Joss sticks smell of CNY

Used to travel 2-3 hours to get to my mum’s hometown during Chinese New Year and one of the things that hit us once we got down the car was how different it smelt.

Like old.

Like dusty.
Like musty.

Like rubbery.
Like yellowish.
Like warm.
Like kampung.

Like shiny watches.
Like grey jaded bus stops.
Like metal shutters.
Like lifeless air.

Then we’ll step into the gloom of the shop house and the presence of joss sticks (and my grandfather ticking away with his abacus).

Couldn’t help feeling the nostalgic churn in my stomach whenever I smell joss sticks burning. Couldn’t help thinking how different things are now.

[Prompt taken from Plinky]

Fiction Friday #177

“What is your Characters Very Mild SuperPowers? Click this link to listen to the song for inspiration.”

*

“Hey Jessie, look look! Can you do this?” Jamie prodded Jessie’s side.

“Woi! Stop that!” Jessie slapped Jamie’s inner thigh.

“Owwww!”

“I hate it when you do that,” Jessie said crossly, palm stinging.

“Hmph. Don’t wanna show you d,” Jessie said and stomped up the stairs. Echoes on the planks resounded.

Their mother came out of the kitchen and asked, “Why is Jamie so upset? You bullied her ah?”

“No!”

“Make sure you don’t bully her ah,” their mother said, stern.

“She disturbed me first,” Jessie said and resumed reading.

“Go say sorry. You’re the older one.”

Jessie gave a throaty grumble.

“Go. Don’t make me angry.”

Jessie chucked the book down and half-stomped up the stairs. Three raps on the locked door.

“Open.”

“Don’t want!” came a muffled response.

“Open!”

A pause.

Jessie twisted the doorknob impatiently. “Open la.”

Click. Thuds back to the bed.

“Wei. Sorry,” Jessie said grudgingly.

Jamie peeked from her pillow.

“Okay. I”m going downstairs,” she turned to leave.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“I haven’t shown you. My friend taught me today,” Jamie said, sitting up. She twisted her thumb backwards till the tip of her thumb touched the back of her hand.

“Wow!”

“Cool leh,” Jamie laughed.

“Yea la, very cool,” Jessie said half-grudgingly, not being able to do it. “Don’t be angry at me ah, after mummy scold me.”

“I’ll go show Jordan!” Jamie said, jumping off the bed.

*

I’m done with my thesis (set this blog up for my creative component)! Thanks so much for participating in my project (just by reading + giving feedback). Will continue blogging as I’ve grown to love my characters. I also want to keep the memories of my childhood alive through them. :p (my brother can bend his finger backwards like Jamie – it’s really pretty awesome to someone who can’t do it. Don’t know if he still can do it though).

Have a good weekend ahead.

No new posts for a while

Sorry for the lack of updates+posts.

Will be finishing up my creative thesis, so thanks for reading and commenting! I’m still trying to think of how to put this blog together neatly (or maybe not) and will be back soon with more creative pieces (hopefully ). Had lots of fun doing this creative project and will continue as soon as I’m done with my thesis.

Till then, ttfn (tata for now).

Thanks for dropping by!

Fiction Friday #171

INT. ALBERT’S COMPUTER ROOM – DAY
O.S. Loud giggles.
Startled ALBERT looks up from work. A DOZEN EGGS pelted their way onto his roof and front porch.

O.S. Sound of scurrying feet.
Albert’s screens show EGGS over his LAWN and BACK WALL.

ALBERT
[Bloody]* kids. But I got you on camera this time you little [bastards]. Ha! Your parents will be footing my cleaning bill and then who will be laughing?

Jeremy’s laugher boomed in their living hall and Jamie started giggling as well.

“I’ll leave the TV on for you okay. We’re going to buy dinner. We won’t take too long,” Jeremy told them, “make sure you don’t open the door for anyone ah. Bye!”

“Bye dears,” Siew Wen said, locking the door.

