nA CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas in the same way whether they are
in Europe where it is cold or in the tropics of the Caribbean; the only difference is in
the climate. It is the birthday of Jesus Christ that Christians celebrate on December
25th and the occasion is, therefore, a very joyous one.
This particular Christmas celebrations is in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smiths who
are Christians living in Malaysia. They have been in the Far East for ten years now
and the rubber plantation and Mrs. Smith have invited all their friends, Europeans
as well as Malaysians to their Christmas Party.
The house is gaily decorated. Outside, over the doors green leaves are entwined.
Traditionally the evergreen leaf is used: holly, fir and pine but these cannot be
found in Malaysia. Inside, too, all is very gay and bright. Red paper 'chains' or
garlands are festooned the electric fans which would cut them down. Colorful
vases of flowers and little bowls of fruit and nuts are placed on every table. In the
far corner of the room is a Christmas tree, the idea of which originally came from
Germany. This tree, standing in a bright red tub, is a local fir and it is decorated
with silver tinsel, miniature crackers, glass balls of many different colors and little
pieces of cotton wool tied on to represent the snow found in the cold countries in
winter. On the top, looking down on the tree with its myriads of tiny fairy lights is a
Christmas star -- shining and silvery as the star in Bethlehem shone once so long
ago. Around the red tub at the bottom are many parcels tied up with bright
Christmas wrapping papers and cheerful silver strings. A festoon of gaily colored
balloons hang from the lights and in a far corner is a piece of mistletoe, artificially
made.
The Smiths are welcoming their guests : the Browns, the Jones, the Ah Lims and Ah
Chuas. Many friends are arriving by car or on foot. All are in gay party clothes and
all bring presents since Christmas is the time for giving. There are many children
here with laughing, smiling faces for Christmas is a child's festival. Eagerly they
rush to the gifts at the base of the Christmas tree but they are told to wait because
the celebration meal must come first.
The dining room table is as attractive as the sitting room. The guests eat the
Christmas food which is eaten everywhere in the world on Christmas day : a huge,
golden brown turkey, surrounded by potatoes stuffed with chestnuts : a 'plum
pudding' made with rich fruits, butter and sugar; its top alight with burning brandy
and then, if there is room minced pies, nuts, fruits and sweets for the children.
Wine is drunk and there are speeches wishing everyone 'a happy Christmas'.
The children have waited long enough for their presents and there is a gift for
everyone : a doll for Ah Lim's baby, a handbag of Mrs. Jones, a book for Ah Chua
who reads all the time. Laughter and thanks fill the room as guests and hosts open
the presents they have been given.
The younger people begin to dance and the sounds of the latest 'pop' and 'beat'
groups fill the air. The younger children play with their new toys and shrieks of joy
and delight mingle with the music. The older people rest, chatting quietly. The men
walk out into the evening air now stealing darkly over the silent columns of rubber
trees. The sky overhead is bright with stars. As they stand in the still, tropical, hot
night some of them will have thoughts of the countries beyond the seas where
they were born and lived as children. some will have thoughts of the Christmas in
Palestine nearly two thousand years ago. But all of them will have thoughts of this
particular Christmas in Malaysia and, as they turn to wander back to the house the
sounds of carols wing through the air because the young people have taken off the
dance records and they are now joyfully singing the words of one of the most
beautiful Christmas songs :-
'Hark the herald angels sing
Glory tot he new born King."

