Saturday, November 29, 2008

Twisted Thoughts : The Bai - Part 1

Once upon a time, there was a man named Bai. He is a handsome man with a kind heart. So, everyone likes him very much. He lives moderately in a small house, has a good car and a loyal dog. He lives happily every day. He owns a small shop that fixed watches of old and new. He has a collection of watches for the younger ones too. In his shop there stood a great big old old grandfather clock. It will sing music whenever it strike twelve. Children will run into his shop to see the big old grandfather clock to strike twelve and listen to its melodious music.

One day, an old Ah Pek walk into his shop with a very old watch. Bai walked over to the counter to greet this old Ah Pek. "Ah pek, you are not from here. How can I help you?", asked Bai. The old Ah Pek took out a very old old watch and put it on the counter. "I need you to fix this old old watch of mine", the old Ah Pek pushed the very old old watch toward Bai. Bai took the very old old watch and began to look over it. "Ah pek, this watch very very old. Where did you buy this from? No brand and no date of make", said Bai. "Oh, this very old old watch is hand made by a very old old famous watch maker which nowadays nobody know him anymore. Please do becareful with it", explained the old msyterious Ah Pek.

"How many days do you need to fix it?", all this while the old Ah Pek never looked at him because he was facing down. However, Bai never took notice of him and was looking at the old old watch with so much interest. "I will need at least 3 working days because some of the parts might need to be bought from somewhere else", Bai explained to the old Ah Pek. "Very well, three days it shall be. But let me remind you, " the old Ah Pek now grabbing Bai's hand. "You must never fix this old old watch at twelve at night or you will never let go of this old old watch anymore. You must remember what i'd said to you!", he had made Bai so scared that he went pale. The old Ah Pek walked out of his shop and disappeared. Both of his hands now holding the old old watch. "Do not repair this clock at twelve at night", he repeats himself as he look at the old watch. This old old watch was very mesmerizing too. It's not only the weird sound of the old old watch ticking but its' intricate design that encircle the clock casing was somehow very strange too. At the same time, a cold tingling feeling ran down his back when he stared hard at its ticking hands.

Bai usually fixed his customer's watch late evening until midnight. That old Ah Pek's watch was still lay at one side at another table waiting for its turn to be repaired by Bai. It was getting late when he finally had the time to fix that old old watch. "Oh, its getting nearly to twelve. I should not fix this watch. I'll leave it till tomorrow", he switched off his table lamp, closed his shop, put the old old watch into his pocket and walked home. Walking home was always one of his best moment because he will stop by Kong's Best in Town Wan Ton Mee stall. He will order one big bowl of noodles with lots of roasted porks, wan ton prawns, and some roasted mushrooms top with the most delicious gravy.

Upon reaching home, he will call for his sandals and his loyal dog will bring it to him. He put some dog food for his dog, put the old old watch near his bedside table and went for a bath. While he was bathing, the old old watch begin to tick very loud. So loud the dog began to bark at it. "Shut up, Ah Gau!", he yelled from his bathroom. Unfortunately, his loyal dog called Ah Gau would not stop barking at all. So he dashed out with his hair still wet and took Ah Gau out of the house into his kennel outside. Then he goes in back to see why his Ah Gau was barking loudly. He looked around but could not find anything that cause his Ah Gau to behave strangely. The old old watch has since remained quiet. Not a sound and not a tick. It had stop the moment Bai came out from his shower.



william wilstroth... The Bai Story

2 comments :

Yen said...

where's part 2 leh?

william wilstroth said...

yen : sabar... sabar... in the process thinking the ending...