INT. ALBERT’S COMPUTER ROOM – DAY
ALBERT watches surveillance screens.

ALBERT
Yeah. I’m at the fridge now. We got milk.

LINDA
(breathless)
Thanks.

ALBERT
I’m going for a lie down now. I’ll probably be in bed when you get home.

LINDA
Alright then. / I’ll go to the check outs now. See you in a bit.

EXT. MARCO’S DRIVEWAY – DAY
LINDA tapes a note on MARCO’s front door – “SEE YOU AT WILD NOTES KARAOKE BAR“.

Advertisements suddenly blared at them.

“新鲜的空气, 清洁的水, 母牛喝清洁的水** …” Jordan chanted along with the Fernleaf milk powder advertisement, “compete with you. See who can say the ads first.”

“Kiki-lala!”

“Not fair!” Jordan pointed his finger indignantly at Jamie, “I was talking halfway.”

“Ok ok,” Jamie jumped onto the chair.

“Milo!”

“Koko krunch!”

“Errr. Ferrero Rocher!”

INT. ALBERT’S ROOM – NIGHT
ALBERT puts on a coat and wipes his sweaty hands on it. He picks up a disc labelled “MARCO TORRISIS 20 Aug 2010″.

EXT. WILD NOTES KARAOKE BAR – NIGHT
LINDA stands by the door nervously wringing the strap of her handbag, biting her lip.

“Oh nooo,” Jamie’s voice came from behind the huge pillow, “I’m scared!”

“Scary cat. It’s just a show la,” Jordan said.

MARCO enters the bar, grins and holds her hand. LINDA looks up at him startled and tries to pull her hand out of his clasp. They both head towards a room.

INT. WILD NOTES KARAOKE BAR – NIGHT
ALBERT shuffles to the counter.

ALBERT
I’m with them. What room did they go? Me thinks it’s time to sing some songs of love eh.

LADY
(bored)
Room 44. Fourth room on the left.

“Eeee,” Jessie joins Jamie on the chair and grips her hand hard.

Jamie gasped and squeezed Jessie’s hand even harder, their small hands white, pink at the tips.

ALBERT stands outside Room 44, hesitant. He puts his hand into his pocket and slowly draws out a…

“Ahhh. Advertisements again,” Jordan leaned back against the beanbag dramatically. “why so many advertisements wan?” he sighed.

Jessie and Jamie didn’t reply, engrossed with the colourful ads.

INT. WILD NOTES, Room 44 – NIGHT

LINDA
(agitated)
I… I think we should stop this. I can’t do it anymore.

MARCO
(gently)
Oh, come on, babe.

LINDA
I… I really can’t. My husband’s gonna -

MARCO
How is he ever gonna find out. He won’t know.

MARCO strokes LINDA’s face.

LINDA
I… I’m sorry.

MARCO
So what now? / What about the money you owe me? You know your husband can’t survive if you didn’t -

LINDA
I’ll pay you back.

MARCO
(sneering)
You don’t have the money.

LINDA
Please give me more time.

MARCO grabs LINDA wrist and gets close to her face.

MARCO
You know what I want. You give me what I want and I’ll let you off.

LINDA
I -

The door opens quietly.

LINDA who is facing the door stares in shock. MARCO whips around and sees ALBERT leaning heavily against the door frame, a phone in his hand.

ALBERT
What are you doing with me wife?

MARCO dragged LINDA by her wrist.

MARCO
Did you call your darling husband here for help? Well well, ALBERT, I see that you’ve come at the right time. Your wife / your wife owes me -

ALBERT
Cut the [crap]!

ALBERT lunges at MARCO but MARCO dodges, letting go of LINDA. ALBERT struggles to remain standing.

ALBERT
I’ve got evidence you don’t want you wife to see, would you?