A POPULAR PERSON IN YOUR OWN AGE GROUP

James Yap is a popular person not only in our class. hut also throughout the school.
James is the kind of person who is talented as well as outgoing. Most students in
the school know him as a champion swimmer. James always represents the school
in freestyle swimming and has won a lot of medals in competitions. He is also a
member of the water polo team. Last year, in the district championship, James was
the one to score the winning goal for our school team. He is well-remembered by
his schoolmates for this.
James is friendly with almost everyone, and he is known as the class joker.
Sometimes, before the teacher comes to the class, he would stand in front of the
class and throw us a riddle. His favorite riddle is the one which asks "do you know
why ...?" Actually, he never gives us time to answer. He would shout out the
answer almost immediately, and the class would burst out with laughter.
Even when James is called upon to answer a question by a teacher, his answer
often contains a joke or a remark which makes us laugh. Usually, because his jokes
are funny and not rude, the teacher would laugh along with us.
James also likes to organize outings and gatherings. Unlike some people who only
invite certain groups to these functions, James often organizes them on a class
basis. Once, he organized a class outing to the zoo. Towards the end of the visit, to
show our appreciation, James had arranged a special treat for our class teacher
who was accompanying us. It turned out that he had reserved for her the zoo's
special offering - tea with the orangutan! Of course, the animal was tame and had
been trained to sit quietly with human visitors. We all, including the teacher, had a
good laugh.
On another occasion, we had a class gathering at his house. James comes from a
rich family, and lives in a bungalow with a big garden. Most of us already know
about James' background because he used to come to school in a chauffeur-driven
car. When James was in secondary three, he told his father that he preferred to
take public transport. He wanted to be more independent.
I suppose the fact that James is not affected by his talent nor his wealth adds to his
popularity. But some students say that even though it seems that James leads such
a charmed life, he does not see eye to eye with his father about his future. James'
father owns a business and he would like James to work in the family business after
he graduates. But James is keen to pursue a career in sports or entertainment.
At this stage, it is still too early for this disagreement between James and his father
to develop into a real conflict. I hope, as an adult, James will continue to make full
use of the talents that has made him such a popular boy in school.

A SCENE DURING RECESS

The school bell goes off to signal the start of the twenty-minute recess period. All
the pupils get up from their seats, and with the permission of the teacher make
their way to the school canteen.
The school canteen has many stalls offering a variety of foods. One can choose
Malay, Chinese, Indian or even Western food. The stall holders are friendly folk and
the food is inexpensive.
I quickly walk to the school canteen and head for my favorite nasi lemak stall. The
stall is run by an elderly Malay woman whom we affectionately call Mak Haji. She is
assisted by her son and daughter. Mak Haji also sells fried chicken, fried prawns,
fried fish and anchovies, hard-boiled eggs and baked potatoes to go with her
delicious nasi lemak.
After buying my meal, I walk over to the drinks stall and buy a tall glass of mixed
fruits juice. The drinks stall belongs to Mr. Chan, a thin Chinese in his mid-thirties.
He runs the shop alone but he is a very fast worker. His hands seem to move at
lightening speed as he serves his customers.
Then, I scan the dining area for an empty seat and having found one, I rush to be
seated. I finish the sumptuous meal in a matter of minutes and gulp down the
refreshing juice. Having thus filled my stomach, I rise with the empty plate and
glass in my hands. There are others waiting to have their meal and I have to make
space for them.
All too soon, the school bell rings again to mark the end of recess time. All the
pupils head back tot he classroom for the continuation of the day's lessons.
A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE
Ahmed and Ah Chua were known as 'mischief makes', not because they were really
wicked, but because they weren't. It was just that they liked fun and adventure.
"Whatever can we do with them ?" their parents used to say, "they are always up
to something and it is usually no good." They were twelve years old, and lived in
two adjacent flats on the top of a high-rise building overlooking the harbor. At
night, when they had eaten their rice, which they sometimes did and sometimes
did not, they used to watch from the high windows all the lights of the big liners
and small fishing boats in the harbor down below. It was exciting, because they
used to make up stories about the boats and to pretend that they were sailing
away into far and romantic places.
One night, life for Ahmed and Ah Chua seemed particularly dull. "let's get out of all
this and go off in one of those boats," said Ahmed, sick of the world by now.
"We can't do that," muttered Ah Chua. "You know that we are supposed to keep an
eye on baby Lim for your mother."
"Never mind about that. Let's go anyway," urged Ahmed. "Life's dull enough and
we haven't had any fun for ages."
Ah Chua, being weaker, was easily persuaded and so the two excited naughty boys
crept quietly out of the flat, down the outside steps, flight upon flight and out into
the busy street.
"We must get to the harbor," said Ah Chua. "Let's have a tri-shaw". They found an
old man who did not really want to take them, because he was just going home,
but Ah Chua finally persuaded him with an extra fifty cents. The harbor seemed as
busy as usual, when the two boys left the tri-shaw and started looking for an
empty boat.
"We're sure to find one," Ahmed whispered excitedly." Someone would have left
one unguarded for the night."

