. 

“Why did you call me?” Imran shouted at her the minute he picked up the phone. 

“Err … I thought you told me to call you …” Betty stammered.

“Since when?” Imran shouted.

Betty quickly concocted a tale, “You told me to call you in the morning,”

“From the bedroom?” he asked.

“From in the kitchen,” she replied,  

“Make up your mind, kitchen or bedroom?” Imran nailed her.

“Err … I think it was the kitchen,” she replied, meekly.

“But I thought you said that I was in the bedroom with you?”

“Err … bedroom and kitchen!” the frightened woman answered.

“Ok, I am in the kitchen now, come down from the bedroom right away,” Imran ordered.

But I am not in the bedroom now …. Betty started to panic.

Chapter 10

After the shower, Keith told Betty to hurry down to the counter.

“Your husband is downstairs waiting for you,” he said.

“But I am not ready yet!” Betty wanted to go into the bathroom.

“Hurry, dear,” Keith said.

“Ok, as you say, darling,” the woman complied.

Once Betty was out of the room, Keith quickly checked his wallet.

There was only a hundred-dollar bill, and two ten-dollar notes.

“Oh my God!” Keith muttered.

He decided to go down to see Imran the inn keeper.

Imran was just standing at the reception.

“What can I do for you this morning?” he asked the pale looking man.

“Can you debit my account and hold on to the charge when I come in next time?”

“Of course, I can,” Imran was generous.

“But for this I would have to charge you for the two nights stay with my wife,” Imran was firm.

“No, it was just one night,” Keith tried to defend himself.

“So, you did have sex with my wife,” Imran got it figured out.

“How much would that cost?” Keith was prepared to pay for it.

“Do you have another credit card?” Imran asked.

Keith dipped his hand into his pocket, and he fished out a new card called “The Delight”.

He handed it to Imran, and he whispered, apologetically, “I don’t normally use this card, but for reasons best known to you, I am using it now,”

“Is it good?” Imran asked.

“Yes, of course, else I won’t surrender the card to you,” “And how much is the stay this time?”

“Charge you mean?” Imran.

“Yes, yes, of course, charge?” Keith.

As Imran was returning the invoice to Keith, he muttered, “Next time you come, the charge would be at five hundred and eight dollars per night.”

Now Betty is downstairs and standing next to Imran. 

“So, where are you going for a holiday next?” not being privy to the conversation earlier on.

“Lady, I will let you know before I come next time,” Keith said.

Imran was satisfied, he buzzed, and Betty accompanied the man out of the Smart Bacon Inn.

Instead, Keith went back to the Inn from the side entrance the moment Betty was out of range and he went straight up to “246”.

Chapter 11

Patrick finally drifted into the Smart Bacon Inn. He pushed the door and it opened on its own. 

A lady with short curly hair was standing at the counter. She had a radiant smile and she said “Hello” even before Patrick had greeted her.

“Would you like a room, sir?” Betty asked.

“Yes, of course, else I won’t be here,”

“Oh yes Patrick! It’s you!” 

“You thought I was somebody else?” Patrick asked.

“Err … no, I thought you were another guest, haven’t seen you for a long time,” she said.

“Yes, it’s been three, four years?” Patrick had no reason to be offended.

“Ok, I know why you are here,” immediately Betty said.

“Why?” Patrick asked.

“I don’t know actually,” Betty became worried again. She was still recovering from Keith last night.

Patrick looked at her and put her fears at rest, “I have the key to a room already,”

“What number?” the lady asked.

“Number 246,” the man answered.

“NO!!!” the lady of the inn shouted at the top of her voice!

You can’t check into that room!!!

“Why not? Patrick asked, confounded.

Without another word, Betty rushed out of the counter, away from the kitchen, she went to the second floor and as she arrived at the door, Keith was just coming out. 

“So you are the anonymous caller!” Betty shouted, “And you have been sleeping with my daughter!!”

She gave Keith a tight slap immediately, even before the poor man had anything to say.

Meanwhile, Imran was downstairs calculating the bill, and closing the Smart Bacon Inn for the night.

The bill for Keith still stands at five hundred and eight, and the one for Patrick was free.

And for Simon Lee, he never entered the hotel.