As we grew older, recreation in the house became more varied. We would join grandma’s praying table to the long brown Formica table in the hall to play ping pong. Dad used to join in the game at times. Then there was the badminton game on the flat concrete roof top. If you hit it long or wide the shuttlecock would end up on the neighbor’s roof or on the street down below. We spent more time retrieving the shuttlecock than playing the game. Eldest brother bought a pair of roller skates. All us learned and became expert roller skaters. There were also other activities on the roof top. Sam had a fish collection and the big earthen vat was teeming with guppies, angel fish and goldfish. We also planted flowers and vegetables in pots and planter boxes. Mom reared chicken, duck, turkey and rabbits. Every morning I would go up to the roof top to check for fresh supply of duck or chicken eggs.
There was one time when dad had a big quarrel with the tenants downstairs. It was over the issue of rental increment. The guy downstairs was a Chinese Mike Tyson look-alike in physique minus the tattoos. He had only one real eye. The other artificial eye was a fierce looking glass marble that glowed in the dark. After a short and heated argument, dad stormed up stairs asking for the hammer. Honestly, I didn’t think dad was a match for Tyson if it came to a physical punch up. Anyway, it was all just a show of hostility and posturing. There was no fist fight, but the relationship soured after that. Dad never walked through their shop again. From that day on he always used the side door.
Dad must be one of pioneer operators of slot machines (one-arm bandit) in Kluang. I remember we had one of those “fruit machine” in the house for a short period of time. Dad also ran coin operated music machines that were popular in café and pubs then. Dad would go on trips to Singapore and came back with stacks of vinyl records for his music machines. Towards the end we had hundreds of Elvis Presley, Everly Brothers, Beach Boys and Rolling Stones records in the house. I think dad also owned a pub or night club at one time. There were probably other business ventures that dad dabbled in which I was not aware of.
Though I would not describe him as a Malaysian Fred Astaire, dad was nevertheless quite a good ballroom dancer. I do not know where he learned to dance, but he had slick dancing steps and could do the cha-cha, fox trot, quick steps and waltz. Dad also smoked and loved to drink. Compared to his peers in the 50s and 60s era, I would say dad was rather “westernized” in his life style. It was a big contrast to mom who did not shared any such interests or indulgence. Mom also does not speak English. They seemed to be such an odd couple. But who is to judge. The marriage lasted a lifetime – 65 long years.
simon - 31 December 2009
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