ALBERT pulls out disc. MARCO suddenly grabs at it, causing ALBERT to fall backwards onto the table. BOTTLES and GLASSES break. ALBERT wheezes and coughs, face paling. ALBERT is still holding on to the disc. LINDA tries to get out of the room. MARCO grabs LINDA and shoved her next to ALBERT.

MARCO
What a fine couple the both of you make.

LINDA
Are you okay?

ALBERT
Get your dirty hands off me, you -

LINDA
I’m sorry. I was desperate. We had no money left / no money left…

ALBERT
You should have told / me…

BLOOD seeps onto LINDA’s blouse and LINDA gasps at the warm sensation. ALBERT turns his face away.

LINDA
(frantic)
Call 911!

MARCO
It’s too late, babe, too late.

LINDA sobs wildly as MARCO watches her.

“We’re home! Sorry we took so long, it was very jammed ‘cos of the Pasar Malam. Totally forgot that it was Monday night. Oh. My. What are you all watching?! Jeremy! You let them watch this show?” Siew Wen stared at Jeremy in horror.

Jeremy scratched the back of his head sheepishly, “I thought it was comedy. It looked funny when we left the house.” He looked helplessly the wide-eyed children, “dinner anyone?” ushering the children to the dining table.

.:.

*Words in brackets would have been censored on TV in the 90s and on national TV.

**Direct translation: “fresh air, clean water, the cows drink clean water …”

.:.

“Albert is Dead”
Along with romantic scenes, many writers find writing a scene when a character is killed, a challenge. Here is your chance to write a scene where a truly objectionable character dies.
Step 1. Go and read “Doggone” – a Friday Fiction first draft piece from a week ago.

Step 2. Decide who, what and how Albert dies. It may be accidental, a blundered break in, alien attack – or by one of the many characters within the short story who may or may not have a motive.

Step 3. Now write… You can choose to be as graphic or lyrical as you like, choose to show but not tell – or just tell it all.

The only rule is – Albert must be dead by the end of the story.

PS: I THINK ALBERT IS DEAD.

Fiction Friday #169

The note taped to the door said: See you at Wild Notes Karaoke Bar.

***

“Hey, what’s this?” Siew Wen asked Jeremy, holding up a bright pink note she found in his book.

“What’s that?” Jeremy looked up from Jamie to Siew Wen.

“Kor kor, don’t stop,” Jamie said, holding Jeremy’s outstretched arms as reins, her plump body perched on his lap.

“Okay okay, giddy-up horsey! Where’s your next destination, miss?” Jeremy said in a deep voice.

“I’m going to USA!”

Jeremy laughed, “you can’t go there by horse, it’s too far.” He glanced at Siew Wen who was still looking at him.

“Did Pei Ern give you this?” she asked.

“No,” he hesitated, “why are you always bringing her up?”

” ‘See you at Wild Notes Karaoke Bar’ ” she looked at him, “is this your favourite hang out spot with her?”

“Look, I found it on-”

“Let’s play slide! Put your legs straight,” Jamie instructed.

Jeremy looked at Siew Wen helplessly, obediently straightening out his legs. Jamie jumped onto Jeremy’s lap, bone hit bone.

“Oww! Jamie don’t jump on me,” he half-lifted her reflectively by the shock of the pain. Jamie giggled. “I found it on my door okay. Why are you always suspecting me of cheating?”

“That’s ‘cos you do!”

“If you don’t trust me then I have nothing to say. Jamie, stop that. Kor kor wants to go home,” his anger flaring up.

“Aww… Why…” Jamie dejectedly slid down his legs.

“Kor kor will see you at church okay. You listen to Jie Jie Siew Wen while your parents, Jordan and Jessie are not around okay.”

“Where are you going?” Siew Wen interjected, “you think that walking out is the best way to deal with this?”

“Look, I’m not here to argue with you. You asked me over to babysit your cousin with you. That’s fine. But one look at the note and you start accusing me of cheating on you. I don’t even like karaoke. And you know that.”

“Then why are you keeping the note? ‘See you at Wild Notes Karaoke Bar’ ” she stopped suddenly, “fine. You want to leave right? Just go.”