"But it's stealing," weakly murmured Ah Chua. "What if we are caught ?"
"It isn't stealing, because we'll bring it back and we won't be caught, because we'll
be too clever," was the reply.
Under the harbor wall, moored by the stone steps was just what they were looking
for : a newly painted sampan with its outboard motor glistening in the moonlight.
"We'll take that, just for an hour or two," said Ahmed, and we'll leave some money
tucked under the seat for petrol. it won't seem so bad then."
They crept down the harbor steps, unseen because no fishermen or officials were
about just then. Ah Chua was the echoic and he started the engine. They were
soon gliding over the water, past the big liners that they had so often seen from
afar. They could even hear noises from them now, as the crew busied themselves
with jobs and the rich passengers went to and from the dining rooms on board. On
and on, passing big boats and little boats, until they were out at sea and nearing
one of the islands.
"Isn't this fun?" began Ahmed, when suddenly, a huge boom of what sounded like
a siren rent the air and search lights as if turned on by some giant magic hand,
played down upon the water from every direction. from the tall ships and from the
higher points on the islands, great beams of light were searching and prying into
the hidden corners of the sea.
"What is happening ? We must get home. We shouldn't have come. I told you so."
Ah Chua was almost crying. Ahmed was frightened too, and so slowly and
stealthily, they turned back weaving cunningly in and out between the beams and
trembling at the noisy sirens.
"Crouch low, keep hidden," whispered Ah Chua, as a huge searchlight played round
the dark waters within inches of their sampan. They held their breath until the
beam moved on. Trembling Ah Chua guide the boat, until they reached the harbor.
They tied it up quietly and quickly and then ran all the way home. Luckily, their
parents were still out and baby Lim was quiet in his cot. All was silent and soon
they were asleep too.
Next morning, Ahmed's father glanced at the papers, which he usually did before
going to his office. "They still haven't caught that escaped convict," he said. "The
biggest police search of the harbor ever known as last night," he went on. "Many
boats were searched, and many people illegally in charge of them were arrested."
He stopped and looked at Ahmed, "Time you were off to school."
Ahmed couldn't wait, "What a hair-breadth escape," he panted, as he met Ah Chua
hurrying on his way.

A DARING ROBBERY
The pilgrims never dreamt that it would happen. They were hopefully thinking of
reaching the place of worship before the day dawned. As the place of worship was
about 75 kilometres from their homes they had left at 2.00 a.m. in the night. They
were about a dozen of them including men and women. Since they were going in
their own van they had many trunks and suitcases stuffed with valuables like
costly clothing, jewels and ornaments. They belonged to the neo rich, and were a
hit showy.
The road lay through a barren country covered here and there with hillocks. It was
a road that did not have any heavy traffic and that too in the early hours it was
practically deserted. The area was notorious for daring robberies as the hillocks
gave the robbers a good cover. The robbers heard the van on the road and they
expected a good booty from it. The moon was not bright as the clouds were
sweeping over its face and was ideal for the gang to operate. The gang was made
up of unemployed educated young men who had grown desperate. It was master-
minded by an old hand who had been convicted several times.
The gang had placed big boulders as road blocks and were hiding nearby. As soon
as the van came near, the driver saw the block. He could not negotiate the road
this way or that as it was completely blocked and so came to a screeching halt.
When the male occupants of the van got down to see what had happened. the
gang pounced upon them. They were told to keep their mouths shut. When the
driver wanted to strike, he was given a stunning blow by one of the robbers. The
male occupants were then marched to the foot of a hillock and were commanded
to stand still or face severe consequences to their person. While two or three of the
robbers stood guard, others ransacked the van, took out the trunks and suit cases,
broke them open and poured out the contents onto blankets and tied them up. The
women were so stunned that they could not even cry out. Their throats felt
parched suddenly because of the shock they were in. With a flourish the robbers
left the place with their booty and disappeared into the night.
It was some time before the pilgrims recovered from the shock. The womenfold
began to wail. As it happened in such cases each one started complaining that the
others was to blame. The van driver lost no time in driving them to the nearest
town where they lodged a complaint with the police.
This was not the first time the police were getting reports about robberies in that
part of the country. The higher authorities swung into action immediately when
they got a clue from a tea shop in a neighboring village. The net was spread and
soon a few of the gang were apprehended. Since they were habitual offenders, it
was easy to bring them to book. The press and the public appreciated the prompt
action taken by the police.
A DARING RESCUE

