New Year’s Eve.
Bill Cheng was
having dinner with his family - Dad, Mum and his
elder sister, Beth. Their Filipino domestic
helper, Feina, was having hers in the kitchen. She insisted to stay away for a “peaceful meal and better digestion” in
the past 14 years.
"Everybody
listens!" Beth announced, "Tonight I will have a virtual countdown party in the living room.
Please stay in your bedrooms after 10
o’clock."
"What is
it?" asked Bill.
"Can’t
you hear?" Beth was impatient. “A VIR-TUAL COUNT-DOWN PAR-TY! Which word you don’t understand?”
“I know every word!” Bill was hurt. “Just don’t know how.”
“You don’t need a PhD degree to
figure out this, idiot. Don’t tell the others that you’re studying in La Belle
Primary School.”
“Beth, please be considerate as Bill is not as smart as you.” Mum said.
“Ha! I want to know too.” said fat Dad brightly.
“Oh my—” Beth groaned. “It’s self-explanatory already.”
Everybody looked at Beth and waited.
“All right—” Beth rolled her eyes. “After supper, I’ll take a nap.
Around 10 o’clock I’ll dress up and prepare some party foods in the living room—since
somebody insisted to place the computer there.” She stared at Mum with
complaint. Mum just pretended not aware.
“I’ll turn on the computer and log into the video chat room. Then we can
chat and laugh and even dance. At midnight we’ll
countdown together.”
Beth looked at everybody, “Is that clear?
“With whom?” Bill asked.
“Don’t you know that I only make friends with my own schoolmates?”
“The whole Form 2?” Mum asked.
“No, only my class 2A.”
“Why don’t you gals just hold an actual party?” Bill asked again.
“We girls in De Beers Girls' School are decent and elegant. We don’t go
out late.”
“It’s not safe at night, especially for a 14-year-old girl.” Mum agreed
very much.
“Mum, I know the Form 4 girls are having a big countdown party at
Marriot Hotel now. Can I join too when I am in Form 4?”
“So you’re not decent and elegant any more at 16?” Bill blinked.
“Shut up, idiot!” Beth groaned.
~To be continued~
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