New Year's Eve (2)

Then she called to the kitchen, “Feina, remember to lock Ginger in the kitchen before you sleep.”

Ginger was their cat. Its skin colour was just like a gingerbread. He’s fat.

No one objected to Beth’s request. Feina didn’t care, she slept early everyday. Dad liked to nap on the couch in front of the TV set after dinner. He wouldn’t mind to move his big belly onto the bed earlier. Mum will support whatever Beth asked.

But Bill had his idea.

“I want to join too.” He said.

“What?” Beth opened her eyes wide. “I, Beth Cheng, have to invite you, Bill Cheng, to my party?”

She yelled, “The shame of it! No way!”

“Yes way!” Bill yelled back.

“Beth,” Dad said, “It won’t hurt. After all he’s your brother.”

 “In this way all my classmates will know this short idiot is my brother. Teresa will never stop teasing me. I will be ruined! My name will be a joke.”

“I’m not idiot! And you should not discriminate short people! You’re the youth member of Equal Opportunities Commission in your school.” Bill warned her.

“You discriminate Ginger too. You rejected to walk him out because he’s not a dog!” Beth never conceded.

“He’s only a pet. I am a human.” Bill protested.

“Tell you what, I’d rather take Ginger to the party than you. He’s beautiful. And he won’t behave silly to embarrass me.”

“I don’t care. I live here. I have the right too!” Bill insisted.

“You’re still a primary pupil, only 11. You have to go to bed early.”

Beth was cunning. Mum agreed immediately.

“Yes, it’s too late for you indeed. You are too small, and you are too skinny, plus you are too short.” Mum concluded, “You need to sleep early.”

“It’s not fair!” Bill stuck out his lower lip.

“Let’s take turn.” Beth was smart. “Next time I’ll imprison myself in bedroom when you have your OWN virtual party.” She winked at Bill and stood up heading to her room, “See you next year.”

~To be continued~

New Year's Eve (1)

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~