It was a seven story building that had caught fire. The lower floors were used for
offices and shops. In the three upper floors people were living with their families.
There were several families living in the flats.
The fire started in a paint go down on the first floor. How it all started nobody
knew. The fire was noticed only when it began to rage. It was an ungodly hour
when the fire broke out. The fire was noticed first by a night watch man who raised
an alarm. He phoned up promptly for the fire service and police. It was sometime
before the fire engines came to the scene. By then the fire had spread to the other
floors. Between fire and smoke there were cries of anguish and despair. People
were at first rescued with the help of ladders and lifts. In the confusion that
prevailed nobody knew who was rescued. In such circumstances people tend to be
very selfish.
The fire fighters thought they had rescued all. Then suddenly a lady remembered
that her child who was sleeping in the cradle had not been rescued. One can
understand her anguish and pain. She began beating her breast and wailing,
thinking that her baby would have perished by then in the fire. One of the firemen
did not lose hope. He told the lady assuredly that if the child was still alive he
would go and surely save it.
He drenched himself with water, got up the ladder in spite of the warning given by
his colleagues. Walls were crumbling down and beams were falling and tongues of
fire were still to be seen. Worst of all there was a thick pall of smoke. The man
managed to get a foothold on a window. He got into the room and with great
difficulty he was able to locate the cradle. It was a miracle that the fire had not
done much damage to the side where the cradle was located. He took the
screaming child rolled it in a wet blanket which he had brought. He quickly strode
to the window and called his colleagues who were waiting anxiously below with a
foam mat. He threw the valuable bundle down. His colleagues caught it with
dexterity and the child was moved to a place of safety. No words can explain the
joy of the mother.
In the meantime the fireman slipped down the ladder. In spite of the precautions
he had taken, there were burns on his body. He was promptly taken to the hospital
and given proper treatment. In appreciation of his service the highest civil
authority rewarded a sum of money to him. That was the proudest moment in the
life of the fireman. Everybody was saying that he would get the President's Medal
for his courageous act.

A STRANGE MAN

I had heard he was a strange man, but now, as he approached me, I was really
frightened for the expression on his face was demoniac. For a moment I had no
control over myself and I felt myself trembling. I had a feeling that my face was
drained of all blood. I retreated into the corner, praying and holding my breath and
wishing something would distract his progress towards me. For a while, I had the
feeling of a fly caught in a huge cobweb and struggling to free itself. All the stories
of his strange behavior began to knock at my memory in an unintelligible,
clamorous way. I had no time to sort out my emotions or reactions. Suddenly. I
found him peering and breathing into my face. With great difficulty I controlled
myself from screaming; but not for the life of me could I remove my gaze from his
face. His hand came forward to hold my wrist and like a sleep-walker I followed him
to the seat where he wanted me to sit. Gradually, I realized that his touch was soft
and gentle and contrasted sharply with the look on his face. I looked more
intelligently at him; my thoughts began to sort themselves out and I began to
return to normal. He was saying something to me. He repeated it and now I could
understand. He was asking my name. I mumbled a reply. We sat at a table. He
placed an order for some tea and I found myself relaxing.
The first day we met he only explained that he had been watching me return from
work every day and had wanted to talk to me. So today he had met me on my
return journey. But, surprisingly, he didn't ask any questions. Instead, he began to
talk of himself. He was a sailor and had traveled a great deal and I listened to his
varied experiences.
After that we often met in the evenings and often had a cup of tea at the wayside
restaurant. He was a man in his late fifties and though he looked grim with all his
weather-worn scars, and was a huge hulk of a man, he was always gentle in his
behavior towards me. As the days passed, I began to get used to his terrifying
looks and feel comfortable in his company. He gradually unfolded his past to me.
He had lost his parents at an early age and had grown up without any guidance. He
became a deck-hand and soon graduated from one job to another. During one of
his shore-visits he fell in love and got married. His wife had been a gentle woman
and now he longed for a shore job; but with hardly any qualifications he found it
difficult to get a job suited to his age and temperament. Years passed. Their little
daughter was growing up into an intelligent teenager. And then tragedy struck ! On
return from one of his trips, he learnt that their little shack had been burnt in a fire.
His wife and daughter had both been caught in it. Since then he had been in this
condition of grief. He had never gone back to sea and had roamed the streets like a
mad man, mourning his loss. Many stories had been floated about him. His stern
appearance in no way mitigated the effect of those stories.
Where did I come into his story? I looked very much like his daughter. So our
friendship grew and one day I took him home. He followed me like a pet dog and I
introduced hint to my mother. Ever since then he has been a constant visitor to our
house and the agony in his looks is being replaced by a new warmth and affection.