“What’s your problem?” he grabbed his keys and phone, “fine, I’ve gone out with her once or twice, but it’s not like you didn’t know about it. It’s not like you don’t go out with guys yourself.”

“Just go, Jeremy. This note is the last of it.”

“Seriously, all I did was find the note on my door and I just happened to keep it because I did not want to… litter.”

“Right. You did not want to litter. Should I not also be suspicious of the fact that she lives in your apartment building? Oh, right. And she’s just recently broken up with her boyfriend and she just wants to,” she took a breath, “hang out. I’m supposed to believe that?”

A loud thud and crash followed by a wail came from the corner. Jamie, having been ignored, had climbed onto the chair and rocked on it on two legs as she has seen Jordan doing it. The chair had tipped over and she knocked her head on the wall as she fell. Siew Wen rushed to her, pushing Jeremy away. She picked Jamie up and felt Jamie’s head for the bump. “Jer, go get some ice. Aiyo, don’t cry, Jamie don’t cry,” she said in a singsong voice,”I’ll put some ice on it, okay? Don’t cry. Not painful la. It’s okay.”

*

Jamie smiled at the memory. She remembered their heated arguments over the girls who used to go after Jeremy, vice versa. She was the flower girl for their wedding five years after the incident. She only remembered this particular quarrel because they made up and treated her very nicely after that. She couldn’t have been more than six years old then. Jamie looked at the photograph. There she was with Jessie and Jordan. What ugly frilly puffy sleeves. She was leaning on Siew Wen, holding her hand. Jordan stood stiffly next to Jeremy, his hand in pants in mid bum-scratch. Jessie unsmiling, holding Siew Wen’s other hand. And the smiling couple of course. Oh, ugh, and that horrible lipstick.

***

I actually finished writing this on Friday but was quite reluctant to post it up, just because it felt kinda corny+cliche+badly thought/planned out. Haha. :p but here it is anyway… (putting this comment at the bottom so that it won’t affect your initial reading of the piece. Good job getting to the end of it! Haha.)

Guess what I saw while writing this piece?

A rainbow! :p saw it from the library.

So Sad, Sid Stole Sweets

Plinky prompt – Write a poem using only words that start with “s”

This is fun. :p “She sells seashells on the seashore” also comes to mind. Haha!

*

Stinky shirt,
such smelly socks.

Secret smiles,
such sly small smiles.

Sticky sweets,
so speedily sneaked.

Sam saw, she SHOUTED,
“Sid stole sweets!”

Fiction Friday #168

[Fiction] Friday Challenge #168 for August 13th, 2010

The conversation took off when Louise mentioned Bruce Willis.

*

“Mummy…”

Jessie stood in the midst of the suffocating crowd, men and women pushed from behind, shoving her into the middle of the throng. She looked up and in the dim echoing tunnel were voices drowning hers. Or maybe she didn’t speak. Maybe was screaming in her head. What’s that pounding? What’s that feeling in her stomach? She looked up, her dad! She held on to his hand tight. He looked down, and she jumped in fright. A puzzled face stared back at her and smiled. She pulled her hand away immediately, and the man vanished along with the flow of people.

“Hey Louise, what are you planning to do for the weekend?” a girl asked.

“Don’t know, have you watched the movie with Bruce Willis in it? What’s it called again?”

“Oh, tha-”

“Hold on tight to mummy, don’t get lost.”

“Have you seen the tigers?”

“How do you get to the monkey section?”

“Do you have enough money with you? I’m thirs-”

“Give me my bottle.”

“Man! It’s so smelly here. Can’t wait-”

On the verge of tears, Jessie frantically looked for a familiar face. Where was Jamie? Mummy? Jordan? Where was daddy?

A hand suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “Don’t wander off by yourself, Jess” and carried her in his arms. Jessie blinked back tears and they emerged from the tunnel, her head above everyone else’s.